Joe Sheehan joins Eno and DVR to discuss dropping the skepticism around the Tigers as AL Central frontrunners, where credit (and blame) belong with the 2025 Giants, over-performing teams they expect to see fade from the playoff picture over the course of the season, and under-performing teams they believe will find their way into the playoffs. Plus, the lack of top-end results from Jordan Walker despite top-end bat speed, and a few selections for summer breakouts.

Rundown

5:30 Should We Believe in the Tigers?

12:41 The 'Bustarhan' Giants Are Pretty Good

21:18 Best Teams Today That Won't Make the Playoffs This Season

25:15 Is the Guardians' Pitching Development Fading?

30:57 2025 Playoffs Teams with Worst Record on May 13th?

39:41 Why Are Teams Reluctant to Make 'Early' Trades?

46:12 Jordan Walker: Top-End Bat Speed, Without Top-End Results

53:32 Who Is Your Favorite Breakout On Tap This Summer?

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

With: Joe Sheehan

Producer: Brian Smith

Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eno and DVR discuss the D-backs' decision to recall Jordan Lawlar, Zach Eflin's importance for the Orioles' injury-plagued rotation, and the Rockies' decision to dismiss manager Bud Black, before looking at some of the biggest risers and fallers (among hitters) in initial 2025 projections v. rest-of-season projections with The BAT X.

Rundown

3:33 Jordan Lawlar: Recalled by D-backs; How Does He Fit Right Now?

8:52 Zach Eflin: Returns from the IL

12:59 The Rockies Fire Manager Bud Black

21:55 Projections Movers: Biggest Risers

28:22 Who Has Moved Their Projections Enough to Change Their Role?

34:50 Andrew Vaughn's Projection Has Improved Despite Tough Stretch?

44:26 Projections Movers: Biggest Fallers

52:57 Willy Adames: A Good Buy-Low Candidate?

57:15 Where the Money Went: Cade Horton & Intriguing, Affordable Bats

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

Producer: Brian Smith

Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eno and DVR discuss Rafael Devers' rejection of a move to first base and answer a few mailbag questions -- including an intriguing reason the Dodgers' Stuff+ numbers may be lagging in public models -- before examining several waiver-wire options to consider ahead of the weekend.

Rundown

4:30 Rafael Devers Rejects a Move to First Base

10:56 The New Pope is a White Sox Fan, 2025 Chances?

13:15 Is Dodgers' Low Stuff+ This Season Just Being Ahead of Public Models?

20:29 Why is David Robertson Still a Free Agent?

22:38 Does Trent Grisham Have Shallow League Appeal?

36:29 A Waiver-Wire Leaderboard for This Weekend's Bats

49:39 Adjusting Age for Players Switching Roles?

53:01 Weekend Pitcher Leaderboard

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss the Pirates' decision to fire manager Derek Shelton after a 12-26 start and wonder how making a change in that role will can make an impact. Plus, they dig into the slow start for Roki Sasaki and wonder if he can improve his fastball command and make a tweak to his pitch mix on the fly to get better results over the course of his rookie campaign, before drafting struggling starting pitchers and discussing a great piece about Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz from Alex Chamberlain of FanGraphs.

Rundown

1:10 The Pirates Fire Manager Derek Shelton

8:54 The Overall Struggles Under Bob Nutting's Ownership

15:44 Injury Follow-Ups: Hunter Greene, Dylan Cease, Corbin Burnes, Yordan Alvarez & William Contreras

18:30 Checking In on Roki Sasaki

24:24 Comps for Roki Sasaki's Fastball

32:49 What's the Role *If* the Dodgers' Rotation Gets Healthier?

36:40 A Four-Round Rebound Pitchers Draft

54:16 A Great Read About Andrés Muñoz'

Andrés Muñoz Is an Analytical Blind Spot' by Alex Chamberlain of FanGraphs: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/andres-munoz-is-an-analytical-blind-spot/

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

With: Trevor May

Producer: Brian Smith

Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eno, DVR, and Jed discuss a brutal day at the office for Ryan Pressly and Chase Meidroth, before looking at the Orioles' sluggish start to 2025 and the rash of injuries that have played a role along the way, as well as the organization's approach to pitching. Plus, they talk about the changes in Seattle where the Mariners have put together a top-five offense to begin the season, and wonder if new philosophies will make that improvement stick all year.

Rundown

1:24 Ryan Pressly's Historically Bad Day

13:18 Bouncing Back From a Blunder

19:29 It Actually Happens...A Lot

32:38 Making Sense of a 13-21 Start in Baltimore

40:14 What Would You Have Done Differently?

50:34 The Mariners Have Been a Top-Five Offense

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

With: Jed Lowrie

Producer: Brian Smith

Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Sammon joins Eno and DVR to discuss the Mets' increasing distance from 'LOL Mets' thanks to their continued growth in pitching development throughout the organization. Plus, they discuss the ongoing questions around Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuña's path to lock down the second-base job, and changes to Mark Vientos' approach that haven't paid off yet. Plus, they discuss bloated ratios, Dylan Cease's bad luck to begin 2025, and Jasson Domínugez as a long-term target.

Rundown

2:11 Clay Holmes' Excellent Start to 2025

5:56 Griffin Canning's Relatively Simple Adjustments

11:49 Taking Small Market Success Into a Big Budget Situation

14:33 Tylor Megill's Short & Long-Term Changes

17:27 David Peterson is the Mets' Andrew Abbott

21:06 Questions Around the Mets' Bats

27:24 Trading Bat Speed for an All-Fields Approach?

37:04 Hope for Damaged ERA and WHIP?

44:26 What's Going On with Dylan Cease?

49:56 Jasson Domínguez: Still a Long-Term Target?

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

With: Will Sammon

Producer: Brian Smith

Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eno and DVR discuss the surprising early May demotion to Triple-A for Jake Burger, and look at some of the biggest movers on the O-Swing% leaderboard from 2024 to 2025. Plus, they discuss another injury for Mike Trout, Jazz Chisholm's shift to the IL, and a few intriguing names to consider on the waiver as the weekend begins.

Rundown
3:40 Jake Burger Optioned to Triple-A
10:02 O-Swing% Changers: 2024 to 2025; The Rangers' Aggressive Approach
16:59 Mike Trout Placed on the IL
24:37 The Angels' Curious Late-Inning Bullpen Management
30:06 Jazz Chisholm Jr.: Oblique Injury Leads to IL Trip
35:19 Updates on Gelof, Ohtani, Darvish & Buehler
41:15 Pitchers to Consider
50:22 Shelby Miller's Path for Saves Opens Up

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com

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Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels

Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

Producer: Brian Smith

Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.