Podcasts · Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball
The MLB Playoff Picture Gets Clearer
· 1 h 09 min
Episode The MLB Playoff Picture Gets Clearer
The Braves have clinched the NL East and the Red Sox secured a Wild Card berth in the American League as the playoff picture continues to come into focus. Eno and DVR discuss the final-week battle for playoff spots and seeds, and what they need in order to come away with fantasy baseball championships in the remaining days of the season.
Plus Chris Solomon (Soly) of 'No Laying Up' joins the show to close the tab on the 2026 Reds. Beyond a pair of arm injuries for Hunter Greene, what else has kept the Reds from making another run to October this season? Looking forward, is there enough of a core in place with Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart, Chase Burns, and Greene to build for the immediate future during the winter?
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Rundown
00:41 The Braves Clinch NL East: Seventh Title in Nine Years
02:13 Tyler Mahle: An Overlooked Trade Addition?
09:22 Jesús Luzardo: Plays Catch, Could Return in Bullpen Role
11:47 Alex Bregman: Day-to-Day After Getting Hit by Foul Ball
13:04 The Red Sox Clinch Wild Card: Historical Comeback From 32-46 Start
16:02 Félix Bautista: Returns After Second Lengthy Absence
17:56 Four-Team Battle for Three Remaining Spots?
21:22 AD BREAK
21:27 Where the Money Went & Final Week Needs
32:16 Coming Up: Closing the Tab, 2026 Reds w/Soly
32:20 Welcome, Soly! (Chris Solomon, No Laying Up)
32:59 Closing the Tab: A Hunter Greene Season They Couldn’t Afford
37:20 Long-Term Lineup Issue: Why Do the Reds’ Lineups Lag?
43:18 Another Brutal Trade: Mike Sirota Blossoms in LA
46:10 Time for More Changes? Is Tito Still the Right Fit in Cincinnati?
49:15 Can They Build Around and Win With Elly De La Cruz?
52:21 Beyond the Core: Flaws Up and Down
55:13 Pitching Rebounds? Can Nick Lodolo Bounce Back in 2027?
1:05:23 A Puzzling Decision: Why Did CES Get DFA’d?
First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026
Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social
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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis
Editor: Matthew Chilelli
#MLB #MLBPlayoffs #Reds #FantasyBaseball #RatesAndBarrels
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