{"podcast":{"title":"Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball","slug":"rates-barrels-a-show-about-baseball-692652","podcast_index_feed_id":692652,"rss_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/6818a1a4eb737caf8ca41879","website_url":"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/podcasts/","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6818a1a4eb737caf8ca41879/1774225915041-25aacc15-e115-4d2e-b3fa-72decc9773cb.jpeg","author":"The Athletic","episode_count":1068,"summary":"In baseball, numbers are everywhere. But they’re not just numbers. For Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris, they’re the keys to solving the most fun problem in sports. Every weekday, join DVR and Eno as they unpack baseball in ways you’ve never heard before, endeavoring to figure out all they can about a sport that’s constantly changing. Alongside contributors Britt Ghiroli, Trevor May and Jed Lowrie, the Rates & Barrels crew breaks down all the latest MLB news through an analytical lens, feeding your unhealthy addiction to numbers, while helping you master your fantasy baseball GM skills. But wait, there's more: come back for Saturday mornings in Starkville, where Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville talk to some of the most important players, coaches, and thought leaders in the league. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-26T10:19:52.816182+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/rates-barrels-a-show-about-baseball-692652"},"episode":{"title":"Zack Wheeler is Back in Ace Mode","slug":"zack-wheeler-is-back-in-ace-mode","published_at":"2026-05-18T20:02:59+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/rates-barrels-a-show-about-baseball-692652/zack-wheeler-is-back-in-ace-mode","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/rates-barrels-a-show-about-baseball-692652","url":"https://shows.acast.com/rates-barrels-a-show-about-baseball/episodes/zack-wheeler-is-back-in-ace-mode","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6818a1a4eb737caf8ca41879/e/6a0b6a20f2a8b51c6a85efc1/media.mp3","summary":"Another top prospect has arrived in Seattle, as 20-year-old Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson made his MLB debut Sunday. Eno and DVR also discuss how Zack Wheeler finally looks like his old self again after beginning the season on the IL, and why Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki may finally be settling in as a reliable starter in LA. Later, the guys open the mailbag to discuss Shohei Ohtani, stabilizing whiff rates, and the long-term outlook for Marlins second baseman Xavier Edwards. Rundown: 0:47 Colt Emerson Promoted 8:13 Zack Wheeler is Rolling 12:11 Walk Rate Improvement: How Much is Sustainable? 17:43 Surgery for Blake Snell: Loose Bodies in Elbow; Timetable TBD 21:37 Roki’s Turnaround: Another Strong Start vs. Angels 25:09 Justin Wrobleski Excelling in LA 26:46 Grayson Rodriguez is Back: A Big Boost for Halos’ Rotation? 28:33 Clay Holmes Out Several Weeks: Leg Fractured by Comebacker 35:40 Jose Altuve is Hurt: Grade 2 Oblique Strain, Timetable TBD 40:47 Weekly Decision: Using Shohei Ohtani as Pitcher Instead of UT? 44:40 Whiff Rates: When Do They Stabilize? 53:18 The Long Game: Xavier Edwards’ Future Outlook Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Editor: Jason Potere Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","meta_description":"Another top prospect has arrived in Seattle, as 20-year-old Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson made his MLB debut Sunday. Eno and DVR also discuss how Zack W…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3696,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/rates-barrels-a-show-about-baseball-692652/episodes/zack-wheeler-is-back-in-ace-mode/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/rates-barrels-a-show-about-baseball-692652/zack-wheeler-is-back-in-ace-mode.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}