MLB Championship Series Preview: Can the Dodgers & Rays Respond?

The Milwaukee Brewers have a 2-0 NLCS lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers, while the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays are tied 1-1 in the ALCS. With Game 3 approaching in both Championship Series, what adjustments could decide who reaches the 2026 World Series? DVR, Eno and Jed Lowrie break down the latest MLB playoff action, preview the critical pitching matchups, and close the book on the Chicago White Sox's surprising 2026 season. Milwaukee has taken the first two games against Los Angeles, and a 12-pitch walk by Jake Bauers may have been one of the biggest turning points of Game 2. We analyze how Bauers battled Yoshinobu Yamamoto, drove up his pitch count and set up Christian Yelich's two-run single that knocked the Dodgers' ace out of the game. Looking ahead to Game 3, how should the Brewers approach Blake Snell? Can Robert Gasser's unique pitch mix keep the Dodgers' lineup off balance? And which team has the advantage as the NLCS shifts to Los Angeles? The Rays have evened the ALCS at 1-1 after Freddy Peralta delivered six scoreless innings in Game 2, reaching 99.4 mph and dominating with his elevated fastball. Plus, Rays infielder Taylor Walls gives a fascinating explanation of how elite defenders anticipate where a baseball will be hit. Jed Lowrie shares his own major league experience with defensive positioning, pitch recognition and reacting to contact. With the series heading to Cleveland, the crew takes a deep dive into Gavin Williams' arsenal and how Tampa Bay hitters should approach him. Can Griffin Jax deliver enough innings to give the Rays an advantage in Game 3? The White Sox made an incredible turnaround in 2026, but their season ended with a disappointing five-game ALDS loss to Cleveland. What went wrong for Chicago's high-strikeout offense? Can Colson Montgomery, Munetaka Murakami and Kyle Teel make the adjustments needed to take the next step? DVR, Eno and Jed examine the development of Chicago's young core, the future of Noah Schultz and Grant Taylor, and whether the White Sox should make a major investment in their starting rotation. Could a frontline free-agent pitcher turn the White Sox into legitimate World Series contenders in 2027? 💬 **JOIN THE CONVERSATION** Who wins Game 3 of the NLCS and ALCS? Are the Brewers the team to beat in the National League? And should the White Sox spend big this offseason? Like, subscribe and drop us a comment! **MORE RATES & BARRELS** 💬 Join our Discord for conversations and mailbag questions: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe 📰 Subscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels 👕 Shop Rates & Barrels merchandise: https://rates-and-barrels.printify.me/ **FOLLOW THE HOSTS** Derek VanRiper on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dvr.bsky.social Eno Sarris on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/enosarris.bsky.social 📧 Email: [email protected] Hosts:Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Contributor:Jed Lowrie Executive Producer & Editor: McEnroe Francis Rates & Barrels | The Athletic #MLBPlayoffs #Brewers #Dodgers #ALCS #NLCS #Guardians #Rays #WhiteSox #RatesAndBarrels 00:00 – Introduction: NLCS & ALCS Game 3 Preview 01:24 – The Moneyball Advantages 02:52 – Jake Bauers' 12-Pitch Walk vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto 06:15 – How Long At-Bats Wear Down Elite Pitchers 14:05 – NLCS Game 3 Preview: Blake Snell vs. Robert Gasser 20:26 – Why Robert Gasser's Pitch Mix Is So Difficult 22:37 – Freddy Peralta's Dominant ALCS Game 2 25:49 – José Ramírez's Defensive Mistakes 32:36 – Taylor Walls Explains the Art of Infield Defense 39:39 – Jed Lowrie on Defensive Preparation & Positioning 44:25 – Parker Messick and the Guardians' Game 3 Outlook 45:48 – How Would You Hit Against Gavin Williams? 53:14 – Griffin Jax and Tampa Bay's Game 3 Strategy 54:20 – Closing the Tab: Chicago White Sox 56:25 – The White Sox's Emerging Young Core 1:05:02 – How the White Sox Can Reduce Their Strikeouts 1:06:36 – Final Thoughts & What's Next Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.