MLB Playoff Pitching Has Gone WILD | Bullpen Fatigue

Are MLB teams pushing pitchers TOO FAR in the 2026 postseason? Relievers are being asked to throw more pitches than they have all season, starters are appearing on their normal throwing days, and bullpens are being stretched to their limits. But is the biggest danger injury, fatigue, or something teams might be overlooking entirely: PITCH COMMAND? Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris and former MLB reliever Trevor May break down the wild pitching decisions defining October, the Milwaukee Brewers' commanding NLCS lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers, and what comes next for the Atlanta Braves. Trevor May has some serious questions about the way teams are using pitchers this postseason. Eno digs into the data on pitch usage, Stuff+, Location+ and fatigue, uncovering an important trend: pitchers may maintain their stuff while losing command, especially during and after unusually demanding outings. The Milwaukee Brewers have taken a 3-0 series lead and pushed the Los Angeles Dodgers to the brink of elimination! Blake Snell looked nearly unhittable before another marathon Jake Bauers at-bat helped change the game. Was Snell left in too long, or did Milwaukee simply execute when it mattered? The crew breaks down the Brewers' offensive approach, Robert Gasser's five scoreless innings, the Dodgers' struggles, and how Milwaukee could close out the series. Plus, with Tyler Glasnow set for Game 4, what pitching approach gives the Brewers their best chance to reach the World Series? Trevor May and Eno Sarris examine William Contreras' swing, pitch-type strengths and weaknesses, and the strategy pitchers should use to get him out. DVR, Eno and Trevor evaluate Atlanta's long-term outlook, including Ronald Acuña Jr.'s health, Austin Riley's offensive decline, Chris Sale's workload, the uncertain futures of Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach, and the team's ongoing shortstop problem. Are MLB managers overworking their pitchers this October? Should the Dodgers have taken Blake Snell out earlier? And how would YOU pitch to William Contreras? Like, subscribe and drop us a comment! **MORE RATES & BARRELS** Join our Discord for live game 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: Trevor May Executive Producer & Editor: McEnroe Francis Rates & Barrels | The Athletic #MLBPlayoffs #NLCS #Brewers #Dodgers #Pitching #WilliamContreras #TrevorMay #Braves #RatesAndBarrels 00:00 – Intro 01:34 – Trevor May on Extreme Postseason Bullpen Usage 02:48 – Grant Taylor and Didier Fuentes: Longer Relief Outings 07:27 – The Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Fatigue 08:55 – Eno's Research: Starters Pitching on Throw Days 11:17 – Relievers Exceeding Their Regular-Season Pitch Limits 12:32 – What Happens When Pitchers Work Three Days in a Row? 14:08 – The Hidden Cost of Losing Pitch Command 17:39 – Abner Uribe's Struggles in NLCS Game 3 19:33 – Should Teams Prepare Relievers for Longer Outings? 21:39 – Managing Uribe and Other High-Leverage Pitchers 22:16 – Did the Dodgers Leave Blake Snell in Too Long? 27:11 – Jake Bauers' Epic 11-Pitch At-Bat 28:43 – The Brewers' Unusual Postseason Offensive Profile 30:27 – Milwaukee's Defense and the NLCS Game 3 Recap 35:43 – NLCS Game 4 Preview: Tyler Glasnow and Milwaukee's Pitching Plan 38:05 – How I'd Pitch to William Contreras 43:05 – Where Can Pitchers Limit Contreras' Damage? 46:15 – Closing the Tab: Atlanta Braves 55:36 – Raisel Iglesias, Didier Fuentes and the Bullpen 58:52 – Final Thoughts and What's Next Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.