Making Pitchers Uncomfortable & Best Bullpens Post Trade Deadline

Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss history on tap this weekend when Jen Pawol will become the first woman to umpire a regular season MLB game, the return of Michael King (and potential adjustments for JP Sears in the Padres' organization), the ways in which hitters can make life difficult on opposing pitchers, the struggles of relievers in new roles and on new clubs since the Trade Deadline, and Eno's attempt to sort out which team has the best bullpen in baseball. Rundown 0:51 Jen Pawol: First Woman to Umpire in MLB Regular Season 2:30 Michael King: Returning Saturday; Potential Adjustments for JP Sears 7:57 Gavin Williams: Takes No-Hit Bid Into the Ninth Inning on Wednesday 10:32 Which Division Is the Toughest on Pitchers in 2025? 17:10 What Makes a Pitcher's Job More Difficult? 26:08 WAR Surfing in Evaluating Pitchers (and Cy Young Award candidates) 31:06 Making Sense of Reliever Struggles Since the Trade Deadline 38:17 Chase Rates Jump in the Ninth Inning?! 43:28 Eno's Look at the Best Bullpens in Baseball 53:34 Devin Williams' Chase Contact Rate Spike (Q from Bitcloud) 1:01:48 George Kirby v. Joe Ryan in Long-Term Situations (Q from Sierra Six) 1:08:47 Shane Baz's Slider Changes (Q from Thiago Splitchange) Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR .bsky.social Follow Trevor on Bluesky: @iamtrevormay.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 With: Trevor May Producer: Brian Smith Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.