Brewers Are For Real & the Blue Jays Are Surging | MLB Playoff Race

Are the Milwaukee Brewers built to make a deep October run? DVR is joined by WTMJ Brewers host Dominic Cotroneo to examine why Milwaukee’s unconventional offense works, Jacob Misiorowski’s transformation into an ace, Logan Henderson’s emergence and how the Brewers could build their pitching staff for the MLB postseason. First, the American League playoff picture is finally beginning to take shape. The Toronto Blue Jays have quietly pushed their way back into serious contention, while the White Sox and the rest of a crowded AL field battle for six postseason spots. Could Toronto be a dangerous “house money” team if Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays get back to October? Then it’s time for Where the Money Went. Dodgers prospect Josue De Paula gets his first taste of the majors, showing impressive plate discipline and hitting his first MLB home run. DVR and Dom also discuss late-season fantasy baseball strategy, returning catchers and why finding usable pitching in the final two weeks has become increasingly difficult. Finally, Closing the Tab turns to the 2026 St. Louis Cardinals. Is Jordan Walker’s breakout sustainable? Does St. Louis have the position-player core to contend again soon? And can the organization’s pitching development catch up quickly enough to complete the rebuild? Plus, Dominic discusses the Service Time podcast and the history of baseball’s relationship with its players. #MLB #Brewers #BlueJays #MLBPlayoffs #FantasyBaseball #RatesAndBarrels 00:00 Blue Jays Emerge in the AL Playoff Race 03:43 Is the AL Playoff Picture Finally Taking Shape? 09:25 The Blue Jays Are Making Their Move 12:42 Padres-D-backs & the NL Wild Card Race 18:05 Where the Money Went: Josue De Paula Arrives 21:19 Late-Season Fantasy Baseball Strategy 25:30 Brewers Deep Dive: Is This Team Better? 29:17 Why Milwaukee’s Offense Works 33:43 What Really Happened to Milwaukee in the 2025 NLCS? 36:43 Misiorowski, Henderson & the Brewers’ October Rotation 41:15 Who Emerges From the Brewers Bullpen? 43:58 Closing the Tab: 2026 Cardinals 49:03 Is Jordan Walker’s Breakout For Real? 52:22 The Cardinals’ Young Core 55:13 Dominic Cotroneo’s Service Time Podcast Like, Subscribe and drop us a comment! First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/fi... Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord:   / discord   Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Host: Derek VanRiper Contributor: Dominic Cotroneo Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis Editor: McEnroe Francis