The Rays evened the World Series in Game 4 after a bizarre set of mistakes by the Dodgers allowed Randy Arozarena to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. But the Dodgers bounced back Sunday night on the back of a strong Clayton Kershaw start and some clutch relief pitching to take a 3-2 series lead. Will they close it out in Game 6, or are we going to see a World Series Game 7 for the second straight year?  Hosts: Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman This episode originally...

Clayton Kershaw continued to rewrite the narrative that he struggles in the postseason, as the Dodgers took a 3-2 lead over the Rays in the World Series. Can the Rays once again even the series on the back of a strong Blake Snell start? Or will the Dodgers close it out in six games? Plus: We react to the end of Game 4 from Saturday night, one of the most ridiculous finishes to any baseball game ever, let alone a World Series game. Hosts: CC Sabathia and Ryan Ruocco This episode originally...

We react to a choppy Game 2 that featured seven Dodgers pitchers, a strong but short outing from Blake Snell, and a semi-revival of the Rays’ bats. Then, we preview games 3 and 4 before sharing our Fave Five things of the series thus far. Hosts: Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman This episode originally ran on the 'Baseball BBQ' feed. Follow 'Baseball BBQ' on Spotify.

We start this week with a Slingin’ Heat featuring Mookie Betts, NFL betting lines, and the upcoming league collective bargaining negotiations (1:50). Then, we’re joined by three-time World Series champion Dave Stewart to talk about his illustrious playoff career, the toughest batters he ever faced, pitching wisdom he learned from Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax, how the game has become less about entertainment, and more (13:03). Hosts: CC Sabathia and Ryan Ruocco Guest: Dave Stewart This...

We recap a lopsided Game 1 of the World Series that featured a dominant Clayton Kershaw start combined with all five tools of Mookie Betts prominently displayed. Then, we wonder whether the Rays’ pitching staff can keep the Dodgers under five runs per game for the rest of the series, and if not, whether the Rays lineup has any hope of winning the series for them. Finally, we briefly discuss commissioner Rob Manfred’s quotes about wanting to keep the expanded 16-team postseason moving...

We recap a thrilling Game 7 of the NLCS between the Dodgers and the Braves that featured incredibly clutch home runs from Cody Bellinger and Kike Hernández (1:51) and a surprising Game 7 between the Astros and Rays in which the Rays held on to avoid blowing a 3-0 series lead. Then, we share our five favorite players and predict who will win the World Series, how many games it’ll take, and who will take home the World Series MVP trophy (24:40). Hosts: Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman This...

We’re back for another late-night podcast to react to the Dodgers’ offensive outburst in Game 3 of the NLCS and the Rays’ sturdy rotation and bullpen through four games in the ALCS. Plus: CC slings some heat about analytics, the New York tabloids, and the Jets’ and Giants’ quarterback situations. Finally, we take some of your questions about the future of the Yankees rotation, what it’s like in the locker room after a tough postseason elimination, and more (44:28). Hosts: CC Sabathia and Ryan...

We break down the 11-run inning that powered the Dodgers in Game 3, flipping the script in a series that had been surprisingly dominated by the Braves up to that point (0:00). Then, we discuss the saga that was Walker Buehler’s pants (1:21), before discussing how even with a loss in Game 4, the Rays have set themselves up nicely to close out the Astros in the coming days (20:33). Finally, we diagnose what it would mean for the White Sox—one of the most exciting young teams in baseball—to hire...

The Rays are up 3-0 on the Astros, and it sure seems like they’re clicking better than any other team in baseball and they are poised to reached the World Series. We discuss their unmatched collection of rotation and bullpen arms, the Astros struggling to get timely hits, José Altuve’s throwing errors, and more (1:30), before switching over to the NL, where the Braves have shocked the Dodgers by getting out to a 2-0 series lead. Is this finally the year Dave Roberts gets the hook for his...

The Rays hung on to beat the Astros 2-1 in Game 1 of the ALCS on the back of a gritty pitching performance from Blake Snell and another Randy Arozarena home run. We recap that game as well as preview the rest of this fascinating series, before also previewing Game 1 of the NLCS between the Dodgers and the Braves. Will the Dodgers keep rolling along or will the stacked Braves lineup and surprisingly impressive postseason pitching give Los Angeles trouble? Hosts: Jake Mintz and Jordan...

Gerrit Cole and Tyler Glasnow were electric on short rest. Aaron Judge went yard off the best reliever of 2020. The Yankees’ and Rays’ bullpens went toe-to-toe. But it was Mike Brosseau taking Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman deep that was the difference. We break down everything Yankees-Rays Game 5, where the series went wrong for New York, what the future looks like constructed around this current core, and more on an instant-reaction R2C2. Hosts: CC Sabathia and Ryan Ruocco This episode...

After a stress-filled Game 2 between the Dodgers and Padres, we convene to give our immediate reactions to that series, as well as the Yankees-Rays series that's tilted toward Tampa Bay, the Braves-Marlins series that's headed toward a sweep, and the A’s-Astros series that’s about to play its crucial Game 4. Plus: We take a victory lap on predicting the pitcher-friendly Globe Life Field would be the talk of the postseason, as well as predicting a big breakout for Rays outfielder Randy...

CC and Ryan give their immediate takeaways as the Yankees fall behind the Rays 2-1 in the ALDS, preview Game 4, and discuss the Yankees’ chances of combing back in the series (1:08). Plus, this week in Slingin’ Heat, we hear CC’s take on Derek Jeter’s tenure thus far as the Marlins CEO, Kyrie Irving’s comments about the role of head coaches on the Nets, why the NFL hates the Raiders, and more (40:42). Hosts: CC Sabathia and Ryan Ruocco This podcast originally ran on the `R2C2 with CC Sabathia...

After a hectic wild-card week, we’ve settled in nicely to the rhythm of the divisional series. This week on the show, we bounce around to each series and give an in-depth recap of the big story lines. What looks real and what will peter out if the series drag on to five games? Are the Marlins beaning Acuña on purpose? Did Aaron Boone botch Game 2? Are the Astros doing a bit or have they actually convinced themselves they’re the protagonists of this playoffs? Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben...

We preview every series in both leagues and break down what you need to know, what you need to get excited for, and which players (outside the obvious) you should expect to show up big (1:03). Then, ESPN broadcaster Boog Sciambi joins to preview Marlins-Braves, describe what it’s like to call a fanless playoff game that you’re not even in the ballpark for, and discuss the nearly unbelievable arc of Fernando Tatis Jr. (33:26). This episode originally ran on 'Baseball BBQ.' Follow on Spotify...

One of the strangest postseasons in MLB history is about to start. Does that mean any of us will pick a true underdog to win the World Series? We preview the first round series by series before sharing who we think will be the last team standing this year. Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram

For the final time this season, we run through the biggest movers in terms of playoff odds, and share which of the final contenders have surprised us most this season (1:27). Then, with less than a week left in the season, we share our MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year ballots, including unanimous choices like Shane Bieber for AL Cy Young, and three-way split decisions like Freddie Freeman, Fernando Tatís Jr., and Mookie Betts for NL MVP (33:44). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh,...

We lead the podcast by discussing the news that commissioner Rob Manfred and team owners want to make the 2020 playoff structure (16 teams and a three-game series in the first round) permanent (1:35). Then, we discuss how the MLB playoff bubble will affect this year and how team strategies will change because there are no days off in between games (18:38). Finally, we preview a weekend full of key series for the 2020 playoff picture (31:58) before discussing the largest movers by playoff odds...

We narrow in on the two biggest preseason favorites to win the 2020 World Series: the Yankees and the Dodgers. What has contributed to their polar opposite seasons, and can the Yankees pull it together in time to regain their chance at a 2020 ring (8:12)? Then, we remember MLB legends Lou Brock and Tom Seaver (27:11) and then choose a preseason underdog that we now think is most likely to make the playoffs (36:02). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, and Zach Kram

After some alleged beanball dominated the discourse around the Yankees-Rays game last night, we outline the recent history of bad blood between the two teams (1:34). Then, we discuss the highest impact trades from the deadline on Monday, including Mike Clevinger and Austin Nola to the Padres (16:29). Finally, we talk about the biggest playoff odds moves of the week (51:34). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, and Zach Kram

With nearly half of the season over (unbelievably), we run down the awards ballots for the AL and NL and share our top three picks for MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year (6:37). Then, we end by recapping the last week in playoff odds changes (48:06). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram

This week, we home in on the biggest story in baseball: Fernando Tatis Jr. vs. regressive unwritten rules. We open by wondering whether this will be the old generation’s last big stance against electric young players (1:03), before inviting The Ringer’s Shea Serrano onto the show so he can learn and react to some of baseball’s most ridiculous unwritten rules (21:15). Finally, Mike and Ben close by assessing the most drastic movers by FanGraphs’ playoff odds (46:41). Hosts: Michael Baumann,...

Gerrit Cole is the new guy in the Bronx—CC knows a little something about that. The guys are joined by the Yankees’ new ace to talk about staying intense with no fans in the stands (12:45), getting to know new teammates and developing a relationship with a new catcher (34:00), CC’s ceremonial first pitch (43:47), witnessing Aaron Judge up close and personal (49:42), and more. This podcast originally aired on 'R2C2.' Subscribe on Spotify. Hosts: CC Sabathia and Ryan Ruocco Guest: Gerrit Cole