The Ringer Mlb Show

We run through the Washington Nationals' weekend in celebration, including Monday’s trip to the White House (3:00), before forecasting a slow offseason and predicting where the league’s top free agents might end up (33:51). Hosts: Michael Baumann and Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a postseason in which Washington trailed in five elimination games, the Nationals clawed their way through to win their first World Series since returning to the capital. We convene to discuss how they pulled it off, the future for both the Nationals and the Astros, and the 2019 postseason at large. Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the Astros now up 3-2 over the Nationals, we discuss the odds that the Nationals can get back on track in this series. Will Stephen Strasburg keep their hopes alive in Game 6, and in that case, will we see Max Scherzer for a potential Game 7? Plus, we discuss the malaise hanging over the World Series after the fallout from Astros assistant general manager Brandon Taubman’s inappropriate comments toward a group of reporters after the ALCS victory. Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We preview the elite starting-pitcher matchups that are dominating the narrative heading into the 2019 World Series before running down a number of X factors that we think might tip the series between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros. Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Yankees and Astros just completed one of the most well-played games in recent playoff memory, capped by a loud Carlos Correa walk off home run. With Gerrit Cole still to throw, are the Yankees a step behind in the ALCS (1:10)? On the National League side of the bracket, the Nationals’ starting rotation has completely stifled the Cardinals offense through two games. We wonder if that series is headed toward a sweep (31:13). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We wonder whether the American League divisional series are all but over as the Yankees sweep the Twins and the Astros tab Justin Verlander to start Game 4 (1:00). Then, we analyze the National League divisional series as they stand now, both tied at 2 and headed for fifth games (28:31). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ahead of the start of the 2019 playoffs, we preview the National League (2:00) and American League (29:29) first rounds, including each league’s wild card game. Then, we answer a mailbag full of playoff questions (52:46). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guests: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We share the NL (1:40) and AL (44:50) players whom we covered and talked about most in the 2019 season. In between those two segments, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle joins to discuss where the A’s stand as we head into the playoffs (27:10). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Susan Slusser Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We run through the list of stars to go down with injuries in the last two weeks and wonder what kind of effect it has on both the playoff run and the playoffs themselves (1:16). Then, FanGraphs writer Jay Jaffe joins to discuss team entropy—the idea that we should root for chaos in playoff and wild-card berths as the season wraps up (23:18). Finally, Ben Lindbergh joins to give out awards to the least-recognized players of the 2019 season (43:56). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guests: Jay Jaffe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We convene to talk about one of the strangest stories in baseball this year—Dave Dombrowski's firing less than a year after leading the Red Sox to a World Series (1:20). Then, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic joins to forecast what’s to come in the near and far future for the Chicago Cubs, including whether Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Joe Maddon will be around much longer (21:56). Finally, Ben Lindbergh joins to discuss the Houston Astros’ historic offense, the best offense compared with the rest of the league since the 1927 Yankees (47:46). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Sahadev Sharma Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin Verlander threw his third career no-hitter this weekend, sparking conversations about whether the Astros' dominant rotation makes them heavy favorites heading into the postseason (1:25). Plus: Jacob Pomrenke of SABR joins to reflect on the 100-year anniversary of the Black Sox Scandal (16:03), and Ben Lindbergh gives the rundown on players to watch out for now that rosters have expanded in September (40:02). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Jacob Pomrenke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After shutting down rookie starter Griffin Canning for the season, the Angels have set themselves up for a year in which none of their starters will pitch 100 innings. Is this the future of baseball (1:25)? Plus: Grant Brisbee on the boring nature of Players’ Weekend and MLB jerseys (24:07), and Ben Lindbergh on MLB’s race for the first overall pick (46:28). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Grant Brisbee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The hipster baseball event of the year is A’s vs. Rays for the AL wild card—which team has the edge (1:00)? Plus, The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans on Cincinnati breakout rookie Aristides Aquino (23:16) and Ben Lindbergh on a historically good crop of young position players (38:59). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: C. Trent Rosecrans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Baumann comes on to detail the failures of the 2019 Phillies—both in team building and keeping players healthy (1:00). Then Meg Schuster shares a heavy dose of Minnesota nihilism as she worries about whether 2019 will be lost to Cleveland (27:15). Host: Bobby Wagner Guests: Michael Baumann and Meg Schuster Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We discuss how the juiced ball is starting to cloud the importance of baseball record books (1:00). Then, Lindsey Adler joins to talk about a weird Yankees season that has seen unlikely heroes like Mike Tauchman and Gio Urshela save the day (24:01), before Ben Lindbergh closes out by talking about how the Twins have lost their grip on the AL Central (40:50). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Lindsey Adler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new trade deadline has produced a waiver market similar to the NBA's—what does this mean for teams trying to build around the edges (0:55)? Plus, the Mets have been the hottest team in baseball since the All-Star break (21:41), and the Astros continue to win lopsided trades with noncontenders (43:50). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Jarrett Seidler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Claire McNear joins the show to detail the emotional journey of Giants fans in 2019, as they watched their star players get dangled in trades but then ultimately stay in black and orange (1:00). Then, Sean Yoo wonders why the Yankees haven’t been able to fix their starting rotation at consecutive deadlines, while fellow contenders like the Astros have added Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke (14:18). Host: Bobby Wagner Guests: Claire McNear and Sean Yoo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We break down the 2019 MLB trade deadline, which began with fringe moves involving relievers like Mark Melancon, but ended with Zack Greinke moving to the Astros and making them the World Series favorite. Plus, we recap the Trevor Bauer–for–Yasiel Puig trade, which broke the day before the deadline. Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zack Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We break down which teams should have their chips in the center of the table (1:00), which teams should be trying to maximize the value of their stars (30:34), and which teams maybe shouldn’t do either. Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dodgers' Yasiel Puig trade this offseason shook some fans to their core. Craig Gaines joins to share why that angst has passed. Plus, will this be the year the Dodgers get over the hump, or is there reason for continued anxiety for the best team in baseball heading into the postseason (2:00)? Then, Rob Harvilla calls in to delineate the Indians’ two-year fallout since the 2016 World Series (16:27). Host: Bobby Wagner Guests: Craig Gaines and Rob Harvilla Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices