Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander

The 2026 MLB Championship Series are officially set, and Ben Verlander is breaking down both matchups and making his predictions for who will advance to the World Series!

Can the Milwaukee Brewers finally get revenge on the Los Angeles Dodgers after last year's NLCS sweep? Ben breaks down the biggest keys to the series, the Dodgers' pursuit of a third straight World Series title, Shohei Ohtani's struggles, and what Milwaukee needs to do to pull off the upset.

Over in the American League, the Cleveland Guardians are coming off an incredible comeback against the Chicago White Sox. Can José Ramírez and the Guardians keep their momentum going against the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays?

Plus, Ben looks back at the biggest performances from the Division Series, highlights the players who stood out, and reveals his ALCS and NLCS picks and World Series predictions.

Timestamps:

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The New York Yankees are heading home early once again, and Hall of Famer John Smoltz joins Ben Verlander to discuss why the Yankees continue to fall short in October and what needs to change moving forward.

Plus, Smoltz previews the Dodgers vs. Brewers NLCS, breaking down what Milwaukee needs to do to take down Los Angeles and what could make the Dodgers so difficult to beat.

Ben and John also discuss the winner-take-all Game 5 between the Guardians and White Sox, the impact of using starting pitchers in relief during the postseason, and the Braves' elimination against the Dodgers.

Finally, Ben asks Smoltz about a growing narrative among Braves fans: Does he go too far trying to remain neutral when calling Atlanta games?

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:30 John Smoltz Joins

2:15 What Do Yankees Do Now?

5:22 Starters Coming in out of Bullpen

11:41 Braves/Dodgers Recap

14:13 Brewers Beat Dodgers IF...

15:51 Dodgers Beat Brewers IF...

16:38 Outro

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Shohei Ohtani's struggles have continued into October, and the numbers are becoming increasingly concerning.

Ben Verlander breaks down Ohtani's disappointing NLDS performance, his extended home run drought, and his offensive struggles since returning from the injured list. Plus, Dave Roberts' decision to move Ohtani down the Dodgers' batting order raises even more questions about what is going on with the two-way superstar.

Is Ohtani simply going through a prolonged slump, or could lingering injuries still be affecting his performance as the Dodgers prepare for the NLCS?

Timestamps:

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The Wild Card Round is officially in the books and the MLB Division Series are SET!

I’m breaking down everything we just saw in a wild opening round of the postseason, including the Astros’ stunning exit, the Phillies-Braves drama, dominant starting pitching and the biggest performances of the Wild Card Round.

Then Hall of Famer John Smoltz joins the show to react to the biggest surprises and look ahead to the Division Series before I make my picks for every matchup. Who moves on and gets one step closer to the World Series?

Who do YOU have advancing? Drop your Division Series picks in the comments!

#MLB #MLBPlayoffs #Postseason #JohnSmoltz #WorldSeries

Timestamps:

0:00 Phillies Lose in Round

13:44 Wild Card Series Recaps

14:14 Top 5 Players from Wild Card Round

19:48 John Smoltz Joins the Show

36:55 Division Series Previews

50:31 Outro

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The MLB Postseason is here! I’m filling out my entire 2026 playoff bracket, breaking down every Wild Card matchup, picking the biggest upsets and revealing who I think will win the World Series.

Plus, I was there for my brother Justin Verlander’s farewell weekend and final regular season start. I share what it was like being there with my family, the emotions surrounding the weekend and some behind-the-scenes photos and videos from an unforgettable moment.

Who do YOU have winning the World Series? Drop your predictions in the comments!

#MLB #MLBPlayoffs #Postseason #JustinVerlander #WorldSeries

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

0:45 Justin Verlander Farewell Weekend

4:52 MLB Playoff Predictions

8:10 Wild Card Series Previews

18:26 ALDS Predictions

23:16 NLDS Predictions

32:25 ALCS Prediction

34:13 NLCS Prediction

36:15 World Series Prediction

40:11 162 Games Played List

41:44 Outro

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ONE. WEEK. LEFT. 6 teams are in the playoffs and 6 teams still to go.

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John Smoltz joins the show to explain the change he’d make to the MLB playoff format and why he thinks it could make October even better.

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Aaron Judge says pitchers shouldn’t be able to win MVP because they already have the Cy Young Award. I completely disagree. We break down why pitchers absolutely should remain eligible for MVP and why the argument against them doesn’t make sense.

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John Smoltz joins the show to reflect on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and one of the most unforgettable nights in baseball history.

Smoltz shares what it was like being on the field at Shea Stadium when Mike Piazza hit his iconic home run, why the night felt so special, and why that moment seemed like it was meant to happen.

Plus, Smoltz weighs in on MLB expanding, what cities he thinks will get an MLB team, and Shohei Ohtani being done pitching this season and whether he still believes Ohtani should continue as a two-way player moving forward.

What do you remember most about Piazza’s home run after 9/11?

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:37 John Smoltz Joins

2:41 MLB Expansion

8:53 Is Shohei Done As 2-Way Player?

13:13 John Smoltz Remembers 9/11

18:47 Outro

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Shohei Ohtani is officially heading to the IL and is done pitching for the rest of the season. But does this mean we should start questioning his future as a two-way player?

We break down the latest on Ohtani’s injuries, Dave Roberts admitting the Dodgers should have put him on the IL sooner, and why the conversation about Shohei giving up pitching needs to stop.

Do you expect Shohei Ohtani to return as a two-way player next season?

Timestamps:

0:00 Shohei Ohtani Hits the IL

3:17 Will Shohei Pitch Again?

7:19 Smoltz talks 9/11

8:18 Outro

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