Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander

Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander

Flippin' Bats is a fun baseball podcast bringing you everything you want from around the league! You'll hear from Hall of Famer John Smoltz every week, you'll hear from the game's best players, and you'll be up to date on everything around the league! Baseball. Is. Fun. And so is Flippin' Bats!

Episodes

October 30, 2026 • 26 mins
Are the Milwaukee Brewers one of the GREATEST World Series champions of all time?! Hall of Famer and World Series champion John Smoltz joins Ben Verlander on Saturday with Smoltz to break down the Brewers' historic World Series victory over the Tampa Bay Rays! Smoltz makes a BOLD statement about where this Brewers team ranks among World Series champions, and the guys dive into what made Milwaukee so special, how they pulled off t...
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THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS ARE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!!! For the FIRST TIME in franchise history, the Milwaukee Brewers have won the World Series, and I'm coming to you straight from the field in Tampa Bay to celebrate this historic moment! I'm breaking down how the Brewers completed their incredible championship run, the biggest moments that decided the World Series, and what this title means for Milwaukee. PLUS, I've got EXCLUSIVE ...
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Are the Milwaukee Brewers taking OVER the World Series?! The Brewers have jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays, and I'm coming to you straight from the FIELD at the 2026 World Series! After an incredible first two games in Milwaukee, I'm breaking down the biggest moments, standout performances, and what we've learned about both teams. Can the Rays turn things around as the series shifts to Tampa Bay, or are the Brewer...
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Who REALLY has the edge in the 2026 World Series? Hall of Famer John Smoltz joins Ben Verlander on Saturday with Smoltz to break down the Tampa Bay Rays vs. Milwaukee Brewers matchup! Smoltz dives into the biggest advantages for each team, the pitching matchups that could decide the series, the players who could make the difference, and what it takes to win on baseball's biggest stage. He even recounts experiences from his World ...
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The World Series NOBODY expected might turn out to be one of the BEST we've ever seen! The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays are heading to the 2026 World Series, and I couldn't be more excited about this matchup. Two No. 1 seeds. Two smaller-market teams. Two franchises chasing their FIRST World Series championship. This is baseball at its finest! I'm breaking down everything you need to know about Brewers vs. Rays, from star...
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The Milwaukee Brewers just SWEPT the Los Angeles Dodgers, ending their quest for a third straight World Series title. So what went wrong for one of the most talented teams in baseball? Hall of Famer John Smoltz joins me to break down how the Brewers took down the Dodgers, what went wrong for Los Angeles, and whether Milwaukee has what it takes to win the World Series. Plus, we discuss Shohei Ohtani's postseason struggles, what th...
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Shohei Ohtani hasn't hit a home run in 25 consecutive games, has just ONE RBI in nearly two months, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are now down 3-0 in the NLCS. But did we finally see signs of Shohei turning things around? After another frustrating loss, I'm breaking down Ohtani's historic power drought, the ridiculous conversation about benching him, and why I actually believe he may have figured something out at the plate in Game 3...
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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...
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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 ...
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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 Oh...
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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 Divisio...
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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 an...
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ONE. WEEK. LEFT. 6 teams are in the playoffs and 6 teams still to go. We talk through ALL the MLB Playoff Race scenarios as we enter the last week of the regular season. Are the Houston Astros STILL Inevitable? We discuss their rollercoaster of a season And one final MLB Regular Season Power Rankings! What do you think? Who wins the AL West? Astros or Rangers? #FlippinBats #MLB #astros #powerrankings Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1...
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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. We also debate whether pitchers should be able to win MVP, how much postseason experience really matters down the stretch, and what the Brewers and Rays clinching playoff spots says about the big-market vs. small-market debate in baseball. Plus, Smoltz breaks down what separates teams wh...
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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. Plus, the playoff races are getting wild with the Astros fighting to hold onto the AL West, the AL Wild Card coming down to the wire, and the Padres surging at the perfect tim...
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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 be...
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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 nex...
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Ronald Acuña Jr. and the Phillies brought the drama this weekend, while an umpire somehow found himself at the center of controversy after confronting a pitcher making his MLB debut. We break down all of that, plus the Blue Jays’ resurgence, the Mariners and Orioles falling apart, the latest on Shohei Ohtani, which AL teams can actually beat the Dodgers in October, and a new MLB Power Rankings. Should the umpire be punished...
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John Smoltz joins Ben Verlander to discuss what the Dodgers should do with Shohei Ohtani as he continues to battle injuries heading into October. Should Ohtani keep building up as a starter, focus solely on hitting, or could a bullpen role make sense for the postseason? Plus, Smoltz makes his AL Cy Young pick between Dylan Cease and Cam Schlittler and reveals which team he believes is best built to take down the Dodgers in October...
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Shohei Ohtani has been battling knee and biceps issues for months, and now those injuries may be taking a toll on his performance at the plate. After a four-strikeout game and an extended offensive slump, Dave Roberts acknowledged that Ohtani may need some time to rest. Ben breaks down Ohtani’s recent struggles, the latest on his stalled return to the mound, and why his health should now be the Dodgers’ biggest prior...
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