Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander

John Smoltz joins Ben Verlander for another edition of Saturday with Smoltz on Flippin' Bats.

This week, they dive into the biggest story in baseball: the on-field miscommunication between Shohei Ohtani and Dodgers rookie catcher Dalton Rushing. Smoltz explains whether he experienced similar situations during his Hall of Fame career, how trust between a pitcher and catcher is built, and why communication is so important at the major league level.

The conversation also covers:

Shohei Ohtani and rookie catcher Dalton Rushing couldn't seem to get on the same page early in Wednesday's start... and it led to one of the most frustrating innings of Shohei's season. Then everything changed. In this week's 'This Week in Shohei Ohtani News', we break down the miscommunication between Ohtani and Rushing, Shohei's postgame comments explaining exactly what happened, and how he responded by striking out the side and dominating the rest of the game. We also discuss: ⚾ Shohei averaging 100 MPH for the first time in his MLB career ⚾ The fastest pitch of his career (101.7 MPH) ⚾ Another dominant start...

Is Nick Kurtz becoming the next superstar in Major League Baseball? On this episode of Flippin' Bats, we break down the incredible rise of Nick Kurtz, who is putting together one of the best offensive seasons in baseball at just 23 years old. From leading the American League in RBIs to posting elite numbers across the board, Kurtz is making a serious case as one of the game's best hitters—and perhaps the best first baseman in baseball. We also discuss Pete Crow-Armstrong's unbelievable MVP-caliber season and why, if not for Shohei Ohtani, he'd be right at the top of th...

Could Shohei Ohtani's blister become a serious problem as he chases one of the most historic seasons in baseball history?

This week, Hall of Famer John Smoltz joins the show to discuss the growing concern surrounding Shohei Ohtani's blister issue and how difficult it can be for pitchers to perform through finger injuries. After allowing just 5 earned runs through his first 10 starts before surrendering 7 in his last two, is the blister to blame or is it something bigger?

We also discuss whether there should be any concern surrounding the Atlanta Braves after injuries to both...

Did Jacob Misiorowski just throw one of the greatest games in MLB history?

On this episode, we break down a truly historic performance from the Brewers’ young ace and ask the question everyone is now talking about: is Jacob Misiorowski already one of the best pitchers in baseball?

We dive into the dominance, the velocity, and the numbers behind a start that may have officially announced his arrival on the MLB stage.

Plus, the Chicago White Sox continue their shocking rise after years of struggles, the latest MLB Power Rankings shake up the le...

Is this the greatest season we’ve ever seen in baseball history?

In this week’s This Week in Shohei Ohtani News, we break down another unbelievable stretch from Shohei Ohtani as he continues to dominate both as a pitcher and a hitter at the same time.

Ohtani currently leads MLB in both OPS and ERA, a combination that simply shouldn’t exist. Through 10 starts on the mound, he’s posting one of the lowest ERAs in baseball history while also hitting over .300 with elite production at the plate. We dive into the numbers, the historic...

Has Roki Sasaki finally arrived?After an up-and-down start to his MLB career, Roki Sasaki is beginning to look like the dominant pitcher baseball fans were promised. We break down his recent surge, what's changed, and why his latest outing may be the clearest sign yet that he's figuring things out at the Major League level.Plus, Aaron Judge is on the injured list with a stress fracture, what play did it happen on? How long is he out? All that and more is answered! Shohei Ohtani continues to put up numbers that don't seem possible, Cristopher Sanchez's incredible...

Is Shohei Ohtani the greatest athlete of all time? This week, John Smoltz joins the show to weigh in on one of the biggest debates in sports. Smoltz not only faced some of the greatest athletes ever—he was also teammates with Deion Sanders. So when it comes to comparing Deion and Shohei Ohtani, his opinion carries more weight than almost anyone else's. We discuss Ohtani's incredible season as he lowers his ERA to 0.74 while raising his batting average above .300, continuing one of the most remarkable two-way stretches baseball has ever seen. Plus, we dive into whether the Yankees ca...

Braves First to 40 Wins + White Sox Are LEGIT! Tatis Finally Homers | Flippin’ Bats The Atlanta Braves became the first team in MLB to 40 wins and continue to look like the best team in baseball. Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox are officially for real, they’ve already matched their entire 2024 win total before June, Munetaka Murakami is smashing records with 20 HRs as a rookie, and the energy on the South Side is back. Plus: - Fernando Tatis Jr. finally ends his homer drought with a massive 451-foot bomb - The Mariners have taken control of the AL West - Christopher Sanc...

John Smoltz joins Ben Verlander for another great weekly breakdown. We discuss: - Does a combined no-hitter actually count as a real no-hitter? - The wild NL Central race... Why the Cubs are such a rollercoaster while the Brewers remain the model of consistency (and how they turned Kyle Harrison into an ace). - Who's the best in the NL Central? - One of the craziest celebrations you’ll ever see! Abner Uribe’s over-the-top, derogatory strikeout celebration + the craziest thing Smoltz ever saw or did Smoltz also shares his unfiltered thoughts on what counts as “disrespectful” in today’s game and...

Shohei Ohtani continues to do things no one has ever seen before. For the second straight week, Ohtani hit a leadoff home run on the day he pitched, becoming the only starting pitcher in MLB history to do it in back-to-back games. He now ranks 3rd in Dodgers history for career leadoff homers in less than 2.5 years. On the mound, he delivered another strong outing, lowering his ERA to an incredible 0.82! That's the 4th lowest through 9 starts since earned runs became an official stat in 1913. We also dive into: - Ohtani’s fiery emotions on the mound (including some lo...

Tigers Nightmare Season: Might Have to Trade Tarik Skubal? + Christopher Sanchez is UNSTOPPABLE | Flippin’ Bats

The Detroit Tigers are in a full collapse, sitting at 21-33 after losing 8 games in a row. In this episode we discuss the nightmare scenario they’ve been dreading: whether the Tigers will be forced to trade Tarik Skubal if they can’t turn things around soon.

Plus:

- The Milwaukee Brewers are a Factory! How they turned Kyle Harrison into an absolute ace (1.77 ERA) with a simple mechanical tweak.

- Christopher Sanchez is the most underr...

This Week in Shohei Ohtani News: Leadoff HR + ERA Drops to 0.73… He’s BACK! Shohei Ohtani delivered the full superstar experience in the 1st inning! Hitting a leadoff home run (the 2nd time a pitcher has ever done it in MLB history, joining himself) and dominating on the mound. On the mound: 5 IP, 0 ER, 4 K, lowers his season ERA to a ridiculous 0.73 — the lowest through 8 starts in the live-ball era (since 1920) outside of a few all-time great seasons. At the plate: He’s absolutely on fire lately! 13 hits in his last 24 at-bats, and he DOMINATED his former team the LA Angel...

On this week’s episode we dive into the 3 biggest stories in baseball right now:

John Smoltz opens up about the passing of his legendary manager Bobby Cox — one of the greatest managers in MLB history and a true father figure to so many players. In this heartfelt conversation, Smoltz shares incredible stories, memories, and lessons from his years playing under Cox with the Atlanta Braves. From Cox’s intense competitiveness and leadership style to funny moments, life lessons, and what made him so special behind the scenes. We discuss: What Bobby Cox was really like as a manager and person His impact on Smoltz’s career and the Braves dynasty Hall of Fame legacy...

The Chicago Cubs are off to one of the best starts in franchise history — multiple 10-game win streaks, leading MLB in OBP, wRC+, and WAR, and the best defense in baseball. Are they real World Series contenders who can beat the Dodgers and Braves? Plus, we break down why Junior Caminero is already a superstar at just 22 years old — 45 HR last season, 10 HR already in 2026, and looking like a future MVP. And the Houston Astros continue to be the most unlucky team in baseball — 16 players on the IL this year after setting the record for most injured team in MLB hi...

John Smoltz on Tarik Skubal’s Elbow Procedure, Framber Valdez Meltdown & Sign Stealing Rumors John Smoltz joins Ben Verlander for a candid conversation on the biggest stories in MLB right now. We discuss Tarik Skubal’s elbow procedure and what it means for the Tigers’ ace. Then we break down Framber Valdez’s ugly ejection after giving up 7 earned runs, throwing at Trevor Story after back-to-back homers, and the ongoing mental side of his game. The Tigers desperately need Framber to step up as the leader of their staff, can he handle it? Plus: Sign stealing rumors and how prevalen...

Shohei Ohtani delivered his longest pitching performance of 2026 — going 7 innings for the first time this season and as a Dodger (since his second elbow surgery). He struck out 8, walked zero, and threw 89 pitches with 15 whiffs in a dominant outing. Yet the Dodgers continue to give him ZERO RUN SUPPORT! They’re just 2-7 in his last 9 starts and have scored nothing in his last 19 offensive innings on the mound. Ohtani now has a ridiculous 0.70 ERA (just 4 earned runs in 51.2 innings). On the offensive side, Shohei busted out of a major slump: 0-for-18, his second-longest hitless drought of his career, and...

Ben Rice Is the Best Hitter in Baseball?! Murakami Leads MLB in HRs + Cardinals Surprise Ben Rice has taken over the Yankees, the former platoon hitter is now dominating with a 219 wRC+, leading MLB in OPS, SLG, and OBP while hitting .327 with 10+ homers. Is he the best hitter in baseball right now? Munetaka Murakami is a STUD. The White Sox believed in him when no one else would, now he leads all of MLB with 13 home runs in his first 32 career games (3rd-most ever) and has a 159 OPS+. The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the biggest surprises in...

John Smoltz on Red Sox Chaos, Phillies Firing Rob Thompson & Power Rankings Debate John Smoltz joins Ben Verlander for his weekly breakdown of the biggest storylines in MLB. We dive into the Boston Red Sox drama: What’s really going on with the organization after their coaching shakeup? Then we ask the tough question on the Philadelphia Phillies: Was firing Rob Thompson the right move, or is it still too early to panic on this talented (but struggling) roster? Plus: Power Rankings debate — Braves, Dodgers or Yankees at #1 right now? Smoltz shares his funniest mound visit story of all time...

Red Sox Fire Alex Cora & Most Of Their Coaching Staff… Phillies Are Historically Awful + A brand new MLB Power Rankings with a BIG change at the top! The Boston Red Sox just fired nearly their entire coaching staff... but kept the people actually responsible. We break down the messy, petty drama: Alex Cora’s IG post,, the “Coaches for Hire” bus, and the awkward press conference where Breslow and Kennedy pointed fingers. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies are in total freefall! The worst record in baseball, worst run differential, worst defense (-17 DRS), and one of the worst offenses despite a $250M+...

Shohei Ohtani keeps making history his on-base streak is now at 51 straight games (dating back to August 24th of last season). He’s closing in on Barry Bonds, the Dodgers’ all-time record, and legends like Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. We also react to one of the most wholesome moments you’ll see all week involving Jake Mangum. On the darker side: The New York Mets are in the middle of their longest losing streak in 22 years (11 games straight). Sitting at 7-15, they have the worst record in baseball tied with the Royals and are further out of first place...

John Smoltz joins Ben Verlander for a full breakdown of the biggest storylines in MLB right now. We dive deep into Shohei Ohtani’s Cy Young chances, how realistic is it for him to win one as a two-way superstar, and what would he need to do to take home the award? Can Mason Miller actually win the Cy Young as a closer? Smoltz shares his Hall of Fame pitcher perspective on what it would take for a reliever to win the award for the first time since Eric Gagné in 2003. Plus: - Are the Braves legitimately back after the...

Shohei Ohtani makes history by passing Ichiro Suzuki for the longest on-base streak by a Japanese-born player in MLB history, reaching 46 games — and the viral broken Ichiro statue moment adds to the drama.

After a disappointing 76-86 season in 2025 that saw them miss the playoffs and the entire projected Opening Day rotation hit the IL, the Atlanta Braves are off to a hot 10-6 start in 2026. They lead the league in home runs and rank 3rd in batting average despite ongoing pitching injuries. Are the Braves legitimately back?

We also dive into whether Mason Miller is...

Hall of Famer John Smoltz joins Ben Verlander to break down the hottest topics from the first week-plus of the 2026 MLB season.

We discuss the new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System: Is it perfect? Is three challenges per team the right balance, or should MLB move to full ABS? Smoltz shares his unfiltered take as a former pitcher.

Then we relive the wild Braves-Angels brawl from Tuesday night, including Jorge Soler charging the mound and Braves manager Walt Weiss, Smoltz's former teammate, delivering a memorable tackle takedown.

Plus, the ongoing feud between Willson...

The Yankees are off to a historic start, led by a dominant rotation putting up one of the lowest ERAs to begin a season in over a century. We break down what’s fueling their early success, including standout performances from Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, and a healthy Giancarlo Stanton.

Plus, are the Pittsburgh Pirates actually for real? With elite pitching, emerging prospects, and a strong start to the season, Pittsburgh is forcing its way into the conversation.

We also dive into this week’s MLB Power Rankings, biggest risers and fallers, and highlight the top...

The new ABS Challenge System is an absolute GAME-CHANGER for baseball. It fixed brutal missed calls, upheld the tight ones, got crowds roaring, and adds a fresh layer of strategy and excitement for fans. Best part? Challenges are lightning fast — often just 10 seconds.

Key ABS Stats from the Weekend:

This tech is here to stay, and I'm all in.

Then there's the insane rookie explosion — one of the best Opening Weekends for young...

Opening Day is in the books and it delivered chaos, surprises, and some BIG early storylines across Major League Baseball.

Paul Skenes had a tough first outing and didn’t make it out of the 1st inning... but there’s more to the story than the box score.

On the other side, Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers looked dominant, raising the question: are they already the team to beat in the American League?

We also break down one of the most impressive Opening Days for rookies in recent memory. Kevin McGonigle’s histor...

The 2026 MLB season is here! And it’s time for Ben's full World Series prediction and award picks.

In this episode, Ben breaks down his picks for Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, and MVP in both the American League and National League, along with his full playoff bracket and World Series champion.

There are a few award races that feel wide open… and at least one prediction that might surprise you.

Plus we're giving away a copy of MLB The Show 26. Listen for how to enter!

The National League might run through the Dodgers again… but it’s not that simple.

In this episode, Ben breaks down my full 2026 National League preview! Including division-by-division predictions, playoff teams, and who he thinks is representing the NL in the World Series.

Can Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers dominate again, or is there a team ready to take them down?

Plus, I’m giving away a copy of MLB The Show 26. Listen to find out how to enter.

2026 National League Preview:

NL East breakdown

NL Centra...

The American League might be the most unpredictable it’s been in years.

In this episode, I break down my full 2026 American League preview! including division winners, playoff teams, and who I think is representing the AL in the World Series.

Some teams I’m higher on than most… and at least one contender I’m not buying.

Plus I’m giving away a copy of MLB The Show 26 Digital Deluxe Edition. Listen to find out how to enter!

2026 American League Preview:<...

Venezuela upset USA in the World Baseball Classic Final. Ben Verlander breaks down the WBC final and what this win means for Venezeula and how big of a disappointment this is for Team USA. Ben interviewed Miguel Cabrera, Gleyber Torres, and Eugenio Suarez after the win.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 INTRO
0:45 VENEZUELA DEF. USA
2:48 VENEZEULA WINS 1ST WBC CHAMPIONSHIP
3:45 MIGUEL CABRERA
4:15 WHAT THIS MEANS FOR VENEZEULA
6:30 GLEYBER TORRES
7:30 VENZEULA WINS, 3-2
8:54 EUGENIO SUAREZ
9:50 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC RECAP
12:45 USA DISAPPOINTMENT
15:00 OUTRO

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Ben Verlander breakdown the instant classic between the USA & Dominican Republic LIVE from the field in Miami. Ben also talks about the atmosphere and why attending a World Baseball Classic should be in every baseball fan's future. He talks about Japan failing to make it the Semis for the first time ever & also takes a brief look ahead.

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World Baseball Classic pool play is officially in the books — and the drama delivered.

Team USA barely survived after a shocking loss to Italy, while Samurai Japan continued their dominant run and the Dominican Republic proved why they’re one of the tournament favorites.

In this episode, I break down what went wrong for Team USA, why Italy deserves way more credit than they’re getting, and which teams have been the most impressive so far in the WBC.

We also take a look at some of the great stories from pool play — includin...

The World Baseball Classic is off the charts this year, and it’s not even halfway done! In this episode, we break down all the must-watch moments and biggest storylines so far:

Team Japan punches their ticket to Miami, dominating Pool C with a relentless lineup and unforgettable performances.

Team Korea pulls off an insane 3-way tiebreaker over Australia—7-2 in the 9th inning, ending in a celebration you have to hear to believe.

Team Dominican Republic is redefining fun in baseball, playing with energy, flair, and pure excitement. Forget the “old way”—this is baseb...

🔥 The 2026 World Baseball Classic is here — and this might be the most loaded tournament we’ve ever seen.

20 teams. 4 pools. 2 weeks. 1 champion.

In this episode, we break down everything you need to know:

🇺🇸 Team USA – No More Excuses
This is tournament number six. The U.S. has won once. With Aaron Judge wearing the captain’s “C,” a loaded lineup, and real pitching depth, it’s time to stop talking and start winning. We dive into their dominant 15–1 exhibition performance and why the pressure has never been higher.

🇯🇵 Japan – The Juggernaut
Three-time champions. S...

Ben Verlander welcomes Los Angeles Dodgers' Kyle Tucker to the show. They discuss what made him choose to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, first impressions of Shohei Ohtani & so much more!

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Ben Verlander welcomes Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal to the show! They discuss Skubal's decision to play in the World Baseball Classic and how much USA Hockey fired him up to play in the WBC. He also discusses his offseason dealing with arbitration and the Tigers signing Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez & so much more!

CHAPTERS:
00:00 INTRO
01:50 TARIK SKUBAL JOINS
03:00 SPRING TRAINING
04:30 HOW'S JUSTIN VERLANDER AS A TEAMMATE?
09:00 THE OFFSEASON
10:50 ARBITRATION PROCESS
15:35 DID YOU KNOW ABOUT FRAMBER?
16:50 TIGERS ROTATION
18:00 THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC
20:00 USA HOCKEY FIRING UP...

MLB Spring Training news and reactions.

We discuss the Yankees Spring Training sewage situation, Bo Bichette at third base, Shohei Ohtani WBC update, Tarik Skubal pitching one game for Team USA, Arte Moreno comments, and recent MLB signings including Rhys Hoskins, Jack Suwinski, and Michael Conforto.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction

03:00 Skubal WBC Update

06:20 Yankees Sewage Nightmare

09:35 Bo Bichette Defense

14:25 Arte Moreno Comment

19:20 Shohei Ohtani Updates

24:28 Miguel Rojas Interview

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Ben Verlander talks about what he thinks of the 2026 Detroit Tigers and his thoughts on the saga between the Philadelphia Phillies & Nick Castellanos. Ben also comments on how the ABS system will affect MLB tv viewing moving forward.

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