Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander

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 starting pitching and bullpen matchups to elite defense, baserunning, and the incredible young stars who could take over this series.

Plus, why Jackson Chourio, Junior Caminero, and Jacob Misiorowski could make this World Series unforgettable, and my official prediction for who will be crowned World Series champions!

Who do YOU have winning the World Series, and in how many games? Let me know in the comments!

#WorldSeries #Brewers #Rays #MLB #Baseball

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

3:19 Battle of the #1 Seeds

8:24 Rays/Brewers Matchup Breakdown

19:55 There are SUPERSTARS

22:27 World Series Prediction

29:15 Outro
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 this loss means for the Dodgers moving forward, and the latest from the ALCS.

Were the Dodgers exposed, or are the Brewers simply the better team?

#MLB #Dodgers #Brewers #JohnSmoltz #MLBPlayoffs

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:36 John Smoltz joins the show
2:23 Smoltz Reacts to Dodgers getting SWEPT
14:09 How Do You Beat the Dodgers?
18:06 Who Matches Well vs Brewers?
20:15 Smoltz on Sustained Success
22:41 Outro
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.

Plus, why the Dodgers' biggest problem right now goes far beyond Shohei Ohtani.

Is it too late for the LA Dodgers?

#ShoheiOhtani #Dodgers #MLBPlayoffs #NLCS #TWISON

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:41 Shohei hurt and struggling
4:43 Shohei has figured it out?!
6:47 Are the Dodgers done?
11:10 Outro
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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:
0:00 Intro
2:50 Guardians Win ALDS Game 5
5:15 Dodgers vs Brewers NLCS Preview
21:54 Guardians vs Rays ALCS Preview
30:12 Top 5 Players from the Division Series'
31:18 Outro
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices