Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander

🔥 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 ExcusesThis 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 JuggernautThree-time champions. Seven MLB players, including Shohei Ohtani, plus elite stars from NPB. Don’t sleep on the names you don’t recognize — Japan might still be the best team in the world.

🇩🇴 Dominican Republic – A SuperteamVladdy. Soto. Tatis. Machado. Julio. And that’s just the lineup. Managed by Albert Pujols, this team brings unmatched energy and star power. Is this the most talented roster ever assembled in WBC history?

We also cover:

⚾ Full pool predictions & knockout bracket⚾ Why WBC insurance rules are becoming a major issue⚾ The impact of Jurickson Profar’s suspension⚾ USA vs Japan finals prediction

First pitch from the Tokyo Dome is here — and the global baseball stage is set.

Who wins it all: USA, Japan, or the Dominican Republic?

Let’s break it down. 🎙️🔥

00:00 Welcome
00:45 WBC Preview
03:20 Team USA Preview
07:12 Team Japan Preview
10:35 Team Dominican Republic Preview
14:00 WBC Insurance Issues
23:38 Jurickson Profar Suspension
28:05 WBC Predictions
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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 INTRO01:50 TARIK SKUBAL JOINS03:00 SPRING TRAINING04:30 HOW'S JUSTIN VERLANDER AS A TEAMMATE?09:00 THE OFFSEASON10:50 ARBITRATION PROCESS15:35 DID YOU KNOW ABOUT FRAMBER?16:50 TIGERS ROTATION18:00 THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC20:00 USA HOCKEY FIRING UP MLB24:00 USA'S BASEBALL DREAM TEAM25:40 2026 TIGERS BASEBALL29:00 TIGERS' YOUNGSTERS30:00 ADVICE TO YOUNG BASEBALL PLAYERS33:00 OUTRO
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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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