Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander

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 than any other team. Is it time to stop giving them the benefit of the doubt?

Plus, the AL West is a complete mess! Only a .500 team is leading the division, the Astros are struggling despite Yordan Alvarez raking, the Mariners look nothing like a contender, and the A’s and Angels are somehow the bright spots.

We break down the latest Power Rankings and our Team of the Week, including standout performances from Mike Trout, Yordan Alvarez, Mason Miller, and more.

Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:46 - Shohei Ohtani’s 51-Game On-Base Streak
4:03 - Mets’ Historic Losing Streak
9:29 - The Awful AL West
12:40 - New MLB Power Rankings
23:27 - Team of the Week
31:03 - Wholesome Moment of the Week
32:20 - Outro

What’s your biggest takeaway this week? Ohtani’s streak, the Mets collapse, or the AL West disaster? Let us know in the comments!

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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 their brutal 2025 season?
- The Mets’ early struggles, should we be worried?

Smoltz gives his unfiltered takes on all of it, including his thoughts on pitching dominance, team identity, and what stands out early in the 2026 season.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:40 - John Smoltz joins the show
2:00 - Can Shohei win Cy Young?
8:28 - Can Mason Miller win Cy Young?
12:33 - Worried about the Mets?
15:59 - Are the Braves back?
18:11 - When will the Braves build a statue?
20:28 - Brewers baseball on display
23:47 - Outro

What do you think — can Ohtani win Cy Young this year? Could a closer like Mason Miller actually take home the award? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

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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 on track for Cy Young contention — the first closer to win the award since Eric Gagne in 2003. Miller is dominating with a 0.00 ERA, 19 strikeouts in 7.1 innings, and perfect save opportunities so far.

Plus, MLB power rankings shakeup (Dodgers holding strong, Braves rising, Padres jumping, Yankees sliding), our Team of the Week, and more early-season storylines.

What do you think — are the Braves back, and could a closer actually win Cy Young in 2026? Let us know!

Follow Flippin’ Bats with Ben Verlander for weekly MLB breakdowns.

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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 Contreras and the Brewers — especially Brandon Woodruff. Smoltz opens up about whether he ever had heated rivalries with specific teams or batters during his career.

We also cover the most surprising teams so far in 2026 — who’s exceeding expectations and who’s struggling early in the season.

What are your thoughts on the new ABS rules? Let us know in the comments or reviews!

Subscribe for weekly MLB conversations with John Smoltz and more all season long.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:22 John Smoltz on ABS

6:16 Smoltz on Braves/Angels Brawl

10:33 Contreras vs Brewers Fued 

13:30 John Smoltz Surprising Teams 

17:32 Outro
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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 performers in our Team of the Week.
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