Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander

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 and videos from an unforgettable moment. Who do YOU have winning the World Series? Drop your predictions in the comments! #MLB #MLBPlayoffs #Postseason #JustinVerlander #WorldSeries Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:45 Justin Verlander Farewell Weekend 4:52 MLB Playoff Predictions 8:10 Wild Card Series Previews 18:26 ALDS Predictions 23:16 NLDS Predictions 32:25 ALCS Prediction 34:13 NLCS Prediction 36:15 World Series Prediction 40:11 162 Games Played List 41:44 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 1:41 Roadtrip Update 2:56 MLB Playoff Races 4:10 American League Playoff Update 6:03 National League Playoff Update 9:00 Are the Astros Still Inevitable? 12:08 MLB Power Rankings 21:16 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 when the pressure ramps up and the postseason gets closer. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:28 Smoltz joins 3:24 How Does Experience Help? 5:38 Should Pitchers Win MVP? 8:53 Rays/Brewers First Teams in Playoffs 12:36 How to Change Playoff Format 17:47 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 time. We also reveal a new MLB Power Rankings as October gets closer. Should pitchers be allowed to win MVP? Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:45 Around the League Playoff Updates 6:49 Aaron Judge's MVP/Cy Young Comment 11:42 New Power Rankings 21:11 Moving Back East 24:10 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 being done pitching this season and whether he still believes Ohtani should continue as a two-way player moving forward. What do you remember most about Piazza’s home run after 9/11? Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:37 John Smoltz Joins 2:41 MLB Expansion 8:53 Is Shohei Done As 2-Way Player? 13:13 John Smoltz Remembers 9/11 18:47 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices