Baseball Bar-B-Cast

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander has announced that he will retire following the end of the 2026 season. While the future first-ballot Hall of Famer's decision isn't entirely shocking, as he's battled to stay on the mound this season due to injuries, the 43-year-old is looking to finish his final year on a high note, which includes an honorary trip to the MLB All-Star Game.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss the incredible career of Justin Verlander, who achieved nearly every major feat a starting pitcher could hope to accomplish, with one exception: winning 300 games. They then wonder whether we'll ever see another member of the 300-win club, since the milestone appears to be out of reach for modern-day starting pitchers. The guys also discuss why Verlander and Max Scherzer have a difficult relationship as future hall of famers.

Later in the show, Jake and Jordan talk about the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers getting on a roll and finding themselves right back in the American League Wild Card race. Jordan also previews his top 50 prospects for fans to keep an eye on in the MLB Draft this Saturday, as well as provides an update on the Home Run Derby field as it continues to fill up and which players will need replacements for the All-Star Game. The guys close the show by making their weekly picks for The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.

 

1:58 – The Opener: Verlander to retire

21:38 – Around the League: Who will the White Sox take?

34:59 – Home Run Derby field is filling up

38:20 – All-Star Game replacements

39:52 – The Good

48:43 – The Bad

56:26 – The Uggla

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🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_

It was just supposed to be a regular, full-slate Tuesday in the baseball world. With some really good matchups, ace starters on the mound, and possible historic moments on the horizon, nobody could've expected the madness that would ensue and give us possibly the best day of MLB action we've had all season long.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman recap the wild Tuesday night that featured Shohei Ohtani hitting his 300th career home run, Tyler Tolbert tying a major league record for most hits in consecutive at-bats and Ryan O'Hearn having a three-home-run game. They also talk about Jackson Chourio having some fun in the Milwaukee Brewers' game and James Wood continuing his under-the-radar monster season for the Washington Nationals.

Later in the show, Jake and Jordan get into the newest names added as replacements for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game and Ben Rice joining the still-curious field for the Home Run Derby. They also make the case for why Zack Wheeler has a right to be annoyed about not being named to the National League squad before previewing the 2026 MLB Futures Game, which takes place on Sunday.

 

1:18 – The Opener: Craziest night of 2026

11:15 – Tolbert's historic hits

17:28 – All-Star snubs go off

29:48 – Ohtani hits his 300th HR

35:21 – Around The League: Where will Skubal go?

41:10 – What's a 5-game sweep called?

46:42 – We Need To Talk About: All-Star updates

59:00 – Futures Game preview

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:
🎧 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify
🖥️ YouTube
📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:
🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social
🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ
📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq
⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz
🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_

The rosters for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game were announced this past weekend, and while many very deserving players were named to their respective squads, there were a few surprising names who weren't selected. With the Midsummer Classic taking place in Philadelphia, there's one member of the hometown team who should've been a slam dunk to join the National League roster.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss who they think were the biggest snubs from this year's All-Star Game, including why Zack Wheeler should've easily made the team representing the host Philadelphia Phillies. They also discuss some of the surprising players who did make their league's roster, including Luis Arraez, Matt Olson and Nick Kurtz.

Later in the show, Jake and Jordan talk about the controversial decision by the Miami Marlins to not let Eury Pérez attempt to complete a perfect game after seven innings against the Sacramento Athletics. They then discuss the New York Yankees alarmingly dropping a series to the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium for the first time since 2014, a Los Angeles Dodgers announcer giving the two of them some flak and recap all the other action from baseball this past weekend.

2:05 - The Opener: All-Star snubs

14:50 - All-Star starting pitcher matchup

28:20 - How Sweep It Is: No perfecto for Pérez

41:56 - Red Sox are back in the race

45:28 - Kind of a Big Deal: Yankees panic?

53:46 - Turbo Mode: Weekend recap

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:
🎧 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify
🖥️ YouTube
📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:
🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social
🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ
📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq
⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz
🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_

Pittsburgh Pirates ace pitcher Paul Skenes has accomplished quite a bit in his first two big league seasons, including winning a Cy Young Award, being named NL Rookie of the Year, and making two All-Star Games. However, in year three, things haven't come quite as easily for the 24-year-old flamethrower, and his team isn't really helping him out either.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss Skenes' more mediocre season so far, one that has seen him go winless over his last nine starts. While Skenes does have a respectable 3.62 ERA after 18 starts this season, his numbers have climbed beyond what we saw in his first two campaigns. What level of concern should people have over the Pirates ace looking more mortal than usual?

Later in the show, Jake and Jordan take a look at the second phase of voting for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, which has narrowed the field to two finalists at each position and six in the outfield. Despite an early surge from Toronto Blue Jays fans, there might be only one Blue Jays player who starts, even if he is having a down year. They then examine the comments Steve Cohen made about the New York Mets on a recent podcast, discuss the suspensions handed down following the brawl between the Boston Red Sox and the Washington Nationals and make their picks for this week's edition of The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.

2:10 - The Opener: Paul Skenes panic?

23:45 - We Need To Talk About: Steve Cohen's comments

34:14 - Eric Chavez also talks Mets

39:42 - Around The League: All-Star Game voting update

47:55 - Red Sox-Nationals suspensions

50:54 - The Good, The Bad & The Uggla

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:
🎧 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify
🖥️ YouTube
📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:
🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social
🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ
📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq
⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz
🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_

As the weather starts to warm up, tensions among players and teams naturally begin to rise, as we've seen multiple altercations occur during games this past week. With Wilson Contreras taking exception to words said to him by Cade Cavalli and Josh Naylor getting into it with former teammate Austin Hedges, it's time to ask the question: What's with the beef?

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman break down the bad blood that circulated through Fenway Park between the Boston Red Sox and the Washington Nationals, as well as between the Cleveland Guardians and the Seattle Mariners. Did Wilson Contreras have the right to be as upset as he was with Cade Cavalli? Is there a bigger issue that needs to be discussed regarding Josh Naylor's former actions with teammates?

Later on the show, Jake and Jordan preview the 2026 MLB Draft, including which of Roch Cholowsky, Vahn Lackey and Grady Emerson could go No. 1 overall and why Jackson Flora is the clear top pitcher in this draft class. They then take a look at the New York Yankees suffering their annual June swoon after dropping their series to the Detroit Tigers, with Cam Schlittler helping to extend the skid, and Junior Caminero officially joining the Home Run Derby field.

2:13 - The Opener: Brawl in Boston

19:14 - Naylor vs. Hedges

30:46 - 2026 MLB Draft preview

53:22 - Around the League: MLB changed the balls

56:09 - Yankees and their June swoon

1:02:02 - Junior Caminero joins the Home Run Derby

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:
🎧 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify
🖥️ YouTube
📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:
🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social
🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ
📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq
⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz
🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_