2023 World Baseball Classic: Schedule, how to watch, betting info, countries and groups
World Baseball Classic returns for first time since 2017 after delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Jim Reineking- World Baseball Classic tournament field increases from 16 to 20 countries.
- Team USA is the defending World Baseball Classic champions.
- Dominican Republic enters as World Baseball Classic favorites.
The fifth edition of the World Baseball Classic — the sport's premier international championship tournament — arguably has its strongest collection of baseball talent yet.
Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout will play for the U.S., while his MLB teammate Shohei Ohtani will play for Japan. Ohtani and Trout are among seven MVP award winners participating in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, joining 2022 NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt (U.S.), 2020 NL MVP Freddie Freeman (Canada), 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts (U.S.), 2017 AL MVP José Altuve (Venezuela), and 2012 and 2013 AL MVP Miguel Cabrera (Venezuela).
Japan won the first two World Baseball Classics in 2006 and 2009, followed by the Dominican Republic in 2013. The United States finally broke through to win the 2017 World Baseball Classic. This edition of the World Baseball Classic was delayed two years because of the coronavirus pandemic.
A team could play up to seven games in the World Baseball Classic.
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How many countries are in the World Baseball Classic?
There will be 20 teams competing in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, up from 16 that participated in the 2017, the last time the World Baseball Classic was held. The 16 teams that competed in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, and four additional qualifiers (Czech Republic, Great Britain, Nicaragua and Panama) were added to the 2023 field.
What are the World Baseball Classic groups?
Pool A
Chinese Taipei
Cuba
Italy
Netherlands
Panama
Pool B
Australia
China
Czech Republic
Japan
South Korea
Pool C
Canada
Colombia
Great Britain
Mexico
United States
Pool D
Dominican Republic
Israel
Nicaragua
Puerto Rico
Venezuela
The top two finishers in each pool advance to the quarterfinals.
How to watch the 2023 World Baseball Classic
The tournament's 47 games will be aired on FOX, FS1, FS2 and Tubi. Spanish-language broadcasts available on FOX Deportes. All games will stream on the FOX Sports app. Streaming also available on fuboTV.
What is the schedule for the World Baseball Classic?
Tuesday, March 7
Netherlands 4, Cuba 2
Wednesday, March 8
Panama 12, Chinese Taipei 5
Australia 8, South Korea 7
Netherlands 3, Panama 1
Thursday, March 9
Japan 8, China 1
Italy 6, Cuba 3 (10 innings)
Czech Republic 8, China 5
Cuba 13, Panama 4
Friday, March 10
Japan 13, South Korea 4
Chinese Taipei 11, Italy 7
Australia 12, China 2 (7 innings)
Panama 2, Italy 0
Saturday, March 11
Japan 10, Czech Republic 2
Chinese Taipei 9, Netherlands 5
Puerto Rico 9, Nicaragua 1
Colombia 5, Mexico 4 (10 innings)
Venezuela 5, Dominican Republic 1
United States 6, Great Britain 2
South Korea 7, Czech Republic 3
Cuba 7, Chinese Taipei 1
Sunday, March 12
Japan 7, Australia 1
Italy 7, Australia 1
Israel 3, Nicaragua 1
Canada 18, Great Britain 8 (7 innings)
Venezuela 9, Puerto Rico 6
Australia 8, Czech Republic 3
Monday, March 13
South Korea 22, China 2 (5 innings)
Dominican Republic 6, Nicaragua 1
Great Britain 7, Colombia 5
Puerto Rico 10, Israel 0 (8 innings)
United States 12, Canada 1 (7 innings)
Tuesday, March 14
Venezuela 4, Nicaragua 1
Canada 5, Colombia 0
Dominican Republic 10, Israel 0 (7 innings)
Mexico 2, Great Britain 1
Wednesday, March 15
Cuba 4, Australia 3
Venezuela 5, Israel 1
Mexico 10, Canada 3
Puerto Rico 5, Dominican Republic 2
United States 3, Colombia 2
Thursday, March 16
Japan 9, Italy 3
Friday, March 17
Mexico 5, Puerto Rico 4
Saturday, March 18
Sunday, March 19
Monday, March 20
Tuesday, March 21
Where is the World Baseball Classic being held?
Four stadiums will host 2023 World Baseball Classic games:
► Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan (Pool A games)
► Tokyo Dome in Tokyo (Pool B and quarterfinal games)
► Chase Field in Phoenix (Pool C games)
► LoanDepot Park in Miami (Pool D, quarterfinal, semifinal and championship games)
Which country is favored to win the 2023 World Baseball Classic?
The Dominican Republic — which features a roster that includes Julio Rodríguez, Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Rafael Devers, Wander Franco, Willy Adames and Jeremy Peña, along with pitchers Sandy Alcantara, Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia and Johnny Cueto — is the favorite to win the tournament at +200, according to Tipico Sportsbook.
Two-time WBC winners Japan have the next-best odds at +230. The United States — which features Betts, Goldschmidt, Trout, Nolan Arenado, Pete Alonso, J.T. Realmuto, Trea Turner and Tim Anderson, along with pitchers Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, Daniel Bard and Ryan Pressly — is at +250.
Those squads are followed by Venezuela (+1000), and South Korea and Puerto Rico (+1200). The Czech Republic (+30000) faces the longest odds to win the World Baseball Classic.
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