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		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 03:41:38 -0500</pubDate>
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					<![CDATA[Australia Opens World Baseball Classic With 3-0 Victory Over Chinese Taipei]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/australia-opens-the-world-baseball-classic-in-tokyo-with-a-30-victory-over-taiwan</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/australia-opens-the-world-baseball-classic-in-tokyo-with-a-30-victory-over-taiwan</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Australia opened the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo by beating Chinese Taipei 3-0 on Robbie Perkins' two-run homer and Travis Bazzana's solo shot.]]>
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				<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 01:01:45 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Australia opened the World Baseball Classic on Thursday by beating Chinese Taipei 3-0 on Robbie Perkins' two-run homer in the fifth inning and Travis Bazzana's homer in the seventh at the Tokyo Dome. The two big swings were enough in a tight game dominated by pitching on both sides. Chinese Taipei managed only three hits, and Australia had seven. It was a critical victory for Australia, which also won its first game in 2023, defeating South Korea enroute to reaching the quarterfinals and a narrow 4-3 loss to Cuba. Australian starter Alex Wells pitched three no-hit innings with Jack O'Loughlin negotiating the next three and allowing only two hits and setting the stage for the bullpen. O'Laughlin got the victory with a save for Jon Kennedy. Po-Yu Chen was the losing pitcher. Following Perkins' homer, Chinese Taipei put two runners on in the sixth with two out but failed to score. The second to reach base was Chieh-hsien Chen who was hit by a pitch on the his right hand and left the game. Australia loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth and failed to score when Chris Burke popped out on the second pitch from reliever Yi Chang. Bazzana, who is expected to start in Triple A this season in the Cleveland Guardians farm system, added the insurance run on a towering shot to right field. Bazzana was the first pick in the 2024 MLB amateur draft. Chinese Taipei put two runners on the top of the ninth and almost tied the game on a deep flyout by Lyle Lin. South Korea—Czechia later In the second Group C game later in Tokyo, South Korea faced the Czech Republic. Defending champion Japan opens play in Group C on Friday against Taiwan. The top two teams in the group advance to the quarterfinals in the United States, joining the top two in the other three groups.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Who is Travis Bazzana? MLB Prospect And Australia Native Talks WBC (And Sushi)]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/travis-bazzana-guardians-australia-wbc</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/travis-bazzana-guardians-australia-wbc</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[MLB prospect Travis Bazanna dishes on Team Australia's World Baseball Classic goals and which food he misses from back home.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:27:19 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Team Australia infielder Travis Bazzana has yet to make his Major League Baseball debut, but he has already made MLB history. Bazzana became the first Australian-born player to be drafted in the first round when the Cleveland Guardians made him the first overall pick in 2024. Two years later, the top prospect is knocking at MLB’s door. After finishing last year at Triple-A, where he had an .858 OPS in 26 games before his season was cut short by an oblique injury, Bazzana was a non-roster invite at big-league camp this spring. He’s far from a lock to make the Opening Day roster, but he’s on track to be patrolling second base in Cleveland at some point this year. Before that happens, though, Bazzana had another debut to make. He helped his home country win its first game at the World Baseball Classic by homering in Australia's 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei at the Tokyo Dome on Thursday. Two weeks before Bazzana left for Japan, I caught up with the 23-year-old infielder to talk about growing up playing baseball in the suburbs of Sydney, why and how he was drawn to the sport, the food he misses most from back home, the allure of representing Australia in the WBC, his 2026 goals and more. I know you played cricket and other more popular Australian sports growing up. What drew you to baseball? My dad played a lot of sports. He played rugby, cricket, baseball primarily, and he was solid at all three. I’m the youngest of three boys, and they were around the field, Dad was around the baseball club, and I just took a lot of attention to it. I would ask my parents to hit tee-ball. I would be the bat boy for my older brothers and run around the field. I loved every second of just being at the baseball field and watching and taking it all in. It never got pushed on me, neither my brothers, but it became my identity early on. As early as I can remember writing about what I wanted to do, it was like I wanted to be a baseball player, and everyone knew I played baseball. That was just like my thing. I played all the other sports, but baseball is what I took a passion to. If I had a chance to sit down with free time when I was little, I was watching MLB.com highlights. How hard was it to find people to play baseball with in Australia? There are lots of baseball clubs and lots of Little League systems and things in place for grassroots baseball in Australia that made playing consistently fairly easy, but in terms of finding friends that aren’t at the baseball club to play with, like I didn’t play any backyard baseball with friends growing up, really. Maybe when we had, like, my team meet up and do that. [TOP 10 WBC MOMENTS: What makes the all-time list?] But if I was with my school friends, it was rugby or cricket at the park on the weekend when we had free time. At school, recess or whatever, it was cricket, touch rugby, sometimes basketball, sometimes soccer, never baseball. At my high school, there were only a couple kids that played baseball and not at a high level, really. In terms of finding people to play with, it was like I would be going to the baseball field to do that. I wasn’t playing wiffle ball, I was playing backyard cricket. Can you describe growing up in Turramurra for those who aren’t familiar? It’s a very nice northern suburb of Sydney. Lots of good parks. Lots of good clubs for all kinds of sports. Good schools. It’s a great spot. Let’s just say the house prices in Turramurra are probably booming right now and have been. They’re insanely high, so it’s a good spot, and I was lucky to grow up there. But yeah, if you walked around Turramurra, you’d probably find some kids playing rugby and cricket. When did playing pro start to feel like a real possibility for you? I think when I was like 14 was when it really started to kick in that I was going to get a chance to pursue what I had always worked for. I was 14 when I was playing in the 15U national tournament in Australia, and I felt like I could hold my own with some of the older kids, and there was some pro scouting interest starting to arise. So that was when I was like, OK, I think I’ll be capable to at least take some kind of path toward pro baseball, whether that was go pro or go to college. I really started to kick in the planning for that. Is there a place or type of food you miss the most when you're not home? One thing that’s really cool about Australia is we have really good sushi for not a premium. You can find great sushi spots all around where you get, like, really quality rolls for $3-5. So you have lunch, get three good sushi rolls for $12, and the quality’s great, and there’s no issues, and it’s consistent. Here, you go to a sushi place, and they charge you $18 for a roll, and you’re like, from my perspective, that’s like five times too much. It’s rice with a little bit of fish. The upcharge here is big. They make sushi the very boujee thing in America, and it doesn’t have to be. Considering this will be your first time competing for Australia at the WBC, how well do you know the other guys on the team? There are only a couple of guys on the roster that I grew up sort of playing with or against. The majority of those guys, it was sort of academies, Australian Academy or our state academies back home where maybe they’re a couple of years older than me, but all the best youth players would kind of get together. There are times when I was around some of them then. Most of the rest of the players were people I kind of watched on the men’s team in the last 10 years when I was coming up that I hadn’t spent much time around, maybe played a game or two against them in the Australian Baseball League when I was young before I went to college. I definitely knew who all of them were, and then I got to play with most of those guys last year in the Premier12 tournament. So I kind of know everyone on the team now, but from childhood it was mainly watching most of the guys. How much fun was it to watch Australia advance out of the first round for the first time in 2023? How quickly did you decide you wanted to participate in 2026? I was wishing I could have been on that team. I was in college watching, but I was in the middle of a season and hadn’t really earned that right yet, but they did an incredible job that year, and people stepped up in huge situations, and that whole roster really played their role and did a great job. It was something that was on my mind for a long time, and that kind of cemented, ‘This next tournament, I’m going to get the chance,’ and I let everyone know that was what I wanted to do, and now it’s almost here. I know you dealt with a couple of oblique injuries last year. When did you start to feel right again, and what’s your goal for 2026? The last oblique issue happened like the second to last week of the season in Columbus, so I went home right after the season and was doing rehab work but nothing very intense and a lot of just relaxing with family. Once I got back from Australia and I was finished traveling and was able to ramp back up, I would say I was feeling good. By Nov. 10, I was kind of clear of that, so obliques were clear by November, and I had a really strong build-up. Looking ahead, I’m just trying to make the most of camp. Obviously, the big leagues are on the horizon, but it’s just about performing and continuing to get better and showing the big-league staff what I can do. Once it’s there, just enjoy the game, play hard like I have, and everything should take care of itself. Can you see the opportunity ahead? Yeah, 100%. I’m in big-league camp and get to take reps with guys that have been there, done that, every day. I feel like it’s right around the corner. I’ve just got to do what I can, and if opportunity arises, just take it with both hands. Was it a hard choice to leave camp knowing how close you are to the big leagues? It’s something I thought about, but it was never going to shy me away from going and doing [the WBC]. At the end of the day, if I was going somewhere that was a cool event to not play baseball, it would make sense. But I’m going to play on one of the biggest stages in the world. In my opinion, it competes with playoff baseball in MLB. I think if I’m physically prepared, there’s almost not a better way to get good game reps in an important environment to prepare for a season. So there’s obviously a team aspect that I’ll be missing here for like 12 days, maybe 10 days, and hopefully more if we go to Miami. But at the end of the day, if I’m playing against some of the best players in the world, in front of 60,000 or 50,000 in the Tokyo Dome, whatever it is, I think it’s a positive no matter what. Hopefully, I can make the most of that and come back.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Baseball Classic Viewing Guide: From Pool Play To A Dream Championship Rematch]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/2026-world-baseball-classic-viewing-guide</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/2026-world-baseball-classic-viewing-guide</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Here are the best matchups of each day in pool play — as well as hypothetical clashes for the rest of the World Baseball Classic.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 19:01:06 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The World Baseball Classic is going to be memorable. But because of its worldwide scheduling, it is also going to be on at all hours of the day. You'll need to plan for that with alarms and early or late bedtimes. [RELATED: Full World Baseball Classic broadcast schedule] To help you out, we have identified the best matchup of each day in pool play — as well as hypothetical contests for the rest of the tournament — so you can know when it’s time to wake up to catch some international baseball. Pool Play March 4, Chinese Taipei @ Australia, 10 p.m. ET on FS1 The World Baseball Classic kicks off with Chinese Taipei taking on Australia in Tokyo, Japan in Pool C play. Neither is favored to win either their pool or the WBC at large, but none of that matters on day one — the fact the tourney is here at long last is reason enough to tune in. March 5, Czechia @ Republic of Korea, 5 a.m. ET on FS1 Korea is one of the better teams in Pool C and at the tournament — maybe not elite like Team USA or Japan, but capable of making some noise and hanging with any of the best. This one requires an early wakeup, but you get to see an intriguing Czechia squad as well. March 6, United States @ Brazil, 8 p.m. ET on FOX If you want to see Team USA in its first action of the tournament, it’s in primetime against Brazil, one of the biggest longshots of this year’s WBC. The USA has a loaded rotation – Aaron Judge, Tarik Skubal, Cal Raleigh to name a few stars – and this team is favored to win it all. March 7, Republic of Korea @ Japan, 5 a.m. ET on FS1 Japan, the Pool C favorite, takes on its most significant competition in the Republic of Korea. Shohei Ohtani isn’t pitching, but watching him at the plate is always a treat, and this is a chance to see new MLB players Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto in action as well for the defending WBC champions. March 8, Colombia @ Cuba, 12 p.m. ET on FOX Neither Cuba nor Colombia are expected to be a WBC power this year, but neither is one that can be ignored by the competition. That makes this game even more vital for both teams. Anything can happen in a tournament setting, and a win here increases the chances that either gets to stick around beyond pool play. March 9, Dominican Republic @ Israel, 12 p.m. ET on FS1 The Dominican Republic’s lineup is ridiculous, as expected — Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, Oneil Cruz, Julio Rodriguez, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Juan Soto all in one place? Even the big-spending Dodgers haven’t pulled that off (yet). March 10, Canada @ Puerto Rico, 7 p.m. ET on Tubi If Canada is going to get out of pool play, it will likely need a win against Puerto Rico late into the schedule. Josh Naylor will try to power Canada to a win, while Denzel Clarke is a threat to catch any ball that hasn’t cleared the fence. And also some that have. March 11, Dominican Republic @ Venezuela, 8 p.m. ET on FS1 This very well might be two of the top-five teams in the whole tournament facing off, and on the last day of pool play. Chances are good that the game will be for more than just Pool D bragging rights. The Dominican lineup is loaded, but Venezuela has Ronald Acuna Jr., Eugenio Suarez, Willson Contreras, Salvador Perez and Maikel Garcia, so it’s got plenty of pop, too. Quarterfinals Based on the current betting odds and favorites for pool play, here are the matchups you can expect in the quarterfinals and beyond. March 13, Pool A Runner-Up (Canada) @ Pool B Winner (United States), 8 p.m. ET on FOX Canada has talent, but this is probably the end of the road for the team given the tremendous pitching of the United States. You will want to watch either way, since a display of dominance or an upset is great television regardless. March 14, Pool D Runner-Up (Venezuela) @ Pool A Winner (Japan), 9 p.m. ET on FOX Under the assumption that the Dominican Republic wins Pool D and Japan wins on its home turf in Tokyo, we end up with Venezuela taking on the defending champions in the quarterfinals. Venezuela is an underdog here, but only slightly — this would be a serious clash. Semifinals March 15, Quarterfinal Winner (Puerto Rico) vs. Quarterfinal Winner (United States), 8 p.m. ET on FS1 Puerto Rico is favored to win Pool A, and here it would be in action against the would-be winner of Pool B – should the USA win the potential quarterfinal against Canada. Regardless of which starter is on the mound for the USA, viewers should be in for a treat. March 16, Quarterfinal Winner (Japan) vs. Quarterfinal Winner (Dominican Republic), 8 p.m. ET on FS1 Will Japan’s pitching, sans Ohtani, hold up against the intense lineup of the Dominican Republic? That would be must-watch TV, and not just because it’s the lone game on the schedule. Championship March 17, Semifinal Winner (United States) vs. Semifinal Winner (Japan), 8 p.m. ET on FOX The odds say that Japan does return to the Championship Game, leaving us with a rematch of the 2023 edition. Does the USA have the arms to get through this time? Or is a half-operational Ohtani still the most dangerous opponent around?]]>
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					<![CDATA[USA Baseball Schedule for World Baseball Classic Pool Play in Houston]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/usa-baseball-schedule-world-baseball-classic-pool-play-houston</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/usa-baseball-schedule-world-baseball-classic-pool-play-houston</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Here's when the USA will play its pool games and its potential knockout round games during the World Baseball Classic.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:52:29 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[After coming up just short in 2023, the USA has a roster that has it as the favorite entering the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The big difference? Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb headline an impressive pitching staff. USA’s journey will begin with pool play. All four of its games in Pool B will be played at Daikin Park (home of the Houston Astros) against Mexico, Italy, Great Britain and Brazil. The Americans’ quarterfinal game would also be in Houston before the semifinals and Championship Game take place at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins. [RELATED: Full World Baseball Classic broadcast schedule] You can catch all the action on FOX. Here's when you can tune in to watch Team USA this March: USA Pool B Schedule March 6 March 7 March 9 March 10 Quarterfinals If Team USA advances as the first-place team in Pool B, it will play in Houston at Daikin Park on March 13 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. If it finishes second in Pool B, it will play in Houston on March 14 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1. Every game in the knockout stage of the tournament will be on FOX Deportes, as well. Semifinals The two semifinals will be played on March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park in Miami. If the USA advances from the quarterfinals after winning Pool B, it will play on Sunday, March 15 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. If the USA advances coming out of Pool B as the runner-up, it will play on Monday, March 16, at 8 p.m. ET. Final The WBC final will be in Miami on Tuesday, March 17, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.]]>
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					<![CDATA[8 World Baseball Classic Matchups We Can't Wait To See]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/8-world-baseball-classic-matchups-we-cant-wait-see</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/8-world-baseball-classic-matchups-we-cant-wait-see</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[These are the can't-miss games of the 2026 World Baseball classic pool stage.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:50:27 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The United States is bringing its most talented roster ever to the 2026 World Baseball Classic with the hope of avenging its loss to three-time champions Japan in the 2023 championship game. But first, the two powerhouses will go through a gauntlet in the pool stage with the competition being as fierce and widespread as it has ever been. [RELATED: Full World Baseball Classic broadcast schedule] Here are eight games that will be appointment viewing in the pool stage of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, on FOX, FS1, FS2, the FOX Sports app, FOX One and Tubi. United States vs. Brazil (March 6, 8 p.m. ET on FOX) The U.S. will open its tournament against Brazil, which is making its first appearance at the tournament since 2013. Brazil went 3-1 in qualifying and secured the final spot in the tournament with a 6-4 win against Germany. Veteran infielder Leonardo Reginatto poses the biggest threat to the U.S., with the 34-year-old going 5-for-13 in qualifiers with three doubles and four RBIs. Great Britain vs. United States (March 7, 8 p.m. ET on FOX) Jazz Chisholm Jr. is representing Great Britain at the World Baseball classic, and the New York Yankees star is no stranger to the stars of the United States. In fact, he will go up against two of his Yankees teammates, Aaron Judge and David Bednar, and two of his New York Mets rivals, Nolan McLean and Clayton Holmes. Japan vs. South Korea (March 7, 5 a.m. ET on FS1) A historic rivalry will have its latest chapter at the Tokyo Dome in the pool stage. Japan crushed South Korea 13-4 in their last meeting at the tournament in 2023, with two-way superstar and 2023 World Baseball Classic MVP Shohei Ohtani leading the way for Japan. But South Korea now has its own phenom in 22-year-old Do-yeong Kim, who was named KBO MVP in 2024 after finishing the season with 38 home runs and 40 stolen bases. Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic (March 8, Noon ET on FS2) The Dominican Republic has the third-best odds to win the World Baseball Classic, and for good reason. Its roster is stacked with Major League talent, headlined by New York Mets star Juan Soto. The Dominican Republic didn't advance past the group pool in 2023, but the six-time Silver Slugger was a standout performer, going 6-for-15 at the plate with two home runs. Cuba vs. Puerto Rico (March 9, 7 p.m. ET on FS1) This won't just be a battle of heavyweights; it very well could determine who advances out of a tough Pool A that also features Canada, Panama and Colombia. New Los Angeles Dodgers ace Edwin Diaz will star on the mound for Puerto Pico, while eight-time All-Star Nolan Arenado will make his debut for Puerto Rico in 2026 after representing the U.S. in 2023. Mexico vs. United States (March 9, 8 p.m. ET on FOX) If the United States wants to finish at the top of Pool B, it will once again have to go through one of its oldest rivals in sports: Mexico. Led by Seattle Mariners star Randy Arozarena, Mexico finished ahead of the U.S. in 2023 pool play with a 3-1 record and 27 runs. Mexico made it to the semifinals but fell to Japan 6-5 in an instant classic. The U.S. might be out for revenge, but so too is Mexico. United States vs. Italy (March 10, 9 p.m. ET on FS1) Italy might not be one of the favorites to win the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but that was also the case when it made a surprise run to the quarterfinals in 2023. Now led by 2009 World Series champion Francisco Cervelli, Italy is in an even better position to make a deep run, and the U.S. will serve as a measuring stick for the Italians. Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela (March 11, 8 p.m. ET on FS1) The matchup between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela marks the only time in pool play that two teams with top-five odds to win the tournament will go head-to-head. Venezuela went 4-0 in pool play in 2023, which included a 5-1 win over the Dominican Republic. It reached the quarterfinals before losing to the U.S. 9-7 on a Trea Turner grand slam. Expect Ronaldo Acuna Jr. and Co. to be motivated going into this year's tournament.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Baseball Classic Broadcast Schedule: How To Watch Every Game on FOX]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/2026-world-baseball-classic-broadcast-schedule</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/2026-world-baseball-classic-broadcast-schedule</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Get the full broadcast schedule for the 2026 World Baseball Classic across FOX platforms.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:17:51 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[All-Stars, MVPs, and Cy Young winners. Plenty of MLB's best players will be taking the diamond and representing their countries at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. FOX Sports announced the U.S. broadcast schedule for the tournament, which will begin Wednesday, March 4 and conclude with the much-anticipated Championship Game at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, on Tuesday, March 17 (FOX, 8 p.m. ET). In all, the WBC's 47 games will air across FOX Sports' family of networks (FOX, FS1, FS2 and FOX Deportes), as well as the FOX Sports App and Tubi. All matchups will also be available to stream live and on-demand on FOX One. Additionally, 41 out of the 47 contests will air in Spanish across a combination of FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App, Tubi and FOX One. How to Watch the 2026 World Baseball Classic FOX is your exclusive home to the WBC with games spread across the FOX family of networks. FOX is set to air seven games, including three Pool B games featuring the United States team, two Quarterfinals games and the World Baseball Classic Championship Game on Tuesday, March 17 from Miami’s loanDepot Park. The remaining matchups will air across FS1, FS2, the FOX Sports app, FOX One and Tubi. Team USA is favored to win the tournament despite losing to Japan in the final in 2023. How to Stream the 2026 World Baseball Classic All 47 games will be available for streaming. Catch the action on the following streaming options: FOX Deportes will also carry 28 tournament games in Spanish, including all four quarterfinals games, two semifinals contests, and the Championship Game. Streaming services that carry FOX networks, like YouTube TV or Fubo, can be used to stream the tournament. The tournament will begin with Pool C play in Tokyo on March 4, with the remaining three pools – Pool A in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Pool B in Houston; and Pool D in Miami – beginning on Friday, March 6. Pool B features the star-studded Team USA, whose squad includes top players like Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. FOX will broadcast its first game when the USA plays its opening game against Brazil at Daikin Park (home of the Houston Astros) on Friday, March 6 at 8 p.m. ET. FOX will carry a total of seven games, including two quarterfinal games: in Houston on Friday, March 13 at 8 p.m. ET, and the matchup in Miami on Saturday, March 14 at 9 p.m. ET. FOX will also carry the Championship Game on Tuesday, March 17 at 8 p.m. ET. FS1 coverage, which will include 19 contests, will be headlined by coverage of the semifinals in Miami on Sunday, March 15 at 8 p.m. ET and Monday, March 16 at 8 p.m. ET. In addition, FS1 will air highly anticipated pool play matchups between Korea and Japan on Saturday, March 7 at 5:00 a.m. ET; Cuba and Puerto Rico on Monday, March 9 at 7:00 p.m. ET; and the Dominican Republic and Venezuela on Wednesday, March 11 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Here's the entire WBC broadcast schedule: World Baseball Classic Schedule All times are ET. March 4 (Wednesday) Chinese Taipei vs. Australia: 10 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes March 5 (Thursday) Czechia vs. Korea: 5 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes Australia vs. Czechia: 10 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes March 6 (Friday) Japan vs. Chinese Taipei: 5 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes Cuba vs. Panama: 11 a.m. on FS2/FOX Deportes Mexico vs. Great Britain: 1 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes Puerto Rico vs. Colombia: 6 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes USA vs. Brazil: 8 p.m. on FOX/FOX Deportes Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia: 10 p.m. on FS2 March 7 (Saturday) Korea vs. Japan: 5 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes Colombia vs. Canada: 11 a.m. on FS2/FOX Deportes Nicaragua vs. Netherlands: Noon on Tubi Brazil vs. Italy: 1 p.m. on FOX Sports App Panama vs. Puerto Rico: 6 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes Israel vs. Venezuela: 7 p.m. on FS2 Great Britain vs. USA: 8 p.m. on FOX Chinese Taipei vs. Korea: 10 p.m. on FS2 March 8 (Sunday) Australia vs. Japan: 6 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes Colombia vs. Cuba: Noon on FS2 Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic: Noon on FOX/FOX Deportes Great Britain vs. Italy: 1 p.m. on Tubi Panama vs. Canada: 7 p.m. on FS2 Nicaragua vs. Israel: 7 p.m. on Tubi Brazil vs. Mexico: 8 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes March 9 (Monday) Korea vs. Australia: 6 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes Colombia vs. Panama: Noon on FS2 Dominican Republic vs. Israel: Noon on FS1/FOX Deportes Brazil vs. Great Britain: 1 p.m. on Tubi Cuba vs. Puerto Rico: 7 p.m. on FS1 Venezuela vs. Nicaragua: 7 p.m. on FS2 Mexico vs. USA: 8 p.m. on FOX/FOX Deportes March 10 (Tuesday) Czechia vs. Japan: 6 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes Canada vs. Puerto Rico: 7 p.m. on Tubi Israel vs. Netherlands: 7 p.m. on FOX Sports App/FOX Deportes Italy vs. USA: 9 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes March 11 (Wednesday) Canada vs. Cuba: 3 p.m. on FS2/FOX Deportes Italy vs. Mexico: 7 p.m. on Tubi Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela: 8 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes March 13 (Friday) Quarterfinals 1. Pool C runner-up vs. Pool D winner: 6:30 p.m. on FS2/FOX Deportes 2. Pool A runner-up vs. Pool B winner: 8 p.m. on FOX/FOX Deportes March 14 (Saturday) Quarterfinals 3. Pool B runner-up vs. Pool A winner: 3 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes 4. Pool D runner-up vs. Pool C winner: 9 p.m. on FOX/FOX Deportes March 15 (Sunday) Semifinal 1. QF1 winner vs. QF2 winner: 8 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes March 16 (Monday) Semifinal 2. QF3 winner vs. QF4 winner: 8 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes March 17 (Tuesday) Championship SF1 winner vs. SF2 winner: 8 p.m. on FOX/FOX Deportes]]>
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					<![CDATA[How to Watch 2026 World Baseball Classic: Streaming, Teams, Dates]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/how-watch-2026-world-baseball-classic-teams-dates-streaming</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/how-watch-2026-world-baseball-classic-teams-dates-streaming</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Get ready for the 2026 World Baseball Classic! See the teams, pools, and how to watch every game live on FOX Sports from March 5 to March 17.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:07:14 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[We don't have to wait until Opening Day to see baseball's best. The World Baseball Classic is back, and starting on March 4, the world is watching. Check out everything you need to know to tune in. How to Watch the 2026 World Baseball Classic FOX is your exclusive home to the WBC with games spread across the FOX family of networks. FOX is set to air seven games, including three Pool B games featuring the United States team, two Quarterfinals games and the World Baseball Classic Championship Game on Tuesday, March 17 from Miami’s loanDepot Park. The remaining matchups will air across FS1, FS2, the FOX Sports app, FOX One and Tubi. Team USA is favored to win the tournament despite losing to Japan in the final in 2023. How to Stream the 2026 World Baseball Classic All 47 games will be available for streaming. Catch the action on the following streaming options: FOX Deportes will also carry 28 tournament games in Spanish, including all four quarterfinals games, two semifinals contests, and the Championship Game. Streaming services that carry FOX networks, like YouTube TV or Fubo, can be used to stream the tournament. When is the 2026 World Baseball Classic The tournament starts on March 4, 2026 at 10 p.m. ET with Chinese Taipei vs Australia and will wrap up on Tuesday, March 17 with the Championship Game. Team USA starts pool play on Friday, March 6 against Brazil. View the full WBC schedule here. Who is Playing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic? 20 teams will take to the diamond in this year's tournament. Below are the pools, where they will play and teams.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Baseball Classic Odds: Back Juan Soto, D.R. Ahead of WBC]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/2026-world-baseball-classic-odds-back-juan-soto-d-r-ahead-wbc</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/2026-world-baseball-classic-odds-back-juan-soto-d-r-ahead-wbc</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Team USA is favored to win the WBC, but Will Hill sees value in betting another juggernaut.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:09:17 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The World Baseball Classic returns this week, giving fans everywhere a chance to see the best players in the world compete for their respective countries. Twenty teams will be split into four groups (Pools A, B, C, and D) with two teams from each pool qualifying for the single elimination, knockout round, culminating with the WBC Final on Tuesday, March 17 in Miami. The last WBC was in 2023, and provided perhaps the most memorable moment in tournament history, when Team Japan defeated Team USA 3-2 after Shohei Ohtani struck out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout to clinch the championship. This is the sixth edition of the WBC, with Japan now going for its fourth championship, having won the title in 2006, 2009 and 2023. The Dominican Republic won in 2013 and the USA won in 2017. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Despite being a three-time champion, Japan is not the favorite this time around. That designation belongs to Team USA, which is at even money (a $10 bet returns $10), and a quick glance at its roster reveals why. Last summer, Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh were in a heated MVP race. This March, they will bat in the same lineup, along with Phillies’ teammates Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, as well as potential 2026 MVP candidates Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr. A loaded lineup will compliment a stacked pitching staff, headlined by Cy Young winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes, as well as Logan Webb — although the starting pitchers will be more so making cameos than throwing complete games. Team USA should sweep its way into the elimination round, and barring a stunning upset, will play deep into this tournament as the rightful favorite. Team Japan is the second favorite at +380, and if you’re wondering why the defending champ has such long odds, look no further than the pitching staff. The 2023 team was stacked with established MLB stars in Ohtani and Yu Darvish, as well as Roki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga (before their MLB debuts). This time around, none of those five elite arms will be at Japan’s disposal, as Ohtani will bat only, and the other four are not participating. Considering those pitching concerns, perhaps Japan could be knocked off in pool play, possibly by a team like South Korea (+850 to win Pool C), which has an intriguing mix of MLB and KBO talent. The team I like, however, at least from a betting perspective, is the Dominican Republic at +450 odds. Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ketel Marte are just four of the nine players on this team who garnered MVP consideration in 2025, creating a lineup that is every bit the equal as the favored USA. The starting pitching is very solid, but not spectacular, with Christopher Sanchez, Luis Severino and Sandy Alcántara headlining the staff, in front of a strong bullpen laden with MLB power arms. While the starting rotation is not elite, the bats can carry the D.R. to the knockout stage, where it can then deploy Cy Young runner-up Sanchez, and lean on what is a deep and potentially dominant bullpen. Again, while Team USA is the rightful favorite, the betting value lies with the Dominican Republic. If the D.R. does ultimately win, Soto, who has a flair for the dramatic in big games, is a very appealing choice for tournament MVP at +2800, considering his ability to get on base and hit for power. With the lineup surrounding Soto, pitching around him will likely not be the path opposing managers choose. There is too much MLB talent in this tournament to realistically expect a serious long shot to come through and win it all in Miami, and many teams can likely be crossed off when it comes to potential champion. While chalk should mostly prevail, I am going with the minor upset and taking the Domincan Republic to win it all, with Soto as my choice for MVP. PICK: Dominican Republic (+450) to win WBC PICK: Juan Soto (+2800) to win WBC MVP]]>
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					<![CDATA[The Top 10 Moments in World Baseball Classic History]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/world-baseball-classic-top-10-moments</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/world-baseball-classic-top-10-moments</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[These are the top 10 moments in World Baseball Classic history.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:08:12 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[We are about to embark on the sixth edition of the World Baseball Classic, and every year has brought bigger and better moments. As Japan looks to defend its third WBC title, we looked back at the best of the best from the first five tournaments. It's no surprise that Shohei Ohtani appears multiple times on this list, but his first appearance is getting struck out by an unlikely opponent. 10. Czech technician strikes out Ohtani (2023) The Czech Republic national baseball team might not be remembered for their short-lived, 1-3 appearance at the 2023 World Baseball classic, but Czech starting pitcher Ondrej Satoria will go down in the tournament's rich history for one unlikely inning against Ohtani. In his second meeting with Ohtani, Satoria, an electrician by day, struck out Ohtani on three pitches. The Czech Republic lost the game 10-2 and Satoria surrendered home runs, but they earned the respect of one of baseball's all-time greats. 9. Big Papi batflip (2006) David Ortiz was no stranger to bat flips during his Hall of Fame career, but arguably his most famous bat flip came against Cuba in the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic. In the sixth inning of the Dominican Republic's semifinal matchup with Cuba, Ortiz crushed a home run to give his country the lead. Cuba would ultimately win the game after a three-run seventh inning, but Ortiz's display of emotion has stood the test of time. 8. David Wright walkoff vs. PR (2009) One doesn't earn the nickname "Captain America" for Team USA without an iconic moment, and David Wright earned his at the 2009 World Baseball Classic. After getting mercy-ruled by Puerto Rico in a seven-inning, 11-1 loss in the preliminary round of the tournament, the United States found itself down 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning of its semifinal rematch with the Puerto Ricans. Then, in heroic fashion, the U.S. came roaring back with a three-run rally, which was capped off by Wright's electric two-run walk-off. The hobbled U.S. fell to Venezuela 10-6 in the championship game, but Wright had already cemented his legacy with the national team in the semifinals. 7. Nelson Cruz homer vs. Andrew Miller (2017) The defending champion Dominican Republic had an opportunity to make a statement against the U.S. in the pool stage of the 2017 World Baseball Classic, and it did just that. In its second pool stage game, the Dominican Republic overcame a five-run deficit to beat the U.S. 7-5. Nelson Cruz broke the game open in the eighth inning with a three-run homer off of Andrew Miller to make it 6-5, and Starling Marte added an insurance solo home run. That win secured the top spot in Pool C for the Dominican Republic and improved their all-time World Baseball Classic record to 10-0. 6. USA wins WBC (2017) It took four tries, but the United States finally lifted the World Baseball Classic trophy for the first time in 2017. Prior to the 2017 edition of the tournament, the U.S. had never advanced to the championship game, peaking at the semifinals in 2009. Marcus Stroman won MVP of the tournament after pitching six shutout innings in the championship game against Puerto Rico in an 8-0 win. Stroman posted a 2.35 ERA in 15.1 innings across three starts in the tournament. 5. Baez no-look tag (2017) The matchup between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Pico lived up to the hype at the 2017 World Baseball Classic. The game ended with one of the tournament's all-time defensive plays: a signature no-look tag from Javier Baez that gave Puerto Rico a 3-1 win over the DR, and the DR its first loss at the tournament since 2009. 4. Murakami walkoff vs. Mexico (2023) Japan's magical run at the 2023 World Baseball Classic was nearly cut short. In the semifinals of the tournament, Mexico had Samurai Japan on the ropes with a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning. With elimination imminent, Munetaka Murakami blasted a walk-off two-run double that gave Japan the 5-4 win, kept them undefeated in the tournament and secured its ticket to the final. 3. Adam Jones catch vs. DR (2017) Defense wins championships, or at least it did for the U.S. in 2017.  With the U.S. leading 4-2 in the seventh inning of its second-round matchup with the Dominican Republic, Manny Machado sent a ball flying deep into right center field, and if it weren't for an athletic play from the United States' Adam Jones, it likely would have made it over the wall. Instead, the Dominican Republic was eliminated in the second round of the tournament, and the U.S. went on to win it all. 2. Trea Turner grand slam vs. Venezuela (2023) Trea Turner's run at the 2023 World Baseball classic was one for the history books. Not only did Turner tie the record for most home runs in a single edition of the tournament (5); he saved the U.S. from an early exit in the quarterfinals with a grand slam in the eighth inning against Venezuela. Turner also homered in the championship game against Japan. 1. Trout vs. Ohtani (2023) It's what scriptwriters dream of. Teammates turned into enemies. Perennial MVP candidates going head-to-head on the international stage. A one-run game at the top of the ninth inning. What more could you ask for?]]>
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					<![CDATA[FOX Super 6 Contest: World Baseball Classic Picks]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/fox-super-6-contest-world-baseball-classic-picks</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/fox-super-6-contest-world-baseball-classic-picks</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Enter the free Super 6 Contest featuring the World Baseball Classic for a chance to win cash prizes! And don't worry — FOX Sports Research is here to help with your picks.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:39:59 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[What's better than watching baseball? Watching baseball and winning money! You can partake in the best of both worlds while watching the MLB World Series this weekend with our free-to-play FOX Super 6 game. How do you play? Enter the World Baseball Classic Super 6 contest by predicting the correct answers to six questions before the games start for your chance at weekly cash prizes. All you have to do is finish in the top six to win a prize. It really is that simple, and again, it's free. And if you need a little help before heading to the app to make your picks, we have you covered this week. Read below for our thoughts on the playoffs, which can be seen on FOX and the FOX Sports app. Let's dive into the questions and predictions below. 1. Which player will have the MOST RBIs in Pool Play? Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr. It has to be Ohtani or Judge here. Both the reigning MVPs of their respective leagues, Judge had the edge in the MLB regular season with 114 RBI to his name. He'll look to lead a USA team that lost to Japan in the final back in 2023. Prediction: Aaron Judge 2. Rank the teams by who will HIT THE MOST TOTAL HOME RUNS in Pool Play (highest to lowest): USA, Japan, Dominican Republic, Venezuela The United States won't face too much elite pitching in their pool, which features Mexico, Italy, Brazil, and Great Britain. Kyle Schwarber, Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge combined for a whopping 169 home runs in the regular season alone, not to mention all the other talent on the team. Expect to see several multi-homer games from multiple players on Team USA. The Dominican Republic won't be far off, with Junior Caminero and Juan Soto leading the way. Prediction: USA, Dominican Republic, Japan, Venezuela 3. Which player will score the MOST RUNS in Pool Play? Julio RodrÍguez, Bobby Witt Jr., Jackson Chourio, Jarren Duran Rodríguez is the only player on this list who eclipsed 100 runs scored in the 2025 MLB season. Witt Jr. wasn't far behind with 99. Expect him to continue his hot play, fresh off an ALCS run for the Mariners. In his four seasons in the Majors, he's totaled 368 runs scored behind 112 home runs in that span. Prediction: Julio Rodríguez 4. How many HITS will Cal Raleigh have in Pool Play? 0-9+, 0-7, 0-5, 0-33-5, 3-7, 3-9+5-7, 7-9+ Cal Raleigh had 147 hits in 149 games this past season, averaging out to 0.92 a game. But as mentioned earlier, the teams in Pool A pale in comparison to the star-studded USA roster. With four games in pool play, expect Raleigh to exceed five hits. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if the Mariners superstar surpassed seven. Prediction: 5-7 5. Which trio of hitters will have the MOST COMBINED HITS in Pool Play? Judge, Buxton, Harper Guerrero Jr., Marte, Tatís Jr.Ohtani, Yoshida, MurakamiBogaerts, Albies, Rafaela The Dominican Republic's roster is another loaded one, headlined by the trio above. Guerrero Jr., Marte and Tatís Jr. combined for 467 hits last season. While the USA's trio is tempting, the three hitters for the DR all surpassed over 135 hits on the year. The same cannot be said for Buxton or Harper. Prediction: Guerrero Jr., Marte, Tatís Jr. 6. Which pitcher will record the MOST STRIKEOUTS in Pool Play? Paul Skenes, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Logan Webb, Cristopher Sánchez The reigning NL Cy Young award winner has to be the pick here. He's coming off a 2025 campaign in which he recorded a 1.97 ERA behind 216 Ks in 187.2 innings pitched. Yamamoto is an excellent option here, but he's coming off a World Series run where he pitched in six games in the postseason. We'll take the fresher option in Skenes. Prediction: Paul Skenes]]>
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					<![CDATA[Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper Lead USA in Win Ahead Of World Baseball Classic]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/us-shows-offensive-muscle-in-151-win-over-giants-in-exhibition-before-world-baseball-classic</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/us-shows-offensive-muscle-in-151-win-over-giants-in-exhibition-before-world-baseball-classic</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The United States wasted little time showing how potent its roster could be at the upcoming World Baseball Classic]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:10:03 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The United States wasted little time showing how potent its roster could be at the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The Americans needed just three batters to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning of their exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday after Bobby Witt Jr. singled, Bryce Harper doubled and three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge hit a two-run single. The U.S. won 15-1 with a 19-hit performance in the 10-inning contest. Roman Anthony hit a two-run homer, Alex Bregman added a solo shot and Gunnar Henderson had a two-run double. "We’ve got a great group of guys," Harper said. "Bobby Witt starting it at the top, being a table-setter up there for us. Obviously, one through nine we've got a pretty good dynamic. We've just got to continue to be good." National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes had a solid outing, giving up one run and one hit while striking out four over three innings. The right-hander gave up a leadoff double to Willy Adames, who scored on a groundout. The 23-year-old retired his last nine batters. "It's a spring-training game, but it's still surreal," Skenes said. "It's going to be exciting when we get to Houston and it's the real deal." Left-hander Matthew Boyd followed Skenes, striking out four over 2 2/3 scoreless innings. David Bednar, Mason Miller, Griffin Jax and Gabe Speier each threw a scoreless inning. The Americans are trying to win their second WBC title and first since 2017. Manager Mark DeRosa said he was thrilled that all the starters stayed in the dugout well after being taken out of the game, talking with their temporary teammates. "You look down the dugout, you're seeing Bregman talking to Roman Anthony, you're seeing (Tarik) Skubal and Skenes on the top step, you're seeing Judge and (Cal) Raleigh talking," DeRosa said. "That's what I wanted to create, the coaching staff wanted to create — an environment where these guys didn't want to leave." Bregman — who lives in the Phoenix area — had several U.S. teammates over for dinner last night. He said 23-time U.S. gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps spoke to the group for motivation. "He just shared what it takes," Bregman said. "Controlling the controllables and getting after it." The U.S. will play one more exhibtion game in Arizona on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies before traveling to Houston on Thursday to prepare for the the group stage. San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb will start the opener against Brazil on Friday. Two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is expected to start Saturday against Britain, followed by Skenes vs. Mexico on Monday. New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean is tentatively scheduled to start on Tuesday in the final pool-play game against Italy, even though he’s dealing with vertigo-like symptoms and hopes to join the U.S. in Houston. DeRosa said after Tuesday's exhibition that McLean's health was improving. Skubal is expected to make just one start for the U.S. before rejoining the Detroit Tigers for the remainder of spring training.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Who are the Top 26 MLB Players in the 2026 World Baseball Classic?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/who-top-26-mlb-players-2026-world-baseball-classic</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/who-top-26-mlb-players-2026-world-baseball-classic</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Here are the top 26 MLB players - both position players and pitchers - in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 18:39:23 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[No one will be asking themselves, "Which MLB stars are playing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic?" Instead, they'll be asking, "Which MLB stars aren't playing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic?" Yes, this tournament is absolutely stacked with MLB's best. The games begin on Wednesday night and here are the 26 best players — positions players and pitchers — in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Note: Pitchers who are part of the Designated Pitcher Pool (e.g., Seattle Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo) aren't included in this list. Players that are part of a team's DPP (up to six pitchers) can be called up after the initial round. 26. Tampa Bay Rays 3B Junior Caminero (Dominican Republic) The 2025 season was Caminero's first extensive time at the big-league level, and he made himself known to the masses. Launching 45 home runs, posting a .535 slugging percentage and finishing in the top-eight percent of MLB in average exit velocity (92.4 mph) and hard-hit percentage (51.4%), Caminero was among the most dangerous hitters in the sport, an All-Star and held his own at third base. Caminero is a future star, if he isn't one already. 25. Boston Red Sox OF Jarren Duran (USA) Duran puts the ball in play with consistency, cranks out extra-base hits and is a steady, versatile presence on the outfield grass. Duran led the American League in triples in both 2024 and 2025, doubles in 2024 and posted 8.7 wins above replacement in 2024. Meanwhile, he has posted a combined 32 defensive runs saved in left field and center field since 2024. 24. Chicago Cubs 3B Alex Bregman (USA) Bregman is a proven commodity. The star third baseman is smooth at the hot corner and has a crisp swing from the right side of the plate. Bregman seldom strikes out, slugs at a plausible rate and remains a highly effective player. Last season, he totaled 18 home runs, 62 RBIs and 3.5 wins above replacement across 114 regular-season games with the Red Sox. 23. Los Angeles Dodgers C Will Smith (USA) Smith, an All-Star in each of the last three seasons, is among the elite catchers MLB has to offer. He's a veteran behind the plate and has a sweeping swing from the right side. Smith is coming off arguably his best offensive season in the big leagues, posting a career-high in batting average (.296), on-base percentage (.404), slugging percentage (.497) and OPS+ (152) in the regular season. And, of course, he hit the go-ahead home run for the Dodgers in the 11th inning of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. 22. San Diego Padres 3B Manny Machado (Dominican Republic) Machado is still raking. The star third baseman, who's a two-time Gold Glover and three-time Silver Slugger, is a smooth presence at third base and a potent presence at the plate. Last season, Machado finished in the top-eight percent of the sport in average exit velocity (92.9 mph) and hard-hit percentage (51.5%). This will be the third World Baseball Classic that Machado competes in. 21. Philadelphia Phillies 1B Bryce Harper (USA) His production has dipped a bit in recent years, but Harper remains one of the most intimidating hitters in the sport. Harper, a four-time Silver Slugger who made a successful transition from an outfielder to a first baseman in recent years, possesses mammoth power from the left side, boasts a career .519 regular season slugging percentage and a career .596 career postseason slugging percentage. This will be the first World Baseball Classic that Harper plays in. 20. Arizona Diamondbacks 2B Ketel Marte (Dominican Republic) Marte, who has extensive experience playing second base, shortstop and center field, is among the best players of his generation. Just one season removed from hitting a career-high 36 home runs and posting 6.8 wins above replacement, the switch-hitting Marte is both a balanced and impact hitter who's difficult to strikeout. A Silver Slugger in each of the last two seasons, Marte posted a .329/.380/.534 slash line for Arizona in the 2023 postseason en route to winning the NL pennant. 19. Arizona Diamondbacks SS Geraldo Perdomo (Dominican Republic) Perdomo is a burgeoning superstar. Already a stellar shortstop, it came together at the plate for Perdomo last season in emphatic fashion, with him totaling 20 home runs, 100 RBIs, 27 stolen bases and an NL-high 7.0 wins above replacement, while posting a .290/.389/.462 slash line. Defensively, he led the NL with 223 putouts and 84 double-plays turned. Perdomo finished fourth in National League MVP voting. He's an all-around force who's on the verge of being the face of the D-backs and challenging for the title of best overall shortstop in the sport. 18. Baltimore Orioles SS Gunnar Henderson (USA) Like the Orioles as a collective, Henderson is coming off a down season by his standards. Still, a "down" offensive year for Henderson (.274/.349/.438 slash line and 5.3 wins above replacement) is a quality year for the bulk of the sport. Henderson is an impact hitter who slugs at a high rate, swipes bags and is a reliable shortstop. In 2024, Henderson posted 9.1 wins above replacement and finished fourth in AL MVP voting. At his best, the 24-year-old Henderson is arguably a top-10 player. 17. San Diego Padres RF Fernando Tatis Jr. (Dominican Republic) When Tatis barrels up the baseball, it goes places. Last season, Tatis, a two-time Silver Slugger, finished in the top-five percent of MLB in average exit velocity (93.3 mph) and top-seven percent in hard-hit percentage (51.8%). Meanwhile, he posted 5.9 wins above replacement in 2025 and has won a Gold Glove in right field in two of the last three seasons (2023 and 2025). One of the faces of the sport in recent memory, Tatis is an explosive, right-handed hitter who has shown up in the postseason (career .317/.414/.700 postseason slash line). 16. Chicago Cubs CF Pete Crow-Armstrong (USA) Crow-Armstrong gave a compelling glimpse of what's to come in his MLB career in 2025. Showcasing power from the left side, flying around and creating havoc on the basepath and playing center field at a high level, the young Cubs' star was among the individual storylines of the 2025 season; he totaled 31 home runs, 95 RBIs, 35 stolen bases, 6.0 wins above replacement and 15 DRS in center field. Crow-Armstrong, who earned a Gold Glove and an All-Star nod, has "future star" written all over him. 15. Seattle Mariners CF Julio Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) Rodriguez is a special talent. He has thumping power at the plate, moves well, has great range in center field and possesses a reputable arm. It's all about him being consistent. Last season, Rodriguez, a two-time Silver Slugger and three-time All-Star who boasts a career 130 OPS+, totaled 32 home runs, 95 RBIs, 30 stolen bases, a career-high 6.8 wins above replacement and nine DRS in center field. In the postseason, he blasted four home runs. Rodriguez is a star player with superstar talent. 14. Philadelphia Phillies LHP Cristopher Sanchez (Dominican Republic) One could argue that Sanchez has become Philadelphia's ace. The southpaw's strikeout rate has increased in recent years, he's pitching deep into games and coming off a breakout season. In 2025, Sanchez recorded a 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 212 strikeouts, 176 ERA+ and an NL-high 8.0 wins above replacement, with him finishing as the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award. He then posted a 2.25 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 12.0 innings pitched in two starts for the Phillies in the postseason. Sanchez is finding success while relying on three pitches: sinker, changeup and slider. 13. Boston Red Sox LHP Ranger Suarez (Venezuela) Injuries have been a hindrance to Suarez (he has never made 30 starts in a single season), but the left-hander is a force to be reckoned with when he's on the hill. Suarez, who deploys a consistent, five-pitch arsenal (sinker, changeup, cutter, curveball and four-seamer), works out of trouble and has been spectacular in the postseason (Suarez has a career 1.48 ERA over 42.2 innings pitched in the postseason). After spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Phillies (2018-25), Suarez signed a five-year deal with the Red Sox in the offseason. 12. San Francisco Giants RHP Logan Webb (USA) Webb has been the rock for San Francisco's pitching staff. He pitches deep into games, finds success with a sinker as his primary pitch and won a Gold Glove at his position last season. On that note, Webb posted an NL- and career-high 224 strikeouts in 2025, which also marked the third consecutive season that he led the NL in innings pitched and finished top-six in NL Cy Young Award voting. Webb, who owns a career 3.38 ERA, surrendered just one run across 14.2 innings pitched across two starts for the Giants in the 2021 postseason. 11. Philadelphia Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber (USA) If we're ranking based on raw power, Schwarber is probably No. 1 in the sport. The Phillies' slugger rips from the left side with his level, compact swing and is coming off the best statistical season of his career. In 2025, he totaled an NL- and career-high in home runs (56) and RBIs (132), while posting a .563 slugging percentage. Schwarber has ranked in the top-six percent of MLB in average exit velocity in each of the last four seasons and in the top-two percent in hard-hit percentage in three of the last four seasons. 10. Atlanta Braves RF Ronald Acuna Jr. (Venezuela) Acuna is among the most gifted players in the sport. His exceptional talent has somewhat fallen under the radar in recent years due to him tearing his ACL in 2024. At full strength, Acuna is a dynamic force who has resounding power from the right side and wreaks havoc on the basepath. Still, across just 95 games last season (Acuna made his 2025 debut on May 23), he hit 21 home runs, posted a .518 slugging percentage and 3.0 wins above replacement. Acuna, a three-time Silver Slugger, won the 2023 NL MVP in a campaign that saw him reach the 40-40 mark (40 home runs and 40 stolen bases), while leading the sport with 217 hits and 73 stolen bases. 9. Seattle Mariners C Cal Raleigh (USA) Raleigh is arguably the best catcher in MLB. Totaling an AL-high 60 home runs — an MLB record for a catcher — and 125 RBIs, while posting a .589 slugging percentage, 169 OPS+ and 7.4 wins above replacement, Raleigh, a 2024 Gold Glover, led the Mariners to their first appearance in the American League Championship Series in 24 years last year. Raleigh, who was the runner-up for the 2025 AL MVP Award, does damage from both sides of the plate, was already a source of power pre-2025 (30.3 home runs per season from 2022-24) and is a linchpin behind the plate for Seattle. 8. New York Mets OF Juan Soto (Dominican Republic) Soto is money. He's pound-for-pound as balanced and clutch as any hitter in the sport in both the regular season and postseason. An impact left-handed hitter, Soto drives the ball to all fields, works the count and stole an NL- and career-high 38 bases in 2025, his first season with the Mets. Soto, who has a career .531 regular season slugging percentage and .538 postseason slugging percentage, has finished in the top-one percent of MLB in hard-hit percentage in two of the last three seasons and top-four percent in average exit velocity in each of the last three seasons. He has hit 42 home runs per season from 2024-25. 7. Toronto Blue Jays 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Dominican Republic) Already a fearsome right-handed hitter with considerable power, Guerrero went off in the 2025 postseason. Guerrero, a five-time All-Star, totaled eight home runs and 15 RBIs, while posting a .397/.494/.795 slash line across Toronto's 18 postseason games. The career-long Blue Jays' infielder seldom strikes out, has a career 136 OPS+ and posted a career-high 8 DRS at first base in the regular season. Guerrero is one of the best all-around hitters in the sport and the 2025 postseason may have been his next step in entering the conversation as the game's best player. 6. Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Japan) It took Yamamoto about six seconds to become one of MLB's best starting pitchers. In his two years on the MLB scene (2024-2025), the Dodgers' ace has been exceptional, logging strikeouts at a high rate, pitching deep into games and finding success with his four-seamer and split-finger fastball. Last season, Yamamoto recorded a 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 201 strikeouts and a 167 ERA+ across 173.2 innings pitched (30 starts). Then, he posted a mere 1.45 ERA and 0.78 WHIP across 37.1 innings pitched in the postseason (six appearances/five starts), highlighted by two complete games and pitching 2.2 scoreless innings of relief in Game 7 of the World Series after already making two starts in the series. 5. Kansas City Royals SS Bobby Witt Jr. (USA) Witt has lived up to the hype and then some. The star shortstop has developed into one of the elite players at his position and one of the game's elite hitters. Witt, a Silver Slugger and Gold Glover in each of the last two seasons, led the AL in batting average in 2024 (.332), hits in each of the last two seasons and doubles in 2025 (47). Meanwhile, he has averaged 8.3 wins above replacement per season from 2024-25 and 39.3 stolen bases per season from 2023-25. Witt does it all. He hits for contact and power, creates problems with his legs and is a well-rounded fielder. 4. Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (USA) One would never guess that Skenes has made just 55 MLB starts after watching him pitch one inning. The hard-throwing Pirates right-hander has been a formidable ace since making his MLB debut in May 2024. He owns a career 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 215 ERA+. Last season, Skenes posted 7.7 wins above replacement and 216 strikeouts across 187.2 innings pitched (32 starts), helping him win the 2025 NL Cy Young Award. Skenes dominates hitters with his four-seamer, makes them silly with his sweeper and split-finger fastball, among other pitches. 3. Detroit Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (USA) He'll only make one start in the tournament, but Skubal is the best pitcher in the sport. The southpaw has won each of the last two American League Cy Young Awards, leading the AL in ERA, ERA+ and wins above replacement in both 2024 and 2025. Skubal finds success with a changeup and four-seamer and is coming off a monster season that saw him post a 2.21 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, a 187 ERA+, 241 strikeouts and 6.5 wins above replacement in 31 regular-season starts (195.1 innings pitched). Then, Skubal surrendered just four runs while posting 36 strikeouts and an 0.68 WHIP in a combined 20.2 innings pitched across three postseason starts. 2. New York Yankees OF Aaron Judge (USA) Judge is the best pure position player in the sport and the best of his generation post-Mike Trout. The Yankees' superstar has consistently hit at a historic level and been a comforting presence in the outfield, particularly in right field. Judge has won three of the last four AL MVP Awards, while hitting 50-plus home runs and leading the AL in wins above replacement, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and walks in each of those MVP seasons (2022, 2024 and 2025). He has a level, compact swing that generates overwhelming power. Evidence? Judge has finished in the top-one percent of MLB in average exit velocity and hard-hit percentage in eight of the last 10 seasons. He's arguably the best player to suit up for the Yankees in the 21st century. 1. Los Angeles Dodgers DH/RHP Shohei Ohtani (Japan) He's not pitching in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but, when playing both ways — like the Dodgers' superstar did in 2025 — Ohtani, a four-time MVP, is the best overall player on the planet. Ohtani has tremendous power from the left side of the plate, can swipe bags at a high rate and became the first 50-50 player in MLB history in 2024 (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases). As a pitcher, Ohtani, who owns a career 3.00 ERA, finds success by primarily throwing his four-seamer and sweeper. The only comparable player to Ohtani in MLB history is Babe Ruth. That's where we're at. Ohtani is a generational and historical talent in professional sports.]]>
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					<![CDATA[From The Dugout: World Baseball Classic Is A Preview Of Baseball's Future]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/world-baseball-classic-2026-preview-baseball-future</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/world-baseball-classic-2026-preview-baseball-future</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The World Baseball Classic is ushering a new era by giving MLB fans some October drama in March.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:30:20 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[One of the most electric moments in baseball over the last decade didn’t happen in October. It didn’t come under the weight of a 162-game grind, or for the prize of a Commissioner's Trophy. It came in March, with two countries stopping time, holding their breath, as Shohei Ohtani toed the rubber 60 feet and six inches from his then-longtime teammate, Mike Trout. Two of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history stared each other down in the championship game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Millions of people stopped what they were doing and watched the high-stakes showdown. Social-media videos showed commuters gathered around small cell-phone screens in airports, train stations and stores to witness Ohtani striking out Trout and winning the title for Japan. At the time, it felt like compelling theater. Three years later, we can now view that celebrated at-bat as a revelation. For years, the WBC was treated as an exhibition with too many risks attached to make the tournament truly meaningful. It disrupts spring training and the calculated management of workload build up, and it increases the potential for injury. Due to the timing of the tournament, players typically turned down requests to participate, citing their health and the importance of the MLB season. It was customary to expect just a sprinkling of big-name stars to play in the WBC, when the event was considered an unnecessary novelty that was rudely squeezed into spring training. Now, we’re seeing stacked rosters that resemble the Avengers of baseball for almost every top contender. It’s now more surprising if the game’s top players aren’t participating, with a foreknown injury serving as the only suitable excuse to miss it. The emotion, urgency and viewership we saw in the last WBC, peaking during that Trout-Ohtani at-bat, suggested that the tournament meant more — globally — than it used to, and maybe even more than anyone thought it would. People delayed boarding their WiFi-less planes or getting to where they needed to go in order to absorb even another second of the dramatic action. How many sporting events still exist that can stop time like that? The WBC is no longer a sideshow orbiting Major League Baseball. The tournament has shifted to spotlighting what a sport can look like when national pride, global stars and meaningful stakes collide. That shift says as much about baseball’s future as it does about one unforgettable at-bat. Consider how the global tournament used to be viewed. The inaugural 2006 WBC was widely regarded by MLB executives, managers and media as a silly interruption to the traditional spring training schedule, posing significant risks to the upcoming and more important regular season. Critics, including former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, openly expressed their disapproval. After Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, Al Leiter and Bernie Williams left Yankees camp for the inaugural WBC, Steinbrenner publicly praised Hideki Matsui for staying with the team rather than playing for Japan. New York’s disgruntled principal owner, who even cared about the Yankees winning March exhibition games, said that the players were "risking a lot" by participating in a "terrible idea." Owners and players, as we know, don't always share the same perspective. The success of recent tournaments has resulted in more MLB players being interested in playing for their national teams. This year, the Yankees saw 12 players depart spring training for the WBC, including their most important player, Aaron Judge. The reigning three-time American League MVP is suiting up as the captain of the United States to play in the WBC for the first time in his career. Judge’s involvement has drawn more eyeballs to the tournament and generated more enrollment from his fellow peers. This year, Team USA has concocted the best roster of any team in WBC history. The United States is determined to avenge its 2023 WBC finals loss and reclaim glory because winning the tournament has become that important, both domestically and internationally. Stadiums are now packed to the rafters with fans going all out — waving flags, banging drums, painting their bodies and spending money they don’t have — to support their countries and teams. High-pressure plays and patriotic moments of glory go viral on social media, helping the sport go global beyond just the algorithms of baseball aficionados. The intense pride of playing for your country is the bedrock of the tournament. Now, players are openly saying that playing in the WBC and representing their countries is the most meaningful baseball of their careers. The conversation has shifted from "Should MLB players participate?" to "How soon until the next WBC?" Of course, fans still worry about injuries. The population of Detroit is thrilled Tarik Skubal is only making one first-round start for Team USA. But everyone else who wanted to see the game's best pitcher go up against the world's best hitters was disappointed. Since gaining popularity and success, some fans wish that the tournament was longer than two weeks. Why not prolong the excitement? Why not more battles between dueling baseball nations? There’s a World Cup energy to the WBC because it’s a sprint, unlike the marathon of the regular season. And, in the TikTok generation where attention spans are shrinking, sprints resonate with larger audiences more than marathons. The buildup to the tournament feels different this time. There are more global superstars repping their countries, hungry to dethrone Ohtani and Samurai Japan. The reigning champions can be legitimately threatened by their competition. The Dominican Republic roster, led by Juan Soto, is the best it's ever been. Venezuela, led by Ronald Acuña Jr. and Jackson Chourio, is capable of winning it all. Even Canada, which typically struggles to roster major-league players, is a dark-horse candidate to go the distance. Most astonishingly, for the first time in WBC history, it wasn’t so difficult to convince top major-league pitchers to break from their spring routines and participate in the tournament. Team USA’s rotation features the reigning Cy Young award winners from each league in Paul Skenes and Skubal. With elite talent in team rotations, bullpens, and lineups, there’s a playoff-level urgency brewing to bring home the gold throughout the WBC field. So, what can MLB learn from the increasing popularity of the WBC? It can start by analyzing its own locker rooms. Major League Baseball has never been more international, featuring multilingual clubhouses and MVP candidates hailing from Japan, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and beyond. International free agency has drawn increased interest, highlighted by the league-wide pursuit of Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki last offseason. And, more than a quarter of MLB’s current active players originally signed as international amateur free agents. Yet, MLB still largely markets itself as a domestic league with international contributors. Regular season games feel regional. Rivalries are division-based. The league emphasizes the nostalgia of America’s national pastime, like the recurring "Field of Dreams" games, promoting baseball as a deeply rooted institution. In contrast, the WBC flips that framing and shows baseball as a global sport first. WBC games are international, urgent and emotional. Every pitch carries visible stakes, emanating from the diamond and reaching the tops of the rafters. Community-driven passion and pride lead to raucous, bubbly atmospheres, complete with trumpets, various brass horns, cowbells, drums, and ōendan, or Japanese fan-led cheering squads. Baseball environments are high energy and festive, designed to support the home team and intimidate the opponent. The WBC shows baseball at its loudest and proudest, displaying unapologetic cultural expression, and MLB could lean into that identity year-round. It would only require capturing a fracture of that atmosphere more consistently. The upcoming tournament is a good time to start paying attention. The increased interest in the WBC is in part due to players weighing all the risks against the reward of honoring their families and representing their countries. Some of those risks include messing with pitcher workloads, freak injuries (like closer Edwin Diaz’s complete tear of his patellar tendon while celebrating a win on the mound), future contract diminishment, and even organizational hesitation. Steinbrenner wasn’t alone in voicing his concerns over the WBC, and that sentiment still exists within front offices. But, over the years, players have decided that the reward is worth the risk. Global dominance and bragging rights matter. Cultural connection is as important to the product on the field as the consumers in the stands. One of the biggest storylines surrounding the WBC this year involves the absence of superstars playing in the tournament because of insurance issues related to injuries. It’s too bad we won’t see Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Javier Baez playing for Puerto Rico, and the roster is worse because of it. Isn’t it possible that the short-term injury risks could be outweighed by the long-term global investment in the sport? October still decides championships, but March may now decide the future of baseball. This WBC doesn’t feel like an interruption to the main event. It feels like a destination. Baseball doesn’t have to choose between its league and the world stage. But it can no longer pretend the world stage is secondary. The success of the WBC is proof that baseball’s heartbeat is increasingly international.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Max Scherzer: Daughter's Letter to Blue Jays the 'Cutest Thing You Can Imagine']]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/free-agent-max-scherzer-blue-jays-daughter</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/free-agent-max-scherzer-blue-jays-daughter</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Max Scherzer says the note his daughter wrote arose as his kids were writing letters to Santa Claus in December.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 13:42:48 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Max Scherzer says the note his daughter composed asking the Toronto Blue Jays to re-sign the three-time Cy Young Award winner arose as his kids were writing letters to Santa Claus in December. After Scherzer agreed last week to a $3 million, one-year contract to return to the Blue Jays, his wife posted on Instagram the handwritten note from their 8-year-old daughter, Brooke. "It’s the cutest thing you can possibly imagine when you read that, how much it meant to her to be in Toronto," Scherzer told reporters Tuesday after his deal was finalized. Scherzer said his kids were writing letters expressing what they wanted from Santa when Brooke approached him and his wife, Erica May-Scherzer. The 8-year-old asked for a stamp and then put it on a sealed envelope that she handed to her parents. After Brooke went to bed, her parents opened the letter to see what she had written. "Dear Blue Jays," the note began, "I am so sorry that you didn’t win the World Series. I hope that you win next time. I hope my dad is back on the team. My whole family loves spending time in Toronto with our dad. We loved the aquarium, the (CN) Tower and of course the stadium. I am looking forward to come back next season. Love, Max Scherzer daughter." Scherzer noted he and his wife didn’t send the letter to the Blue Jays. "That’s a bad negotiating tactic," Scherzer said with a laugh. Scherzer, 41, wanted to return to Toronto after the Blue Jays came so close to winning the World Series last season. The Blue Jays led in the ninth inning of Game 7 before falling 5-4 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 11th. "Obviously we came as close as you possibly can to winning the whole thing - something you can never get over, forget or anything of that nature," said Scherzer, who won World Series rings with Washington in 2019 and Texas in 2023. "That was a huge reason why I wanted to come back. This team can win. I wanted to be a part of it." Scherzer said he’s right on schedule for the start of the season after dealing with a thumb injury for much of last year. "I feel healthy," Scherzer said. Scherzer went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 regular-season starts last year. He also was the winning pitcher in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series with Seattle and made two starts in the World Series. He wanted to return to Toronto but understood the uncertainty that comes with being a free agent. His deal with the Jays includes $10 million in available performance bonuses for innings, "Free agency is a weird animal," Scherzer said. "I’ve been through it many times. You think it’s going to go one way and it goes another way. I kind of knew not to get my hopes up, but like I said, I was going to be picky about where I went. I wasn’t just going to sign with anybody. There was only a couple of teams I’d sign with at this point in time, and obviously Toronto was one of them." Reporting by The Associated Press]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Baseball Classic Odds: USA, Japan Favored]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/2026-world-baseball-classic-odds</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/2026-world-baseball-classic-odds</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The World Baseball Classic begins tomorrow. Where does the USA sit on the oddsboard ahead of the tournament? Here's the latest.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:06:21 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The next major event on the baseball calendar before MLB Opening Day is the World Baseball Classic. Airing on FOX and its affiliate networks and beginning with pool play on March 4, the sixth iteration of this tournament will feature 20 countries and territories whose best players will compete to prove that their country is the crème de la crème of professional baseball. With that in mind, let's dive into the early odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of March 3. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. World Baseball Classic 2026 USA: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)Japan: +330 (bet $10 to win $43 total)Dominican Republic: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)Venezuela: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)Puerto Rico: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)Mexico: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Canada: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)South Korea: +6500 (bet $10 to win $660 total)Italy: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)Cuba: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)Colombia: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)Panama: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)Netherlands: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)Chinese Taipei: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)Israel: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)Great Britain: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)Australia: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)Czech Republic: +40000 (bet $10 to win $4,010 total)Nicaragua: +40000 (bet $10 to win $4,010 total)Brazil: +40000 (bet $10 to win $4,010 total) Here is what to know about the WBC oddsboard: WBC Favorites: The USA is the favorite to take the crown in the premier global event, followed by Japan. In fact, the USA saw its odds shorten, moving slightly to -110 from +100, in the wake of the news that "Captain America" Mike Trout wouldn't be playing in this year's WBC after not securing insurance to cover his existing MLB contract. In 2023, the United States finished as runner-up to Japan, losing 3-2. The final at-bat of the thrilling championship game featured Shohei Ohtani pitching to Trout. The two were teammates at the time on the Angels. Ohtani was able to strike out Trout in that final at-bat, lifting his home country to victory and earning Japan's third World Baseball Classic title in the process. The USA has one piece of WBC hardware in its trophy case, last winning the event in 2017 after defeating Puerto Rico. Familial Territory: Speaking of Puerto Rico, at +1800, the U.S. territory is fifth on the board. In addition to finishing as runner-up to the USA in 2017, P.R. was runner-up to the Dominican Republic in 2013. Unfortunately for Puerto Rico, the team will have to compete in the classic without one of its biggest stars, Kiké Hernández. The Dodgers' utility player announced that he underwent left elbow surgery recently which will prevent him from playing in the tournament in the spring. Another player that will be missing from the roster is Carlos Correa. Like Team USA's Trout, he was unable to acquire insurance. After it was announced that Correa wouldn't play in the Classic, Puerto Rico's odds lengthened from +1300.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Dominican Republic's Best World Baseball Classic Lineup: 'Plátano Power' Is Back]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/dominican-republics-best-world-baseball-classic-lineup</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/dominican-republics-best-world-baseball-classic-lineup</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Talk about an embarrassment of riches. The Dominican Republic's lineup can power its way to the World Baseball Classic title.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:27:41 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Talk about an embarrassment of riches. The Dominican Republic's roster for this year’s World Baseball Classic is fully-loaded with a "Plátano Power" version of the Avengers’ superhero cast. From Juan Soto to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to Ketel Marte to Fernando Tatis Jr. to Manny Machado to Julio Rodriguez to Sandy Alcantara to Carlos Estevez, the ample amount of star power on this roster is dizzying. It’s clear that this high-octane team, managed by future first-ballot Hall of Famer Albert Pujols, has redemption on its mind. In the 2023 WBC, an almost-as-stacked Dominican Republic team did not even advance to the knockout stage. They went 2-2 in the group round, picking up wins over basement dwellers like Israel and Nicaragua before falling to Venezuela and Puerto Rico and getting eliminated from the tournament. It was an unacceptable result for a bona fide baseball nation that’s celebrated for being the top international pipeline for major-league talent. Since the tournament's inaugural 2006 season, the Dominican Republic has one WBC title, which was won in 2013, and one semifinal appearance. WBC Rosters: Team-By-Team SquadsWBC Power Rankings: Stacking Japan, USA and All 20 Squads The widespread expectations match the country's talent level. Everyone expects them to be better. So this time, it sure looks like Pujols and his general manager, seven-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger Nelson Cruz, were only interested in recruiting the most elite players for every position. There are reinforcements throughout the roster, and this year’s Dominican Republic squad outclasses the 2023 WBC team on every level, which means expectations are once again skyrocketing. So, good luck to opposing pitchers attempting to game plan against this comic-book offense. There is no other way to put it. This Dominican Republic lineup is nuts. Lineup And how would that look defensively? Outfield LF: Juan Soto CF: Julio Rodriguez RF: Fernando Tatis Jr. This will be the everyday outfield alignment, and it is absolutely unmatched. Being able to slot Soto, Rodriguez and Tatis into the same outfield is the stuff movies are made of. There are 10 Silver Slugger awards and 10 All-Star honors between the three of them. And the accolades of this potent team continue climbing in the infield. Infield 1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2B: Ketel Marte SS: Geraldo Perdomo 3B: Manny Machado C: Augustin Ramirez DH: Junior Caminero Most of these positions are mainstays, except for shortstop and catcher. Pujols can swap Perdomo (led the National League with a 7.0 WAR, per Baseball-Reference, last year) for shortstop Jeremy Peña (bounced back after a couple of down years and batted .304 with an .840 OPS for the Astros last season). The D.R. is also rostering catcher Austin Wells behind Ramirez. Wells was inconsistent last year in his sophomore season after finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting in 2024, but he still crushed 21 home runs in 126 games. And with Guerrero, Marte, Machacho, Caminero, Soto, Tatis and Rodriguez carrying the offense, Pujols can’t go wrong with however he chooses to fill out the rest of the lineup. Rotation RHP Sandy Alcántara LHP Cristopher Sanchez RHP Luis Severino RHP Brayan Bello Alcántara, the 2022 National League Cy Young award winner, will get the nod against Venezuela in the final matchup of Pool D. Sanchez, who led all major-league pitchers with an 8.0 WAR for the Phillies last season and was snubbed out of an All-Star appearance, will kick off the group stage with his start against Nicaragua. Severino, who was vocally upset about his extreme home/road splits pitching in his first season at the Athletics' hitter-friendly ballpark, will take the hill against the Netherlands. Bello will take on Israel before the much-anticipated finale of pool play in Miami. Bullpen RHP Carlos Estevez RHP Abner Uribe RHP Dennis Santana LHP Gregory Soto RHP Camilo Doval RHP Huascar Brazoban LHP Wandy Peralta The bullpen, too, is exceptionally strong, led by the 2025 MLB saves leader in Estevez. Behind him, Uribe’s 1.67 ERA ranked third among all major-league relievers last season. Santana turned in his career-best season for the Pirates last year, recording a 2.15 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 70 innings pitched. Consider it a fool’s errand to try and find a weakness on this roster.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Astros’ Tatsuya Imai Throws Scoreless Inning, Hit by Comebacker in Spring Training Debut]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/tatsuya-imai-throws-scoreless-inning-struck-by-comebacker-in-astros-exhibition-debut</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/tatsuya-imai-throws-scoreless-inning-struck-by-comebacker-in-astros-exhibition-debut</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai threw a 10-pitch scoreless inning in his spring debut for the Houston Astros.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:20:44 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai threw a 10-pitch scoreless inning and was struck by a comebacker in his spring training debut for the Houston Astros on Thursday against the New York Mets. Imai allowed a leadoff single to Marcus Semien, whose sharp hit ricocheted off the pitcher's lower right leg and went into foul territory. Imai was checked by an athletic trainer and stayed in the game. "That was not what we wanted to to see. But, you know, he came back and got out of that inning, 10 pitches, up to 95 (mph)," Astros manager Joe Espada said. "He looked really good out there." Imai finished what he said was his one scheduled inning by getting Mike Tauchman on an infield popout before Bo Bichette grounded into a double play. "It was fun just being able to face hitters from a different organization," Imai said through a translator. The 27-year Imai was a three-time All-Star in Japan before agreeing in January to a $54 million, three-year contract with the Astros. Houston lost Framber Valdez when he left as a free agent and signed with Detroit. Eight of Imai's 10 pitches were strikes, and he threw only sinkers and changeups. All three balls put into play, none out of the infield, came on changeups, and the Astros didn't send him back out for another inning. "He was efficient enough where we thought about it, but thought that was enough there, especially with getting hit in the leg," Espada said, adding, "He's going to be sore tomorrow, that's for sure." Imai had 0-2 counts on Semien and Tauchman. Bichette's inning-ending grounder to third base came on the first pitch, an 87 mph changeup. "With the different baseball in the big leagues, I’ve been working on kind of being able to throw all of my pitches in a zone," Imai said. "That being said, I was kind of too much focused on throwing in the zone as opposed to executing certain pitches. So yeah, that’s something I will definitely keep working on." Imai was 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA last season for the Pacific League’s Seibu Lions, striking out 178 in 163 2/3 innings. He was 58-45 with a 3.15 ERA in eight seasons with Seibu. His contract with the Astros included a $2 million signing bonus and salaries of $16 million this year and $18 million in each of the next two seasons. Based on his 2026 performance, his 2027 salary would escalate by $2 million each for 80, 90 and 100 innings, and his 2028 salary by $1 million for each level. He can opt out after the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Padres Reliever Yuki Matsui Ruled Out of WBC for Japan Due to Groin Strain]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/padres-reliever-matsui-out-of-wbc-for-japan-and-uncertain-for-mlb-opener-because-of-groin-strain</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/padres-reliever-matsui-out-of-wbc-for-japan-and-uncertain-for-mlb-opener-because-of-groin-strain</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Padres reliever Yuki Matsui’s will not pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:12:34 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Padres reliever Yuki Matsui’s will not pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic and the left-hander's status for San Diego's season opener in a month also is unclear because of a left groin strain. Matsui was still throwing off flat ground Thursday, a week after cutting short a batting practice session because of the groin. "Right now, I’m just continuing the throwing progression, getting intensities and distances of (playing) catch back up," Matsui told reporters through a translator. "Once it’s good enough, then I’ll start throwing off the mound. But as to when, we don’t know yet." The 30-year-old Matsui, who is 7-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 125 appearances in two seasons since signing a $28 million, five-year with Padres, also said he wasn't sure yet about opening day. San Diego's opener is March 26 at home against Detroit. Defending WBC champion Japan opens against Taiwan on March 6 at the Tokyo Dome. Matsui was replaced on Japan’s roster by left-hander Yumeto Kanemaru of the Chunichi Dragons. "I was looking forward to playing with them," Matsui said. "I think the Tokyo games, because of the time differences, I don’t think I can watch in real time. But I believe they’re going to make it to the round in Miami. And I think that’s when I’ll be able to watch live, and cheer for them." Before the 5-foot-8 Matsui joined the Padres, he had a 2.40 career ERA, 236 saves and a 1.11 WHIP over 10 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball. He was the youngest pitcher in the Japanese major leagues to reach 200 saves,. He made his Japanese big league debut at age 18 in 2014 and became a five-time All-Star for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, leading the Pacific League in saves in 2019, 2022 and 2023. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Venezuela’s Best World Baseball Classic Lineup: Star Power From Top To Bottom]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/venezuela-best-world-baseball-classic-lineup-ronald-acuna-ranger-suarez</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/venezuela-best-world-baseball-classic-lineup-ronald-acuna-ranger-suarez</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Extraordinary depth and some middle-of-the-order thump has Venezuela dreaming of WBC glory.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:10:28 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Venezuela can defeat anyone — and they’re still considered the fourth favorite to win the World Baseball Classic title this year. In the 2023 WBC, Venezuela and Japan were the only two teams to go 4-0 in the group stage. Venezuela looked poised to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2009, carrying a lead into the eighth inning of their quarterfinal against the United States. WBC Rosters: Team-By-Team SquadsWBC Power Rankings: Stacking Japan, USA and All 20 Squads Then a grand slam off the bat of Trea Turner, a haunting memory for Venezuelans, eliminated them from the Classic. It was devastating, but three years later, Venezuela has the opportunity to avenge that loss, posing as another serious threat to the USA should they reach the championship game. Venezuela might not have the USA’s strong pitching, Japan’s international dominance or the Dominican Republic’s flawless roster construction. So, how can they rise above the rest? Venezuela’s lineup depth is extraordinary, and their middle-of-the-order thump is capable of destroying opposing pitching in three swings. Ronald Acuna Jr., Jackson Chourio and Salvador Perez represent Venezuela’s version of Murderers’ Row. Even after navigating that fearsome trio, there are no breaks or time to catch your breath. William Contreras brings elite plate discipline. Eugenio Suarez is coming off one of the quietest 49-home run seasons. Luis Arraez never strikes out. Maikel Garcia and Gleyber Torres hardly ever chase pitches outside the zone. Manager Omar Lopez has so much lineup flexibility with this cast of characters that he can put out a different 1-through-9 combination in every game and still boast a strong and formidable offense. Here’s one take on what the lineup could look like: Lineup How would that look defensively? Outfield LF: Jackson Chourio CF: Ronald Acuna Jr. RF: Wilyer Abreu This is the only part of the lineup that skipper Omar Lopez will not have to think too hard about when he’s building Venezuela’s best lineup. Chourio, Acuna, and Abreu will be fixtures in the outfield, with Javier Sanoja on the bench as their fourth outfielder. It’s the infield construction that gets tricky. Let’s take a look at it. Infield 1B: Luis Arraez or Willson Contreras 2B: Gleyber Torres SS: Andres Gimenez 3B: Eugenio Suarez or Maikel Garcia C: William Contreras DH: Salvador Perez There are so many ways this can go. It’s genuinely fascinating who plays the hot corner between Suarez and Garcia. If the job goes to Suarez, then Garcia can play second. But then what happens to Torres? Garcia can play shortstop, and Gimenez can shift to second, again leaving Torres as the odd man out. In another scenario, Contreras might be better suited to play first base, which would move Arraez to second. (Again, Torres?) And we haven’t even mentioned shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, the seventh infielder on Venezuela’s 30-man roster. The extreme number of combinations is headache-inducing, but it’s ultimately a good problem for Venezuela to have, particularly because these are all stellar defenders. Rotation LHP Ranger Suarez LHP Eduardo Rodriguez RHP Keider Montero RHP Antonio Senzatela The starting rotation is the weakest part of Venezuela’s roster after Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez dropped out of the tournament due to a torn ligament in his elbow and Phillies southpaw Jesus Luzardo decided not to play in the WBC. Lopez was expected to be their ace, and that responsibility now rests on Suarez’s shoulders. Rodriguez has had a couple of down years in Arizona, but 25-year-old right-hander Montero showed some promise for the Tigers last year across 20 games (12 starts). But it’s not all doom and gloom. The relief corps, at least, is a silver lining. Starters will have to pitch once or twice through the order before Venezuela turns to its killer bullpen. Bullpen RHP Daniel Palencia RHP Eduard Bazardo LHP Jose Alvarado RHP Jose Butto LHP Angel Zerpa This terrific bullpen should help Venezuela stay in games, and based on how the team went about its pitching deployment during the 2023 WBC, relievers will be carrying most of the load, with a bullpen game likely in play given the club’s lack of dominant starters. Palencia (2.91 ERA, 22 saves, 52 innings pitched) and Bazardo (2.52 ERA,1.02 WHIP, 78 innings) are both coming off career-best seasons for the Cubs and Mariners, respectively. Alvarado has been a steady bullpen presence for the Phillies over the years and his veteran pedigree will benefit this group. As long as the offense shines, the defense is a wall, and the bullpen offsets any rotation concerns, Venezuela is in position to meet their sky-high expectations and get to the championship game.]]>
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					<![CDATA[A-Rod, Big Papi, Jeter Headline FOX Sports' 2026 World Baseball Classic Coverage]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/fox-sports-2026-world-baseball-classic-broadcast-coverage-alex-rodriguez-david-ortiz-derek-jeter</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/fox-sports-2026-world-baseball-classic-broadcast-coverage-alex-rodriguez-david-ortiz-derek-jeter</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter and many more will headline FOX Sports' coverage of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:12:53 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The stars will be on the field and in the studio for the 2026 World Baseball Classic! FOX Sports, the home of this year's tournament, announced its broadcasting team for the upcoming event, headlined by former New York Yankees greats Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz and FOX Sports veteran Kevin Burkhardt on the studio desk. The studio show will be live at the site of both semifinal round games (March 15 and 16) and the championship game (March 17) at loanDepot Park in Miami, FL. - World Baseball Classic: Team Breakdowns, Predictions Rodriguez has been an MLB studio analyst for FOX Sports dating back to his penultimate season as a player in 2015; Ortiz has been a full-time analyst for FOX Sports since 2017; Jeter is entering his fourth year at the network; Burkhardt, who has been with FOX Sports since 2013 and is also the network's lead NFL play-by-play announcer, has been an MLB studio host for FOX since 2014. In the booth, Joe Davis will be the primary play-by-play announcer, with John Smoltz as the primary color commentator. They will be on the call for both semifinal round games and the title game. Davis and Smoltz are entering their fifth full-time season as a broadcasting duo for FOX. Adam Amin and Kevin Kugler will also serve as play-by-play broadcasters throughout the 2026 WBC, with Adam Wainwright and A.J. Pierzynski also serving as color commentators. Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci will serve as reporters for the tournament. Edgar Gonzalez, Adrian Garcia-Marquez, Carlos Alvarez, Rolando Nichols and Jaime Motta will provide coverage for FOX Deportes. Jeter, Ortiz and Rodriguez have made five WBC appearances, representing the United States and the Dominican Republic. The 2026 WBC begins on March 4. It is the sixth WBC and the second with FOX as the primary broadcasting home. World Baseball Classic: How To Watch In all, 20 countries from around the world will compete in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. And with top players like Aaron Judge (USA), Shohei Ohtani (Japan), and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Dominican Republic), get ready for some high-stakes baseball. - WBC Broadcast Schedule: How To Watch All Games All the WBC's 47 games will air across FOX Sports' family of networks (FOX, FS1, FS2 and FOX Deportes), as well as the FOX Sports App and Tubi. All matchups will also be available to stream live and on-demand on FOX One. Additionally, 41 out of the 47 contests will air in Spanish across a combination of FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App, Tubi and FOX One. The four quarterfinal games will be played on March 13 and 14 at Daikin Park in Houston. The two semifinals will be played on March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park in Miami. The final will be in Miami on Tuesday, March 17, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. Team USA's World Baseball Games: How To Watch All four of Team USA's games in Pool B will be played at Daikin Park (home of the Houston Astros) against Mexico, Italy, Great Britain and Brazil. If the USA wins its Pool, the quarterfinal game would also be in Houston before the semifinals and Championship Game take place at loanDepot Park (home of the Miami Marlins).]]>
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					<![CDATA[World Baseball Classic Preview: Team Breakdowns, Top Players, Predictions]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/world-baseball-classic-predictions-pool-previews-usa-japan-mexico-puerto-rico-dominican-republic-more</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/world-baseball-classic-predictions-pool-previews-usa-japan-mexico-puerto-rico-dominican-republic-more</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Previewing all 20 teams at the World Baseball Classic and predicting which teams will advance to the knockout round.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:11:11 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Rowdy fans, superstars, late-inning drama and a competitive vibe that feels more like October than March.  The 2026 World Baseball Classic will have it all. Played across two continents and composed of 20 nations, the WBC begins on March 3 and culminates with the Championship Game on March 17 in Miami. Will we see Team USA led by Aaron Judge get revenge on Shohei Ohtani and Japan after that 2023 championship classic? Or, can a talented squad like Mexico, Dominican Republic or Venezuela make a deep run? Let's start by getting familiar with the stacked rosters in all four pools across the tournament and break down each team.Pool A: Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Puerto RicoPool B: (Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, USA)Pool C: (Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Japan, Korea)Pool D: (Dominican Republic, Israel, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Venezuela) POOL A This pool is set to take over Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from March 6–11. The hosts are the favorites to top the group, bringing its championship pedigree into a loaded five-team clash that will feature perennial contender Cuba, rising force Canada, gritty Panama and underdog Colombia. Passion, pride and powerhouse talent are sure to collide and make for an electric atmosphere. Canada Why This Team Can Make Noise: Turning down big-league talent? Too much depth? These are good problems to have for Team Canada manager Ernie Whitt, who has led the country in every WBC tournament from its inception in 2006. He’s seen Canada struggle to roster major-leaguers (and defeat Team USA, anyway, in the group stage in ‘06). This year, he’s received an all-time high interest from players with proven MLB experience to suit up for Team Canada, resulting in limited roster space and major-league talent at nearly every position. Team Canada, feeling confident about its talent depth, is on a mission to break into the quarterfinals in Miami for the first time — and it has a path to get there. Canada is competing in a Pool that, for the first time, doesn’t include the United States or Mexico, a pair of persistent adversaries that impeded its advancement in the previous five tournaments. And Team Puerto Rico is weaker than ever this year, missing a few familiar faces due to insurance issues. If Canada is going to break past the group stage for the first time ever, this is the year to do it. The Top Player(s): Brothers Josh and Bo Naylor will team up to play first base and catcher, respectively, for Team Canada. Josh Naylor, who has slugged 51 home runs over the past two seasons, is essentially replacing Freddie Freeman, who opted out from the WBC this year. Though Bo played for his native country in the last WBC, Josh is making his return to the tournament for the first time since 2017. He’s fresh off signing a five-year, $92.5 million contract with the Seattle Mariners — and his customary edge and energy will be terrific assets for Canada. Also dangerous for Team Canada: outfielder Tyler O’Neill, top prospect Owen Caissie, and pitcher Jameson Taillon. Colombia Why This Team Can Make Noise: This year marks just the third time Colombia has qualified for the tournament, and it could finally be the year Colombia sneaks past the pool stage. Colombia enjoyed just one win in the 2023 WBC — a jaw-dropping upset — when it defeated a heavily-favored Team Mexico, 5-4, in the group round. But even that result doesn’t tell the whole story. Team Colombia came mighty close to a couple more victories last time, eventually losing a nail-biter to the USA and again to Great Britain in heartbreaking fashion. Colombia is expected to fare better this year thanks to a blend of veterans and young talent on the roster. The Top Player(s): Jose Quintana. The 37-year-old southpaw has a career ERA of 3.76 pitching for eight teams since his major-league debut for the White Sox in 2012. As he gets ready to suit up for his ninth club, the Colorado Rockies, Quintana will start by leading Colombia’s rotation. He is returning to the tournament for the first time since the country’s WBC debut in 2017, when he held the USA to just one run in 5.2 innings pitched. Behind Quintana, veteran right-hander Julio Teheran will help round out Colombia’s starting staff. Cuba Why This Team Can Make Noise: The pressure is on for Team Cuba to continue its impressive streak. Cuba has advanced out of the Pool Stage in all five previous WBC tournaments, making it one of the most successful countries in the field. In order to complete this feat for a sixth time, and try to build on last time’s successful run to the semifinals before falling to the United States, Cuba will need strong pitching from its proven arms. It has a weapon in reliever Livan Moinelo, who is the reigning MVP of Japan’s Pacific League after recording a 1.46 ERA for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in 2025. The Top Player(s): Alfredo Despaigne. Cuba’s 39-year-old slugger is the WBC’s all-time leader in home runs with seven. Despaigne still held onto that mark after failing to clear the fences in 2023, which was the final year of his decade-plus run playing in Japan’s Western League. He returns to the international stage looking to lead Cuba’s offense, which will be without familiar faces in Yoenis Cespedes and Luis Robert Jr. Alongside Despaigne, Angels infielder Yoan Moncada will return to Cuba’s lineup after coming off a trio of injury-riddled seasons in the major leagues. Panama Why This Team Can Make Noise: Even though Panama is a baseball country, it has surprisingly struggled to place any better than 11th in the WBC’s history, and that includes failing to qualify for the tournament in consecutive tries in 2013 and ‘17. Last time, Panama was excellent in a tough Pool, going 2-2, but it didn’t advance after coming out on the losing side of an unprecedented five-way tie that was decided by fewest runs allowed per defensive out recorded. To avoid a similar fate, Panama is looking to leave no doubt about its dominance and aiming to qualify for the quarterfinals for the first time. It will roster a slew of experienced major-leaguers, including a terrific defensive infield alignment, making for an advantage in the tournament. The Top Player(s): There’s more than one standout big leaguer bringing excitement to Panama’s roster. The rotation will be led by Cleveland Guardians southpaw Logan Allen. The 27-year-old Allen, whose mother was born and raised in Panama and still has a ton of extended family in her native country, will get the nod in a huge Game 1 against Cuba. Yankees shortstop Jose Caballero will make his return to the WBC, leading the infield alongside Edmundo Soda. Johan Camargo, veteran Ruben Tejada, and catcher Miguel Amaya. Puerto Rico Why This Team Can Make Noise: Sure, Puerto Rico is weaker this WBC than in previous years without star infielders Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Javy Baez. But it’s still stacked with familiar MLB talents, and Puerto Rico should not be underestimated. Led by manager Yadier Molina, Puerto Rico gained another veteran in eight-time All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado, who previously played for Team USA in the 2017 and 2023 tournaments, but switched it up this year to honor his Puerto Rican-Cuban mother. While the rest of Pool A might be feeling more confident in light of Puerto Rico’s debilitated squad, the power of Bad Bunny’s support and the high-level talent from the rest of its blonde-haired roster might just be tougher to take down than anyone thinks. The Top Player(s): The proven major-league flair on Team Puerto Rico is worth highlighting. The pitching staff features Seth Lugo, Fernando Cruz, Jorge Lopez, and of course, new Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz, who is returning to the tournament after his fluke knee injury while celebrating on the mound during the 2023 WBC. Veteran catchers Martin Maldonado and Christian Vazquez will represent half of the battery. Reds shortstop prospect Edwin Arroyo will take over for Lindor in the dirt, while Arenado holds down the hot corner. Outfielders Willi Castro, Heliot Ramos, Eddie Rosario, and MJ Melendez lengthen Puerto Rico's lineup. What Will Be The Best Game of Pool A? Every game in this pool is expected to be intense, but due to home-field advantage in front of what will definitely be a raucous crowd, Cuba vs. Puerto Rico on March 9 looks like one of the marquee matchups. Which Pool A Teams Advance To The Quarterfinals? In a bit of an upset, Canada will win Pool A. This is Canada’s best chance at advancing to the quarterfinals, and they have the star power and talent to do it. Puerto Rico, as the host country, will come close to winning the Pool Stage, but it will ultimately place as runner-up. POOL B Three years after the USA and Mexico advanced out of their pool in Phoenix at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the teams find themselves again in the same group as the favorites in Pool B, which will take place in Houston from March 6-11. Team Italy, led by Vinnie Pasquantino and top arm Aaron Nola, will be the biggest threat to the two powerhouses of the group. Jazz Chisholm Jr. will look to help Great Britain build on its first ever WBC victory in the last tournament, while Brazil has qualified for the competition for the first time since 2013. United States Why This Team Can Make Noise: Even with Corbin Carroll injured and Tarik Skubal only expected to make one start, this is still the best team that USA has ever assembled, and it’s a group on a mission after losing to Japan in the 2023 WBC finals. Four of the top five finishers in 2025 AL MVP voting (including MVP Aaron Judge), the 2025 AL and NL home run leaders (Cal Raleigh and Kyle Schwarber), both of the reigning Cy Young Award winners (Skubal and Paul Skenes) and All-Star closer Mason Miller are among the members of the roster. The lineup is loaded at every spot, but it’s the elite rotation (Skubal, Skenes, plus 2025 All-Stars Joe Ryan, Logan Webb, Matthew Boyd and more) that really sets this year’s group apart from previous iterations and could have Team USA back on top after winning it all in 2017. The Top Player(s): It has to be the captain, Judge, who’s preparing to play in his first WBC coming off his third MVP season in the last four years. But you can take your pick here on a roster that includes 21 former All-Stars. Raleigh just blasted 60 home runs in a record season for a catcher, while Schwarber launched 56. Bobby Witt Jr. led the majors in hits each of the last two years. Skenes followed up a Rookie of the Year campaign in 2024 with a Cy Young season in 2025. Skubal is coming off back-to-back Cy Young campaigns. Webb was an All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner who finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting last season. Two-time MVP Bryce Harper, a member of Team USA’s 16U and 18U teams who was unable to suit up in the 2023 tournament due to injury, will finally make his WBC debut. On, and on and on… Mexico Why This Team Can Make Noise: It took a Munetaka Murakami walk-off double in the ninth inning for eventual champion Japan to advance past Mexico in the 2023 WBC semifinals. Mexico’s third-place finish was its best in WBC history, and much of that group will be returning in an effort to reach its first finals. Plus, Jonathan Aranda and Jarren Duran are much more accomplished hitters now than they were at the last tournament. The rotation could be this group’s Achilles’ heel, but the top half of the lineup is stellar, and the injection of new talents — All-Star closer Andres Munoz, All-Star backstop Alejandro Kirk and slick-fielding shortstop Joey Ortiz. Former top pitching prospect Taj Bradley bowed out of the WBC as he tries to solidify a rotation spot with the Twins during spring training.The Top Player(s): You could certainly make the case for Duran or 2025 All-Stars Kirk, Muñoz or Aranda here, but fellow 2025 All-Star Randy Arozarena will be the heartbeat of this group. He tends to find a different gear for these kinds of events, and his swagger rubs off on everyone around him. At the 2023 WBC, Arozarena mesmerized with his glove and excelled with his bat. He was arguably the best hitter in the tournament, registering a 1.507 OPS with six doubles and a home run in six games. Italy Why This Team Can Make Noise: Team Italy has made it to the quarterfinals of the WBC twice, including at the 2023 tournament after beating Cuba and the Netherlands in pool play. Going 2-2 probably won’t be good enough to advance this time in a pool that includes USA and Mexico, but the additions of MLB veterans Aaron Nola and Michael Lorenzen in the rotation to go with a lineup filled with promising big-league talent and recent top prospects — a group that includes Royals teammates Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone, White Sox catcher Kyle Teel, Marlins outfielder Jakob Marsee and Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone — gives the Italians a chance to make a run. They could be riding the momentum of wins against Brazil and Great Britain before having to face the top teams in the group, at which point an upset could be brewing. The Top Player(s): Nola’s coming off his worst year as a big-leaguer, but he’s the best starting pitcher that Italy has taken into the tournament. Pasquantino, who slugged 32 homers last year, is the most accomplished hitter in a young lineup that offers tremendous upside.  Marsee (24), Teel (24) and Canzone (28) each hit better than 20% above league average last season, and Caglianone — the No. 6 overall pick in 2024 — offers prodigious power potential. He struggled in his first taste of the majors last year, but he hit 20 home runs in 66 minor-league games before the call-up. Great Britain Why This Team Can Make Noise: This was one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the last tournament, as Great Britain’s players fully leaned into the joy of the competition by celebrating every clutch hit by pretending to sip tea on the basepaths. There were many reasons to celebrate, not only because Great Britain upset Colombia to win its first ever WBC game, but also because the Brits scored eight runs against Canada and took a tie game into the seventh against Mexico. The arrow is pointing up on this group, which, even beyond star Jazz Chisholm Jr., is full of players who are either in affiliated baseball now or have MLB experience. One interesting side note: Beck brothers Tristan (a Giants reliever) and Brendan (a Yankees minor league starter), whose mother is from Great Britain, will be playing together for the first time since they were college teammates at Stanford in 2018. "I think we can surprise some people," Tristan told me. The Top Player(s): Chisholm, one of multiple Bahamian talents on the Great Britain roster — a group that also includes D-backs outfield prospect Kristian Robinson, who had an .862 OPS at Triple-A Reno last year — is coming off a 30-30 season with the Yankees and is the best player that the Brits will have ever taken into the tournament. He’ll be co-captain with Nationals prospect Harry Ford, who homered twice in the 2023 tournament and has a chance to be Washington’s catcher in 2026 after making his MLB debut with the Mariners last season. Ford had an .868 OPS at Triple-A Tacoma in 2025. Brazil Why This Team Can Make Noise: Making their second trip ever to the WBC, Brazil lacks the MLB talent of other teams in this pool; however, it does not lack the MLB bloodlines. Team Brazil has three players who are the sons of accomplished MLB veterans in Dante Bichette Jr., Lucas Ramirez (Manny Ramirez’s son) and 17-year-old Joseph Contreras (Jose Contreras’ son). Of that trio, Ramirez, a 17th-round pick of the Angels in 2024, is an intriguing name to watch after going 5-for-13 in last year’s qualifier. Brazil won the qualifier in Tucson last March to make the tournament for the first time since 2013, when it went winless but nearly stunned Japan in Tokyo in a 5-3 defeat. Perhaps they have one upset in them. The Top Player(s): In that 2013 loss to Japan, Leonardo Reginatto went 3-for-4 and knocked in two runs. Fast-forward 12 years, and the Brazilian infielder hit .385 with four RBI in the Tucson Qualifier last year to help get Brazil back to the WBC. The 35-year-old, who made it to Triple-A in the Twins’ organization in 2018 and has appeared in every WBC and qualifying game that Brazil has ever played in, had an .862 OPS in the Mexican League in 2025. What Will Be The Best Game of Pool B? USA vs. Mexico. In pool play three years ago, Mexico jumped out to a 7-1 lead on the United States after four innings behind two Joey Meneses home runs and never looked back while cruising to an 11-5 win. Both teams ultimately advanced out of the pool, which is the likeliest outcome again, but that will surely be on USA’s mind this time around. Which Pool B Teams Advance To The Quarterfinals? This pool should end with a flourish, as it’s likely that the last two games on the docket — USA vs. Mexico on March 10 followed by Mexico vs. Italy on March 11 — decide which teams move forward. Team USA sweeps to win Pool A, while Mexico and Italy enter the final game of pool play in a win-or-go-home matchup. For the second straight tournament, the U.S. and Mexico move forward. POOL C The World Baseball Classic will officially begin with a Pool C game between Chinese Taipei and Australia at the Tokyo Dome on March 5 (or March 4 at 10 p.m. ET, for those watching in the United States). Playing at home, Team Japan should again have no problem emerging as winners of this pool as it attempts to defend its WBC crown. Samurai Japan will be hosting many of the same teams it did three years ago, as the three-time champs are again in a group with Korea, Australia and Czechia. The only difference in 2026 is that Chinese Taipei has replaced China. Korea has the best odds to advance out of the bracket with Japan, but in the 2023 WBC, it was Australia that pulled off the upset and made it to the quarterfinals for the first time in its country’s history. Will that happen again? Japan Why This Team Can Make Noise: Japan, the king of international baseball, is the only country to win the WBC multiple times. Samurai Japan outscored its pool-play opponents by 30 runs and went undefeated in the last tournament, and now it gets Seiya Suzuki in the lineup after he was injured during the previous competition. The rotation will look different and not quite as deep this time around — Shohei Ohtani will only be hitting, and Roki Sasaki, Shota Imanaga and Yu Darvish will not be participating — but there are still plenty of MLB and NPB stars intact for manager Hirokazu Ibata to lead Japan to its fourth WBC championship. For White Sox and Blue Jays fans who might have missed the 2023 WBC, the tournament should be an entertaining showcase for Munetaka Murakami — whose walk-off double sent Japan past Mexico in the 2023 WBC semifinals — and Kazuma Okamoto before the NPB standouts embark on their big-league careers. The Top Player(s): Some guy named … Ohtani? He was the tournament MVP after striking out Mike Trout to lead Japan to victory, and even if he won’t be able to help on the mound this time, the four-time MVP will remain an imposing presence in the box coming off back-to-back 50-homer MVP seasons with the Dodgers. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who struck out 12 of the 27 batters he faced in the 2023 WBC, will be coming off World Series MVP honors and an All-Star season with the Dodgers as he leads Japan’s pitching staff. There’s also plenty of NPB talent to keep an eye on, including reigning Sawamura Award winner Hiromi Itoh and Central League MVP Teruaki Sato, who hit 40 homers in NPB last season. Also worth monitoring: New Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai, who’s coming off a career year in NPB, is not on the initial roster but is part of the designated pitcher pool and could be added in later rounds if (when) Japan advances. Korea Why This Team Can Make Noise: Korea has appeared in all five WBC tournaments and finished runner-up in 2009. It hasn’t replicated that success over the last few tournaments, but Korea scored more runs than any team in its pool in 2023 and finished the tournament with the highest OPS of any team. If it wants to emerge out of pool play this time, it will again have to be the offense — a group that includes a handful of MLB talents, including Jung Hoo Lee, Hyeseong Kim, Jahmai Jones and Shay Whitcomb— leading the way. In addition, Dane Dunning, a six-year MLB veteran and non-roster invite at Mariners camp, will try to help upgrade a pitching staff that produced a 7.55 ERA in the 2023 WBC. He told me he’s excited to honor his mother and her side of the family by participating this year for Team Korea, which he wanted to do in the last tournament but was unable to due to injury. The Top Player(s): Lee went 6-for-14 in the 2023 WBC. The Giants outfielder, who hit above league average in 2025, will again be among the top hitters in Korea’s lineup, which also includes multiple KBO standouts. Infielder Do Yeong Kim missed time due to injury last year but had 38 homers and 40 steals as a 20-year-old in 2024. Outfielder Hyun Min Ahn, nicknamed "Muscle Man," was the KBO Rookie of the Year last season at 21 years old after launching 22 home runs with a 1.018 OPS and more walks than strikeouts. MLB fans will also recognize former All-Star Hyun-Jin Ryu, who pitched to a 3.23 ERA at 38 years old last year in the KBO and will add big-game experience to the pitching staff. Chinese Taipei Why This Team Can Make Noise: Chinese Taipei has appeared in all five WBC tournaments and in 2023 beat Italy and the Netherlands in pool play but failed to advance due to tiebreaker rules. Still, after winning its first ever gold at the 2024 Premier12 tournament — outfielder Chieh-Hsien Chen, who’s on the 2026 WBC team, hit .625 and was named Premier12 MVP — Chinese Taipei will enter the 2026 WBC with some momentum as it looks to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2013. Outfielder Stuart Fairchild and infielder Tsung-Che Cheng both played in the big leagues last year, Jo-Hsi Hsu will soon be taking his high-90s fastball to NPB and there are prospects sprinkled throughout the roster. Chinese Taipei is a real challenger to emerge from this bracket. The Top Player(s): Former big leaguer Yu Chang was such a force at the 2023 WBC that he was his pool’s MVP despite his team not advancing. The infielder hit .438 with four extra-base hits and eight RBI over four games in that tournament and then followed that up in international play by going 7-for-18 with five extra-base hits in last year’s qualifier. On the pitching side, Hsu has starred the last two seasons in the Chinese Professional Baseball League and parlayed that success into a deal with NPB’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. In addition, Wei-En Lin struck out 117 batters in 87 innings across three minor-league levels with the A’s last year and made two scoreless appearances in the qualifiers. One thing to watch: Cubs minor league Player of the Year Jonathan Long, who hit 20 home runs in Triple-A last year and was set to play for Chinese Taipei, suffered an elbow injury in a spring game, leaving his status for the tournament in question. Australia Why This Team Can Make Noise: Australia is on the rise in international play. The country has participated in all five editions of the WBC and in 2023 it made it out of pool play for the first time ever after securing wins against Korea, China and the Czech Republic. Australia nearly made it to the semifinals, but a late rally against Cuba fell short in a 4-3 defeat. While there isn’t much MLB representation on the roster, that didn’t matter in the last tournament. Robbie Glendinning, Rixon Wingrove, Alex Hall, Tim Kennelly and Robbie Perkins — who all homered in the 2023 WBC and at least have minor-league experience — return to an Australia offense that had an .815 OPS in the last tournament. The Aussies will have trouble holding down elite lineups, but the additions of Guardians prospect Travis Bazzana and White Sox infielder Curtis Mead give them more offensive firepower in 2026. The Top Player(s): Bazzana has already made history for his country as the first ever Australian-born player to be drafted in the first round. Later this year, the 23-year-old Guardians top prospect could be patrolling the infield in Cleveland. He had an .858 OPS in 26 games at Triple-A Columbus last year and will bring both power and speed to the Australian club, which already has another MLB infielder in Mead, an Adelaide native who played in 90 games between the Rays and White Sox in 2025. On the pitching staff, Jack O’Loughlin pitched for the A’s in 2024 and started twice for Australia in the 2023 WBC, allowing just one hit in 4.2 innings. One thing to watch: Three-time All-Star reliever Liam Hendriks, who missed the 2023 tournament while battling cancer, is part of Australia’s designated pitchers pool and could be called up if Australia advances out of the first round. Czechia Why This Team Can Make Noise: Just because most of the Czech players are amateurs with other day jobs doesn’t mean they can’t strike out Ohtani, too. (Yes, electrician Ondrej Satoria will be bringing his changeup back to the Czechia roster in 2026.) This team full of moonlighting baseball players captured fans’ hearts — and even the admiration of MLB greats — for the way it played in 2023, plating eight runs in a win against China and jumping out to an early lead against champion Japan before succumbing to the far more talented champions. The Top Player(s):There are no MLB players on the Czechia roster, but outfielder Marek Chlup played in NPB last year, infielder Terrin Vavra has played in 68 big-league games for the Orioles, and catcher Martin Cervenka had a 10-year minor-league career. Pitcher Martin Schneider is back after recording a 2.57 ERA in the 2023 tournament, but the Czech firefighter will be turning 40 when the WBC begins. What Will Be The Best Game of Pool C? Korea vs. Chinese Taipei. This game on March 8 could determine which team moves on as the runner-up. Another interesting one to watch will be Korea vs. Australia one day later, especially considering that Australia upset Korea in pool play in 2023. Which Pool C Teams Advance To The Quarterfinals? Let’s assume Japan will again sweep its way through pool play and win Pool C. Korea, Chinese Taipei and Australia could all factor into the runner-up mix, but Korea will have enough pop in the lineup to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2009. POOL D Pool D will take place from March 6–11 in the always-boisterous WBC environment in Miami at loanDepot Park. The pool features the Dominican Republic's loaded and complete roster, as well as Venezuela’s potent lineup. The Netherlands are a sneaky underdog, while Israel and Nicaragua will have their hands full trying to eke out wins in this daunting group. Dominican Republic Why This Team Can Make Noise: Apart from the United States’ supremely stacked offense, this Dominican Republic team features the deepest lineup in the tournament. Team D.R. boasts 21 All-Star honors, 19 Silver Slugger awards, three postseason MVPs, two World Series champions, a Rookie of the Year award winner and a batting champion. Curious about their defense? Five players suiting up for this bonafide baseball powerhouse have combined to win seven Gold Glove awards. And it’s not just the offense that’s potent. The pitching staff features a Cy Young award winner (Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara) and 10-time All-Star arms. Oh, and they’re all being managed by future first-ballot Hall of Famer Albert Pujols. The amount of starpower on the club is dizzying. It’s hard to find a flaw. It’s no wonder Team D.R. is a top-three favorite to win the WBC. The nation is poised to dominate the tournament, setting itself up for its first title since winning the final over Puerto Rico in 2013. One of Team D.R.’s biggest challenges will be keeping the pressure on. The club had a hugely disappointing showing in the 2023 WBC despite its stacked roster. Though this year’s team is better on-paper than last time, D.R. has to avoid complacency and turn up the heat in every matchup. The Top Player(s): It’s worth spotlighting the amount of star-studded talent on this roster. Juan Soto (43 home runs, 38 stolen bases, MLB-leading 127 walks in 2025) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2025 ALCS MVP) will lead an offense that also includes Ketel Marte, Manny Machado, Julio Rodriguez, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jeremy Pena, Junior Caminero, Geraldo Perdomo, Oneil Cruz, Agustin Ramirez, Austin Wells and Carlos Santana. Alcantara headlines a rotation of 2025 Cy Young runner-up Cristopher Sanchez, Brayan Bello and Luis Severino. The bullpen is just as impressive, with Carlos Estevan (the 2025 leader in saves), Gregory Soto and Abner Uribe establishing the foundation for a formidable relief corps. Israel Why This Team Can Make Noise: With two dominant forces in Pool D between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, the objective for this Israel team isn’t so much to win a title, or to even advance out of the group stage, but to lock down one win so it can automatically qualify for the next WBC. Israel fared better in its WBC debut in 2017, advancing to the quarterfinals and finishing sixth overall, than it did in 2023, going 1-3 in pool play while scoring just four runs. This year, they’ll have a mix of major-league talent and up-and-coming minor league prospects to try and get it done. Orioles starter Dean Kremer returns to Israel’s rotation after throwing four shutout innings against Nicaragua his last time out. Dodgers prospect Jake Gelof, brother of Athletics’ second baseman Zack Gelof, will make his WBC debut. And there should be a few cameras pointed toward the dugout, where Israel manager Brad Ausmus and bench coach Kevin Youkilis will be posted, attempting to navigate an extremely challenging draw. The Top Player(s): Outfielder Harrison Bader will anchor the lineup for Team Israel. It will be his first time playing in the tournament after being selected in 2023, but withdrawing due to injury. Bader committed to playing in the WBC for Israel as early as April 2025. Since then, the 32-year-old signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants, which will be his seventh major-league team since debuting and spending six years with the St. Louis Cardinals. Last year, Bader recorded an OPS+ of 113 with the Minnesota Twins before he was traded to the Phillies, where he provided a spark, batting .305 with an .824 OPS in 50 games down the stretch. Netherlands Why This Team Can Make Noise: Led by manager and Hall of Famer Andruw Jones, the Netherlands are ready to disrupt Pool D and attempt to again rise to the top with a slew of familiar major-league faces. The lineup looks promising, featuring Xander Bogaerts, Ozzie Albies, Cedanne Rafaela, Jurickson Profar and Druw Jones (Andruw’s son). The Dutch advanced to the WBC semifinals in 2013 and 2017 and have participated in all five previous tournaments since the WBC’s inaugural season in 2006. In 2023, the Netherlands went 2-2 in pool play, falling to Italy and Chinese Taipei and failing to advance to the quarterfinals despite a 2-0 start. This time, it’s fair to question whether the club has done enough to avoid its past mistake of giving up too many runs, preventing it from moving on to the knockout round. While Kenley Jansen leads the bullpen, there is no clear ace in the rotation. The Top Player(s): Didi Gregorius, 36, will return to play for the Netherlands for the third time in the WBC. The former major-league shortstop, who spent five seasons anchoring the Yankees infield after Derek Jeter’s retirement, hung up his cleats after the 2022 season with the Phillies. Gregorius has represented the Dutch national team at several international tournaments, and he helped take the nation to the semifinals in 2017, batting .348 with one home run and eight RBI. These days, he hangs around Yankees spring training as a photographer. It will be fascinating to see how much pop he can provide from the plate, likely taking on designated-hitter duties for the Dutch. Nicaragua Why This Team Can Make Noise: Similar to Israel, Nicaragua’s performance in the WBC will be considered a win if they can pick up at least one victory in the group stage. This is only the second time Nicaragua has qualified for the tournament; they went 0-4 in their 2023 debut last time. In order to qualify for this year’s WBC, they were sent to the Baseball Classic Qualifiers, where they defeated South Africa and Spain with walk-off wins and blew past Chinese Taipei in a 6-0 victory to secure its spot in Miami. One of Nicaragua’s biggest assets will sit in the manager’s seat. Dusty Baker, three-time Manager of the Year, will lead the team, hoping to grab onto some momentum and never look back. Advancing to the knockout round will be a tall order, but ya never know! The Top Player(s): Mets infielder Mark Vientos is the only established major-leaguer and thus, the most important hitter on Team Nicaragua. Nicknamed Swaggy V, he chose to represent Nicaragua over Puerto Rico to provide some much-needed thump in an otherwise underwhelming lineup. Vientos had a down year in 2025 after showing flashes of star potential in a successful 2024 season. That year, he hit 27 home runs, picked up 71 RBI and recorded a 134 OPS+ in 111 games, helping to take the Mets on a postseason run to the NLCS. If the 2024 version of Vientos digs into the batter’s box for Nicaragua, they’ll have a viable threat in the lineup who could do some damage. Venezuela Why This Team Can Make Noise: Props to manager Omar Lopez for assembling this dynamo of a Venezuelan team, giving the country its best chance yet at reaching the championship game for the first time in the tournament’s history. Between Salvador Perez, Jackson Chourio, Willson and William Contreras, Luis Arraez, Eugenio Suarez, Gleyber Torres, Maikel Garcia and, oh yeah, some MVP, five-time All-Star and Rookie of the Year award winner named Ronald Acuna Jr., Venezuela’s offense is downright petrifying. Ranger Suarez is the ace, and Daniel Palencia is lined up as closer. Considered one of the favorites to win it all, Venezuela came close to its first semifinal appearance in 2023 after going 4-0 in the group stage. This year’s team is even stronger — the best roster Venezuela has built for any international tournament — and there’s legitimate reason to believe it could go the distance. As if this roster wasn’t already well-equipped to battle the top contenders, Venezuela’s coaching staff is loaded with expertise thanks to hitting coach Miguel Cabrera and pitching coach Johan Santana. Maybe Santana will be able to maximize the talent of this pitching staff, because the rotation is the weakest part of the roster after right-hander Pablo Lopez needed Tommy John surgery and Jesus Luzardo opted out of the WBC. Regardless, it’s going to be fun to see what this talented group will be able to achieve together.  The Top Player(s): Undoubtedly, it’s Ronald Acuna Jr., who can single-handedly carry a team (and a nation) when he’s healthy and playing at his best. Acuna, the 2023 National League MVP, is gearing up for his first full season since his 2024 knee injury. The Braves right fielder returned to form last year, batting .290 with a .935 OPS and 21 home runs in 95 games. The WBC might just be what he needs to warm up for the year. After the 2023 tournament, he put together his best year yet, becoming the only player in MLB history with a 40-70 season. What Will Be The Best Game of Pool D? Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela — and it’s not even close, which is why the powers that be scheduled this marquee matchup for the final game of Pool D. It will take place on March 11 at 8 p.m. ET. Which Pool D Teams Advance To The Quarterfinals? Déjà vu. It’ll be the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, with a win-or-go-home situation for one of these teams in that much-anticipated final game on March 11.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 MLB Odds: Best Bet for League's Worst Team]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/2026-mlb-odds-best-bet-leagues-worst-team</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/2026-mlb-odds-best-bet-leagues-worst-team</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Which MLB squad will have the fewest wins this upcoming season? Will Hill does a process of elimination, landing on one NL squad.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:06:40 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Hope springs eternal. The old proverb reflects the optimism that comes along with the start of a new MLB season. A fresh start, and the possibility of contending, gives teams and their fans hope ahead of the long 162-game season. While that optimism is justified, the reality is that not everyone will play into October. Some teams will be bad, and some will, in fact, be very bad. While focusing on the odds of who will finish with the worst record, let’s take a look at some of the candidates and find a team worth wagering on. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. The Colorado Rockies at -400 (risk $4 to win $1) are the "favorite" to finish with the worst record, one of very few times in recent memory the Rockies will be favored for anything. Looking at their 2025 record, they are the rightful favorite. Colorado went a staggering 43-119 and were outscored by 424 runs, as it finished 50 games out of first place and 40 games out of a wild-card spot. Not great! The Rockies, however, made a few additions to the rotation that might at least raise the floor, and for this market, that’s significant. They brought in starting pitchers Michael Lorenzen and Jose Quintana, both former All-Stars, who should at least provide some much-needed stability and credibility to the starting rotation. Colorado also added Tomoyuki Sugano, who had a respectable 4.64 ERA, although his underlying stats and 33 home runs allowed are a concern when pitching at hitter-friendly Coors Field. The Rockies will likely be better this year, but admittedly, "better" is a low bar to clear here. At -400 odds, I don’t see the value. The Minnesota Twins are an interesting candidate for this category, sitting at 35-1 odds ($1 wins $35). Coming off a 70-92 season, they have already lost frontline starter Pablo Lopez for the year due to arm surgery. They are also a relatively older team, and a bad start and more injuries could lead them to sell off their best players before the trade deadline. At long odds, it’s not a bad bet, but getting all the way to the bottom might be tough. The team I ultimately landed on is the Washington Nationals at +750. The Nationals won just 66 games last year, and traded All-Star pitcher Mackenzie Gore in the offseason. They also reside in a loaded division, where the Braves, Mets, and Phillies all have 90+ win potential, and the Marlins flirted with playoff contention with their exciting young core in 2025. Extra games against those teams spell trouble for the still-rebuilding Nationals, a team that had the worst bullpen ERA in all of MLB last season. With a starting rotation that will likely force the bullpen into use early and often throughout the season, the Nationals enter 2026 without much pitching. In a stacked division that will expose Washington's many weaknesses, a 66-win team from last year might be even worse this year. PICK: Washington Nationals (+750) to win fewest games]]>
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					<![CDATA['Forever 52!!!": New York Yankees To Retire CC Sabathia's No. 52 On Sept. 26]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/new-york-yankees-to-retire-cc-sabathia-no-52-on-sept-26</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/new-york-yankees-to-retire-cc-sabathia-no-52-on-sept-26</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[CC Sabathia’s No. 52 will be retired on Sept. 26 by the New York Yankees, who will dedicate a plaque in honor of the Hall of Famer at Monument Park before that day’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:42:52 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[CC Sabathia's No. 52 will be retired on Sept. 26 by the New York Yankees, who will dedicate a plaque in honor of the Hall of Famer at Monument Park before that day's game against the Baltimore Orioles. Sabathia will be the 24th man to have his number retired by the Yankees, the first since Paul O'Neill was honored with the retirement of No. 21 in 2022. Twenty-three numbers have been retired, with No. 8 set aside for both Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey. New York made the announcement Wednesday night. Sabathia will join former teammates Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte with plaques in Monument Park, beyond Yankee Stadium's center-field fence. Sabathia was a six-time All-Star who won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award with Cleveland and a World Series title in 2009, his first season with the Yankees after signing as a free agent. He went 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts, third among left-handers behind Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton, during 19 seasons with Cleveland (2001-08), Milwaukee (2008) and the Yankees (2009-19), including a 134-88 record with a 3.81 ERA and 1,700 strikeouts for New York. Sabathia was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2025. Other Yankees with retired numbers are: No. 1 (Billy Martin, 1986), No. 2 (Jeter, 2017), No. 3 (Babe Ruth, 1948), No. 4 (Lou Gehrig, 1939), No. 5 (Joe DiMaggio, 1952), No. 6 (Joe Torre, 2014), No. 7 (Mickey Mantle, 1969), No. 8 (Berra and Dickey, 1972), No. 9 (Roger Maris, 1984), No. 10 (Phil Rizzuto, 1985), No. 15 (Thurman Munson, 1979), No. 16 (Whitey Ford, 1974), No. 20 (Jorge Posada, 2015), No. 21 (O'Neill, 2022) No. 23 (Don Mattingly, 1997), No. 32 (Elston Howard, 1984), No. 37 (Casey Stengel, 1970), No. 42 (Mariano Rivera, 2013), No. 44 (Reggie Jackson, 1993), No. 46 (Pettitte, 2015), No. 49 (Ron Guidry, 2003) and No. 51 (Bernie Williams, 2015). In addition, Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 was retired throughout the major leagues in 1997. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Skenes: Team USA Must Assert 'Dominance' At WBC, Winning Gold 'The Biggest Thing']]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/paul-skenes-says-team-usa-has-assert-our-dominance-wbc-its-what-we-do</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/paul-skenes-says-team-usa-has-assert-our-dominance-wbc-its-what-we-do</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[National League Cy Young Award winner and World Baseball Classic ace Paul Skenes lost four strikes to ABS challenges in his first spring training start.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:24:51 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes lost four strikes to challenges in his first spring training start. Skenes struck out four and walked four over 2 1/3 innings for Pittsburgh on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves, who were 4 for 4 against the right-hander on challenges to get called strikes overturned to balls — one of them by the slimmest of margins. The 53-pitch outing is expected to be the only one Skenes has for Pittsburgh before he joins the U.S. for the World Baseball Classic. He allowed one hit and one run while facing 12 batters. He is going into his third season with the Pirates. "Winning gold is the biggest thing," said Skenes, who was then asked if U.S. success in the just-completed Winter Olympics provides more motivation. "Yeah, men’s hockey, women’s hockey, all the other golds that we won in the Olympics. We’re America, we’ve got to assert our dominance over everybody else. That’s what we do. ... It's going to be fun." Skenes threw 27 pitches for strikes against the Braves, along with four other pitches initially called strikes by home plate umpire Chris Segal that Braves hitters challenged through the automated ball-strike system — the so-called robot umpires. "Today, that’s how it is. I’ve just got to adjust,' Skenes said. "I think it will even out over the course of the season, but ask me in June." Three of those challenges came on consecutive batters in the first inning. Matt Olson challenged an 82.3 mph curveball that was called a strike, and had a smile on his face as replay showed indeed that the 1-1 pitch was only about one-tenth of an inch off the plate. He went on to draw a walk. "When the season gets rolling, that’s probably not the pitch that you’re going to be challenging, but you’ve got to feel it out a bit," Olson said. "I figured, whatever. It was a backdoor sweeper that I felt kind of held up a little bit." Jurickson Profar then challenged a 98.3 mph fastball for a strike on the first pitch he faced, and it was overturned to a 1-0 count before he also walked. Austin Riley sought a replay when a 99 mph pitch on an 0-2 count was called a strike, but was above the zone, though on the next pitch he struck out swinging on a 98.5 mph fastball just below that. In the Braves second, Ronald Acuna asked for a review and got a ball on a 97.6 mph fastball off the plate that had been called a strike. While the overturned strike thrown to Riley was the fastest of the day by Skenes, his fastball was consistently in the upper-90s throughout his outing. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 College Basketball, EPL, MLB Odds: Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica’s Best Bets]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/chris-the-bear-fallica-best-bets</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/chris-the-bear-fallica-best-bets</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[“The Bear" is back with a few futures bets, including a wager on a team he's backing to make the men's hoops Final Four.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:49:27 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA["Bear Bets" are real wagers that Chris "The Bear" Fallica is actually making. Don't worry that football season is on a hiatus. There are so many other betting markets to dive into, it'll make your head spin. March Madness is on the horizon, we're in the height of the Premier League season and there are some futures wagers that are worth a look. Here are a few bets I'm making right now. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Man City to win Premier League At the time of me writing this, City are five points back of Arsenal with a game in hand. Assuming City wins that game in hand, that moves them two back while even on games. That's huge, as City host Arsenal on April 18. This much we know: If City win its final 11 matches, it will be Premier League champions. Given Arsenal’s form lately — dropping points to Wolves and Brentford — City might not even need to be perfect. Since adding Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo in the transfer windows, Pep Guardiola’s squad has looked to be the class of the league once again. PICK: Man City (+150) to win Premier League Tennessee to make Final Four The Vols currently sit 14 in KenPom and certainly have tested themselves in the non-conference, beating Houston and Louisville, while losing a close game to Kansas and a game to Illinois, as well. The Vols' last two losses (both to Kentucky) have come by a combined five points in games they should have won. There doesn't seem to be as much buzz about Rick Barnes’ team this year and maybe that's a good thing. However, with Nate Ament and Ja’Kobi Glllespie, the Vols have a pair of guys who can make plays on the big stage. Tennessee is on that four or five line right now. And while we all agree the 1-seeds look to be on a different level this year, the Vols' combination of those two guys — along with a typical Rick Barnes defense and battle-tested bunch — would be an uneasy Sweet 16 matchup for any of the one seeds. PICK: Tennessee (+1600) to make Final Four Nick Kurtz to hit 50 home runs Kurtz showed last year he’s headed toward becoming one of the best hitters in baseball. The Athletics will again play home games in Sacramento at Sutter Health Park, which has little foul ground and sees the ball carry quite well. Kurtz had 36 home runs in 420 at-bats last year and it would be no surprise if he took an even bigger step forward this year. PICK: Nick Kurtz (+600) to hit 50 HR Jackson Chourio to win NL MVP Look, betting into the AL and NL MVP markets is a buyer-beware exercise because you know that both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are massive favorites. If you’re looking to throw a dart in case something happens to Ohtani, Chourio is a pretty decent option. He’s gone .270-20-20 in each of his first two seasons and that was despite missing 30 games last year. Add in plus-defense for a team that should again contend to win the division, and you’ve got someone entering his age-22 season that could completely break out in a huge way. PICK: Jackson Chourio (+5000) to win NL MVP Minnesota Twins worst record The Rockies are rightfully and deservedly a massive favorite to again have the worst record in the sport. They do not appear to be trying to win. The pitching staff is an abomination. So why am I throwing a dart on the Twins at 35-1? Well, ace Pablo Lopez is headed for Tommy John surgery. Joe Ryan is nursing back problems. The rest of the rotation is not that encouraging. And have you seen the bullpen? Taylor Rogers is the likely closer and 3B Royce Lewis is untrustworthy to play even 100 games. The Tigers and Royals are the class of the division, the Guardians are middling and the White Sox improved. Whatever assets the Twins have could be dumped at the deadline. Might this end up a 55-win team? There’s certainly a non-zero chance. PICK: Minnesota Twins (+3500) worst record]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Baseball Classic MVP Odds: Judge, Ohtani Top Board]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/2026-world-baseball-classic-odds-mvp</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/2026-world-baseball-classic-odds-mvp</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Will Shohei Ohtani take home his second consecutive WBC MVP in 2026? Will Aaron Judge crash the party in his first WBC? Here are the odds.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:48:44 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Shohei Ohtani captured the MVP in the 2023 World Baseball Classic after leading Japan to its third WBC title in the most spectacular fashion. The superstar struck out Mike Trout — his former teammate on the Angels — before being crowned the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Will two-way Shohei take home the trophy again in 2026? Here are the latest odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as of March 2. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. WBC MVP odds Aaron Judge (USA): +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)Shohei Ohtani (JPN): +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)Paul Skenes (USA): +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)Bryce Harper (USA): +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)Kyle Schwarber (USA): +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)Gunnar Henderson (USA): +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)Logan Webb (USA): +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (DOM): +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 totalBobby Witt Jr. (USA): +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Juan Soto (DOM): +2700 (bet $10 to win $280 total)Seiya Suzuki (JPN): +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)Byron Buxton (USA): +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)Yoshinobu Yamamoto (JPN): +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)Cal Raleigh (USA): +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)Munetaka Murakami (JPN): +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)Roman Anthony (USA): +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)Ronald Acuna Jr. (VEN): +3300 (bet $10 to win $340 total)Kazuma Okamoto (JPN): +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)Julio Rodriguez (DOM): +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)Fernando Tatis Jr. (DOM): +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total) Here's what to know about the oddsboard: The Favorites: Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are currently the one-two punch on this board, with Judge getting the edge. Yankees slugger Judge is making his very first appearance in the Classic. He declined the WBC invitation back in 2023 because, at the time, he chose to focus on his status as a free agent, and he was coming off a 2022 season in which he had hit an AL-record-breaking 62 home runs. He will now make his debut and will carry the title of captain. When it comes to Ohtani, as noted above, he's no stranger to this game, earning the honor of WBC MVP in 2023. One to Watch: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a little further down the oddsboard, but he could still be one to watch in this tournament — especially with his odds in this market shortening to +2200 from +2700 over the past week. Three months after he and his Blue Jays lost the World Series to the Dodgers in seven games, Guerrero has noted that he's "turned the page" on that heartbreak. Like Judge, the five-time All-Star will make his debut in the 2026 Classic. He finished 2025 hitting .292 with 23 home runs and 84 RBIs.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Japan’s Best World Baseball Classic Lineup: Reigning Champs Can Run It Back]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/japans-best-world-baseball-classic-shohei-ohtani-yoshinobu-yamamoto</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/japans-best-world-baseball-classic-shohei-ohtani-yoshinobu-yamamoto</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Until proven otherwise, Japan still sits on the throne as the kings of World Baseball Classic.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:47:45 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Team USA is bringing its best roster, the Dominican Republic is once again oozing with talent and Venezuela’s lineup can contend with anyone, but until proven otherwise, Japan still sits on the throne as the kings of international competition. Japan has dominated the World Baseball Classic unlike any other country, winning the tournament in three of its five editions, and the group again looks fully capable of defending its standing. In 2023, Japan stormed back in the late innings to triumph over Mexico in a semifinal walk-off win before holding off Team USA in the finals when WBC MVP Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout in an epic at-bat to take back the title. Ohtani won’t have the chance to do that again in 2026, as he’ll only be hitting this time around. That’s a tough blow to a Samurai Japan pitching staff that will be without four of the five pitchers who started games in the 2023 WBC, but they’ll still have Yoshinobu Yamamoto as their ace fresh off earning World Series MVP honors, plus two more MLB starters in Yusei Kikuchi and Tomoyuki Sagano and reigning Sawamura Award winner Hiromi Itoh. Any questions about the rotation are mitigated by the depth of a lineup that bullied the competition while going undefeated in 2023. Ohtani will once again spearhead a Japan offense that outscored its pool-play opponents by 30 runs in the last WBC and finished the tournament with the highest OPS of any team that made it out of the knockout round. Now, Seiya Suzuki will be joining the group coming off a 32-homer season with the Cubs after missing the 2023 competition due to injury. He’ll be among five MLB position players on the roster, a group that includes Ohtani, Masataka Yoshida and incoming NPB standouts Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto. Manager Hirokazu Ibata will have plenty of lineup iterations to choose from — there’s so much established NPB talent in place that it might be hard to find regular at-bats for Teruaki Sato, who hit 40 home runs last year while being named Central League MVP — but here’s one option that could maximize Japan’s offensive capabilities as it attempts to defend its crown: Lineup So, how would that look defensively? Outfield LF: Masataka YoshidaCF: Seiya Suzuki RF: Kensuke Kondo The safer move would be putting Shota Morishito in center flanked by Yoshida in left and Suzuki in right, but there have already been rumblings leading into the competition of Japan potentially using Suzuki in center. While that carries some disaster potential defensively (especially with Yoshida in left), it would also be the most powerful offensive configuration and allow Team Japan to keep the bats of both Yoshida and Kondo in the lineup. Yoshida hit .409 with a team-high 13 RBI in the 2023 tournament, while Kondo hit .346 with a 1.115 OPS. Kondo has had an OPS over .900 in each of his last three seasons in NPB. Infield 1B: Munetaka Murakami 2B: Shugo Maki SS: Kaito Kozono 3B: Kazuma Okamoto C: Seishiro Sakamoto DH: Shohei Ohtani MLB fans have more of a reason to watch Japan with a closer eye now that Murakami will be joining the White Sox and Okamoto will be playing for the Blue Jays in 2026. Murakami famously hit 56 home runs as a 22-year-old in 2022 and averaged more than 30 home runs per season over his eight-year NPB career. Okamoto also brings power — he hit at least 30 home runs every season from 2018-23 with the Yomiuri Giants — with less of a strikeout risk, coming off a 2025 NPB campaign in which he slashed .327/.416/.598 with as many walks as strikeouts. Kozono won the Central League batting title last season, hitting .309 in a career year with the Hiroshima Carp. Maki played on the 2023 tournament team and has recorded an OPS of at least .800 in each of his five NPB seasons. At catcher, expect Yamamoto’s former Orix Buffaloes teammate Kenya Wakatsuki to be behind the plate when he starts. Otherwise, Sakamoto might get the majority of the time coming off his best offensive season in years. That’s all before getting to Ohtani, who needs little explanation coming off back-to-back 50-homer seasons with the Dodgers and a dominant showing in the last WBC. Rotation RHP Yoshinobu YamamotoLHP Yusei KikuchiRHP Hiromi Itoh RHP Tomoyuki Sugano Yamamoto struck out 12 batters in 7.1 innings in the 2023 tournament and demonstrated his ability to rise to the biggest occasions during the 2025 MLB playoffs. He threw complete games in Game 2 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the World Series, and after earning the win in Game 6 of the Fall Classic to keep the Dodgers’ season alive, he emerged in relief one day later to seal a championship in relief. Unfortunately for Japan, he can’t start every game of the WBC. Instead, he’ll be the ace of a pitching staff that isn’t quite as daunting as the 2023 group. Kikuchi was an All-Star for the Angels in 2025 and had an ERA a tick under 4.00 but surrendered more hits than any pitcher in the American League. Sugano registered a 4.64 ERA for the Orioles and surrendered an American League-leading 33 home runs. There’s still plenty of talented arms behind that trio, however, including reigning Sawamura Award winner Hiromi Itoh, who made three scoreless relief outings in the 2023 tournament. Also worth keeping an eye on: New Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai, who’s coming off a career year in NPB, is not on the initial roster but is part of the designated pitcher pool and could be added in later rounds if (when) Japan advances. Bullpen RHP Shoma Fujihira RHP Koki KitayamaLHP Yuki Matsui RHP Yuki Matsumoto LHP Hiroya MiyagiRHP Taisei OtaLHP Ryuhei SotaniLHP Chihiro SumidaRHP Hiroto TakahashiRHP Atsuki Taneichi Many of Japan’s relief arms are actually standout starters in NPB and can provide length if needed. Kitayama ranked third in ERA (1.63) and Taneichi ranked fifth in strikeouts (161 in 160.2 innings) among qualified NPB pitchers last year. Takahashi, Sumida and Miyagi, a holdover from the 2023 championship team who ranked third in NPB in strikeout rate last year, all threw at least 150-plus innings with a sub-3.00 ERA last season. Ota made four scoreless relief outings for Japan in the last WBC. Matsui is the lone MLB pitcher of the group, but his status is in question as he deals with a groin injury.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Mexico's Best World Baseball Classic Lineup: Big Bats Can Make A Deep Run]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/big-team-lineups-profiling-team-mexico-2026-world-baseball-classic</link>
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				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[If Mexico wants to build on its 2023 semifinal run at the World Classic Baseball, they have the bats to do it.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:18:05 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Is this the Mexico team that goes all the way? In 2023, they were one inning away from advancing to the championship of the World Baseball Classic, leading 5-4 in the ninth inning of one of the most thrilling games of the tournament, when Munetaka Murakami’s walk-off double in the semifinals sent Japan through. Still, Mexico’s third-place finish was its best ever showing at the tournament, and this time it will have All-Star closer Andres Munoz available to hold leads late. WBC Rosters: Team-By-Team Squads The team will again be led by Randy Arozarena, who tends to rise to the occasion when the spotlight is brightest. In the last WBC, Arozarena delivered in the clutch at the plate while patrolling left field expertly with his typical swagger. He’s among a large contingent of MLB returnees from the impressive 2023 team, which exceeded expectations while going 3-1 in pool play — including an 11-5 win against Team USA — before storming past Puerto Rico with a late charge in the quarterfinals. WBC Power Rankings: Stacking Japan, USA and All 20 Squads There are questions about the rotation, and it will hurt not having Isaac Paredes in the lineup this time around, but the additions of Muñoz, Alejandro Kirk, Joey Ortiz and Taj Bradley to the group add more high-end talent to the roster. Kirk is a huge upgrade behind the plate, Arozarena and Duran give Mexico two of the best corner outfielders in the tournament, and Aranda is coming off an All-Star season with the Rays. No matter the competition, Mexico will not be intimidated by its opponent. That will be important, considering it is in a pool with the USA yet again as well as a formidable Italy squad. If it makes it out of pool play, manager Benji Gil’s experienced group is capable of once again making a deep run. Here’s one look at a potential Mexico lineup: Lineup So, how would that look defensively? Outfield LF: Randy Arozarena CF: Alek ThomasRF: Jarren Duran Arozarena led off at the last tournament, and that worked out well. He dazzled as one of the best hitters in the whole field, going 9-for-20 with seven extra-base hits. Duran only got five at-bats in the last tournament and was not yet the player he would become, accumulating 15.5 WAR over the last three years. The top half of the Mexico lineup can do a lot of damage. Thomas and Alejandro Osuna, who debuted for the Texas Rangers in 2025, bring more MLB experience to the outfield group, which also includes Julián Ornelas, the older brother of Padres prospect Tirso Ornelas. Thomas was Mexico’s starter in center in the last tournament, and he would seem the likeliest fit to retain that role. Infield 1B: Jonathan Aranda2B: Nick GonzalesSS: Joey Ortiz3B: Ramón UríasC: Alejandro Kirk DH: Rowdy Tellez All-Stars Aranda and Kirk should be locks at their positions. Aside from that, Gil can mix and match across the infield among a relatively light-hitting but versatile group of current and former big-leaguers that includes Ortiz, Gonzales and brothers Ramon and Luis Urias. They were well below-league-average MLB hitters last year, but an infield that includes Ortiz and Gonzales up the middle with Kirk behind the plate should make Mexico’s pitchers thrilled. Luis had a terrific 2023 WBC (.825 OPS), so it’s possible he ends up starting at second or third, but I gave Ramón the nod here coming off a 2.2-WAR season between Baltimore and Houston. Joey Meneses also was a 2023 WBC standout (.963 OPS), but Tellez has more recent success after posting a 124 OPS+ in 50 games for the Rangers last season. Gil could decide to use Tellez as the DH against righties and Meneses against lefties. Jared Serna, another versatile defensive prospect for the Marlins, rounds out the roster. Rotation RHP Javier Assad RHP Taijuan WalkerRHP Taj Bradley Losing Jose Urquidy for insurance reasons is going to sting for a Mexico roster that doesn’t have a ton of starting pitching options, so it will need a lot from this trio if it wants to repeat its 2023 success. After firing 5.2 scoreless innings of relief in the last tournament, Assad might now have to be Mexico’s ace. He has spent most of the last two years as a starter with the Cubs, amassing a 3.72 ERA over that time. Walker threw four scoreless innings in the last WBC, but he has a 4.88 ERA over the last three years with the Phillies. Bradley, a former top prospect, struggled last season between Tampa Bay and Minnesota but adds a hard fastbal and vital depth to the group. Bullpen RHP Andrés MuñozRHP Victor VodnikLHP Robert Garcia LHP Brennan BernardinoLHP Samy Natera Jr  RHP Daniel Duarte LHP Alexander Armenta RHP Jesus Cruz RHP Alex Carrillo RHP Luis Gastelum RHP Roel Ramírez RHP Gerardo Reyes Mexico will need a lot of innings — and potentially some bullpen games — from this group, which features a number of big-league talents as well as a KBO pitcher in Armenta.  Muñoz is the standout of the unit, coming off back-to-back All-Star seasons with the Mariners. Last year, he didn’t allow his first earned run of the season until his 25th appearance of the year. There’s some interesting depth in front of him. Vodnik is prone to hard contact, but he throws in the high-90s and managed a 3.02 ERA in Colorado last season. Garcia and Bernardino are coming off strong years in the Texas and Boston bullpens, respectively. Natera, an Angels prospect, struck out 85 batters but also walked 42 in 57 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last year.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Konnor Griffin, MLB's No. 1 Prospect, Hits 2 Home Runs In Pirates Game]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/konnor-griffin-mlbs-no-1-prospect-hits-2-home-runs-pirates-game</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/konnor-griffin-mlbs-no-1-prospect-hits-2-home-runs-pirates-game</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[MLB's top-ranked prospect, Konnor Griffin, hit two home runs for the Pirates in their Tuesday spring training game.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 16:21:38 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The future was sent over the outfield wall for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. In the top of the second inning of Pittsburgh's spring training matchup against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday afternoon, shortstop Konnor Griffin — the No. 1 prospect in Major League Baseball, according to MLB Pipeline — demolished a curveball from star left-hander Ranger Suarez over the left field wall. Two innings later, faced with an 0-2 count, Griffin launched a home run to left-center field for his second long ball of the game. He finished the day going 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Pittsburgh selected the now-19-year-old Griffin directly out of high school with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He played at three levels of minor-league ball for the Pirates in 2025, appearing in 50 games in Low-A, 51 games in High-A and 21 games in Double-A. In all, Griffin totaled 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases across 122 combined games in 2025, while posting a .333/.415/.527 slash line. He made 88 starts at shortstop, 15 in center field and 18 as a designated hitter. The Pirates are coming off a 71-91 season, their seventh consecutive year with a losing record and 10th consecutive year missing the playoffs. That said, they were active this offseason, acquiring second baseman and two-time All-Star Brandon Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays and making a five-player trade with the Red Sox that sent pitchers Johan Oviedo and Tyler Samaniego and catcher Adonys Guzman to Boston for outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia and right-hander Jesus Travieso. Pittsburgh also signed first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn (two years, $29 million), designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (one year, $12 million) and reliever Gregory Soto (one year, $7.8 million), among others.]]>
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				<title>
					<![CDATA[USA's Best World Baseball Classic Lineup: Assembling A Historic Squad]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/what-could-star-studded-team-usa-lineup-look-like-2026-world-baseball-classic</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/world-baseball-classic/what-could-star-studded-team-usa-lineup-look-like-2026-world-baseball-classic</guid>
				<category>world-baseball-classic</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[How might USA deploy its best roster ever? Breaking down the lineup, arms and decisions for manager Mark DeRosa.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:54:09 -0500</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[There are good teams. There are great teams. And then there is the juggernaut that Team USA will be sending to the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Under manager Mark DeRosa, this is clear-cut the best roster that Team USA has ever assembled. That seemed to be a given when Aaron Judge, who is set to play in his first WBC, signed on to be the captain of the team. But it goes well beyond the reigning American League MVP. Twenty-one of the 30 players on USA’s roster have been MLB All-Stars — a total that, unsurprisingly, leads all teams in the tournament (which airs live on FOX, FS1, FS2, the FOX Sports app, FOX One, and Tubi). The Dominican Republic’s loaded roster ranks second with 16 former MLB All-Stars, followed by Venezuela with 12. Just based on MLB production using 2025 WAR as a guide, USA has concocted the best roster of any team in WBC history. Even after losing Corbin Carroll to a broken hamate bone — he was replaced by 21-year-old Roman Anthony, who hit 40% better than league average in his rookie season — DeRosa won't have to worry about a shortage of elite talent. WBC Rosters: Team-By-Team Squads With newcomers in Judge, AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh, two-time MVP Bryce Harper, two-time All-Star Byron Buxton plus more joining 2023 holdovers such as Bobby Witt Jr., Kyle Schwarber and Will Smith, USA's lineup is even more stacked than it was three years ago. But it’s the pitching that really sets this team apart from previous star-studded groups. WBC Power Rankings: Stacking Japan, USA and All 20 Squads Attracting frontline arms can be an issue ahead of a long MLB season, but not this year. USA recruited both Cy Young Award winners in Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes to a rotation that also includes two-time All-Star Logan Webb, 2025 All-Stars Joe Ryan and Matthew Boyd and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, fresh off retirement. Keep in mind, WBC teams really only need four starters throughout the tournament. It’s an embarrassment of riches — and that’s before getting to the power arms at the back end of a bullpen that includes Mason Miller, David Bednar and Griffin Jax. All of that should lead to a USA team more than capable of avenging a 2023 WBC finals loss and reclaiming international glory after winning the tournament in 2017. But it also means some tough decisions ahead for DeRosa when constructing a lineup and figuring out how to deploy the pitching staff. Of course, he’ll be able to mix and match from game to game depending on the competition, but what would the optimal lineup look like? Here’s one take: Lineup So, how would that look defensively? Outfield LF: Roman AnthonyCF: Byron BuxtonRF: Aaron Judge You could certainly make the case to get Pete Crow-Armstrong’s defense in center field — he might end up platooning with Buxton — or even moving one of the center fielders on the roster to left, but I like the idea of having two strong defenders and potential base-stealers in PCA and Brice Turang off the bench to deploy as needed in the later innings. Judge is an obvious lock in right. Anthony graded out well defensively last year in both corner outfield spots. Buxton had a 137 OPS+ in 2024 and a nearly identical mark last year (136) in a 30-20 season and career year. He also obliterates left-handed pitching, so putting him behind Raleigh and Harper in the lineup would force tough pitching decisions for opponents. Infield 1B: Bryce Harper 2B: Gunnar Henderson SS: Bobby Witt, Jr. 3B: Alex Bregman C: Cal Raleigh DH: Kyle Schwarber After missing the 2023 competition coming off Tommy John surgery, Harper, who played for Team USA’s 16U and 18U teams, will cherish this opportunity. Sure, it might look a little wacky putting Henderson at second base. He hasn’t played the position since he came up as a rookie in 2022, and it’s probably more likely that Turang gets most of the opportunities there when the games begin. DeRosa could platoon the right-handed Witt and the left-handed Henderson at shortstop or Bregman and Henderson at third. But if it’s about fielding the best lineup, it’s hard to argue against finding a way to keep Witt, Henderson and Bregman all in the lineup. Raleigh and Schwarber need little explanation after leading the AL and NL, respectively, in home runs last year. Smith will be able to give Raleigh a spell behind the plate throughout the tournament. Rotation LHP Tarik SkubalRHP Paul Skenes RHP Logan WebbRHP Joe Ryan Swingmen/other options LHP Matthew BoydRHP Nolan McLeanRHP Clay HolmesRHP Michael WachaLHP Clayton Kershaw Skubal is only expected to make one start before returning to the Tigers, so that's obviously a blow for the USA as it gets deeper into the tournament. Still, though, DeRosa has a bevy of strong options at his disposal. USA only needed four starters to get through the last WBC, and Skenes, Webb, Ryan and Boyd were all All-Stars last year. It’ll be interesting to see how DeRosa chooses to line up the rotation and if Skenes gets saved for a potential final. Bullpen RHP Mason MillerRHP David Bednar RHP Griffin JaxRHP Brad KellerRHP Garrett Whitlock LHP Gabe SpeierLHP Garrett Cleavinger Everyone wants to watch Miller blow 103 mph four-seamers past amateur athletes to finish off games, right? My guess is he earns the majority of save opportunities, but Bednar is another strong option, and lefties Speier and Cleavinger give DeRosa answers for any lineup he faces. Not bad!]]>
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