World Baseball Classic: The basics
For the first time since 2017 and just the fifth time ever, the World Baseball Classic is underway. Twenty countries will compete for the title, which will be decided in a winner-take-all final March 21 in Miami. This year’s competition may be the most credible yet, because more of the sport’s most prominent stars will be competing for their home countries than did in past tournaments.
Pool play began Wednesday in Taiwan. It will take seven games for a team to claim the championship, a quick-hitting format that will give big leaguers a week with their major league clubs before Opening Day.
What is the schedule?
Pool play for the World Baseball Classic began Wednesday with two Pool A matchups. The tournament consists of four pools of five teams each. Winners and runners-up in each pool advance to the single-elimination knockout phase, which begins with the quarterfinals.
Pool B begins play Thursday in Tokyo, where Shohei Ohtani and the Japanese team will play in front of some of the tournament’s most energetic crowds. Pools C and D start play later this week. Each team will play four games in pool play.
The quarterfinals start March 15, pitting the runner-up from Pool B against the winner of Pool A. The Pool A runner-up will play the Pool B winner March 16. The runner-up from Pool C will play the winner of Pool D on March 17, and the Pool D runner-up will play the Pool C winner March 18. The semifinals will be played March 19 and March 20 ahead of the final March 21.
Where does it take place?
The World Baseball Classic will take place across four pool play venues before funneling its way to Miami for most of the knockout phase. The four pool play locations are Taichung, Taiwan; Tokyo; Phoenix; and Miami. The U.S. team will face Britain, Canada, Mexico and Colombia in the Phoenix pool. Japan will host will host South Korea, Australia, China and the Czech Republic in Tokyo. Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Israel, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua will play in Miami. The Netherlands, Panama, Italy, Chinese Taipei and Cuba will play in Taichung.
Tokyo and Miami will host two quarterfinal matchups each. Miami will host the semifinals and finals.
Which countries are in?
Twenty teams are in the World Baseball Classic.
Pool A: Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Netherlands, Italy, Panama
TODAY ON TV
8 p.m. FS2 — World Baseball Classic Pool Play: China vs. Australia, Pool B, Tokyo
9 p.m. FS1 — World Baseball Classic Pool Play: Panama vs. Italy, Pool A, Taichung, Taiwan
3 a.m. Saturday FS1 — World Baseball Classic Pool Play: Czech Republic vs. Japan, Pool B, Tokyo
4 a.m. Saturday FS2 — World Baseball Classic Pool Play: Netherlands vs. Chinese Taipei, Pool A, Taichung, Taiwan
Pool B: Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, Czech Republic
Pool C: United States, Mexico, Canada, Britain, Colombia
Pool D: Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Israel, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
What is the format?
The World Baseball Classic begins with four pools of five teams each. Each team plays all the others in its pool once, and the teams with the two best records in each pool advance to the quarterfinals. The remaining eight teams then play in a single-elimination format until a champion is crowned.
Who won last time?
The United States won the last World Baseball Classic in 2017. Japan (2006, 2009) and the Dominican Republic (2013) are the only other teams to win the tournament.
Who is playing for the U.S.?
For the first time in the tournament’s brief history, the American roster is legitimately star-studded. Los Angeles Angels future Hall of Famer Mike Trout will captain a roster that includes Mookie Betts, Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Trea Turner, Tim Anderson, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Tucker, Kyle Schwarber and enough elite position players to ensure a loaded bench. St. Louis Cardinals veteran Adam Wainwright will start the opener.
Which teams are the favorites?
The United States will face plenty of competition in its title defense, most notably in the form of the Dominican team, which is absolutely loaded. Even with Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. withdrawing late because of a knee injury, the Dominican lineup will probably include Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Wander Franco, José Ramírez, Rafael Devers and Julio Rodríguez, among others. Japan is also deep behind Ohtani, with star Nippon Professional Baseball starter Roki Sasaki headlining what might be the deepest pitching staff in the tournament. Puerto Rico and Venezuela also boast tons of big league talent, setting up some potentially prolific clashes in the later rounds.
How can I watch?
World Baseball Classic games are available on Fox, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Tubi and Fox Deportes — all of which can be streamed via subscription services such as Hulu Plus Live TV, YouTube TV or the Fox Sports app. The Americans will play their first game Saturday evening on Fox.