World Baseball Classic Articles - Page 2

The Boston Red Sox will be kicking off their 2023 campaign next Thursday on March 30th, but it doesn’t seem like many folks care. In fairness, the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins are on absolute fire, and the New England Patriots are in the middle of beefing up their roster this offseason. As for the […]

Before the World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday, Shohei Ohtani went viral because of his epic pregame speech for his Japanese teammates. It was undoubtedly effective, as Japan went on to beat Team USA in an instant 3-2 classic. Of course Ohtani was asked about his speech following their victory, and he didn’t hide the […]

People are running out of words to describe how incredible a baseball player Shohei Ohtani is. After closing out Japan’s 3-2 win in the finals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic against Mike Trout and the United States, everyone just wants to talk about the greatness of the Los Angeles Angels baseball unicorn. At this […]

All eyes Tuesday night were on the titanic matchup between Team USA and Team Japan in the finals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic. What made that game even more interesting — and unique — was the fact that each team is being led by a Los Angeles Angels star. For the United States, they […]

Team USA’s worst nightmare could soon be coming to fruition in the WBC Championship Tuesday night. Japan has a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning with Shohei Ohtani and Yu Darvish already having headed to the bullpen, per MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. Ohtani is expected to be the man Japan will trust to close out […]

Trea Turner has done it again. Turner wasted no time in getting Team USA on the board in the World Baseball Classic final against Japan, belting a home run- his fifth of the tournament- in the second inning. The Philadelphia Phillies star’s home run didn’t just get the scoring started for USA, though. It tied […]

Shohei Ohtani has one clear message for Japan ahead of the World Baseball Classic final against Team USA: aim for the win. Of course that isn’t surprising and to be fair, Ohtani shouldn’t have felt the need to say that to his Japan teammates. However, the Los Angeles Angels star knows very well how difficult […]

Shohei Ohtani and Team Japan will take on Mike Trout and Team USA on Tuesday in the World Baseball Classic championship. It is difficult to deny the fact that Ohtani and Trout getting to shine on the big stage is good for baseball, a narrative that Los Angeles Dodgers’ star Clayton Kershaw agrees with. However, […]

With Los Angeles Angeles star Shohei Ohtani making himself available to pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic final, the focus of the whole baseball world now turns to Yu Darvish and whether he’ll also make an appearance in the contest. For those unaware, many expected Darvish to start against Team USA, but the […]

Team Japan will take on Team USA in the World Baseball Classic championship game, and Shohei Ohtani is available to pitch one inning out of the bullpen for Team Japan, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Angels manager Phil Kevin said he would be available, and that it will not impact his availability to start […]

Los Angeles Dodgers’ SP Julio Urias will make his first post-World Baseball Classic start on Friday versus the Milwaukee Brewers, per Kirsten Watson. Urias helped lead Team Mexico to the semifinals before they were defeated by Team Japan on Monday. The left-hander endured his share of ups and downs in the tournament, but was able to […]

It is the finals of the World Baseball Classic! The United States goes for their second straight crown after winning in 2017, led by Trea Turner and Nolan Arenado. Japan is looking for their third crown, but first since 2009. We continue our World Baseball Classic odds series with a USA-Japan prediction, pick, and how-to-watch. […]

Team USA and Team Japan will go head-to-head on Tuesday in the World Baseball Classic championship. Merrill Kelly and Shota Imanaga are the scheduled starting pitchers, but the primary storyline is Shohei Ohtani versus Mike Trout. The Los Angeles Angels superstars have combined for one total MLB playoff series. As talented as both players are, […]

Team Puerto Rico’s performance in the World Baseball Classic was clouded by a tragic leg injury to Edwin Diaz, one of the squad’s most notable stars and best pitchers. The New York Mets’ star closer suffered an injury celebrating a win over the Dominican Republic team and could miss the entire 2023 season, though it […]

Shohei Ohtani and Team Japan completed an incredible walkoff semifinal win on Monday, scoring two runs in the ninth inning to defeat Mexico 6-5 and set up a mouthwatering matchup against Team USA in the final of the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday night. Japan has been “coy” with Ohtani’s pitching status, neither confirming nor denying […]

The stage is set for the World Baseball Classic championship game after Shohei Ohtani and Japan pulled off a miraculous comeback 6-5 victory Monday night against Randy Arozarena and Mexico in the semifinals. As Japan erupts in jubilation over the win, one could only imagine the pain Mexico is feeling after coming so close to […]

Team Japan has moved on to the World Baseball Classic final in an exhilarating manner. Samurai Japan walked off Team Mexico in the bottom of the ninth inning to earn the right to play Team USA on Tuesday. Japan slugger Munetaka Murakami was the hero of the day. With two baserunners on and no one […]

Team Japan has dazzled at the World Baseball Classic this year, earning a spot in the semifinals. Of all the star power in Japan, however, most are focusing on 21-year-old ace Roki Sasaki. “The Monster of the Reiwa Era” has impressed many during this tournament. On Monday, he averaged 100.5 miles per hour on his […]

Team Mexico star Randy Arozarena has always been one of the most exciting baseball players today, and he showed why once again Monday night when he pulled off a sensational catch to rob Team Japan of a huge home run during the fifth inning of this World Baseball Classic semifinals showdown. RANDY AROZARENA BRINGS ONE […]

Randy Arozarena is known for his boldness with both the Tampa Bay Rays and Mexico’s team in the World Baseball Classic. Prior to Mexico’s meeting with Japan in the World Baseball Classic semifinal, Arozarena professed confidence that Mexico would be able to defeat Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki and advance to the final. “What do I […]

Team Mexico takes on Team Japan tonight in the semifinal of the World Baseball Classic, and sensation Roki Sasaki will take the mound for Team Japan, but outfielder Randy Arozarena is not afraid, and basically declared that Team Mexico will win. He was asked what he expects from Roki Sasaki in the game. “What do […]

Outfielder David Peralta, who played for Team Venezuela in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, is back at Los Angeles Dodgers’ camp following Venezuela’s recent elimination from the tournament. Peralta had nothing but good things to say about the WBC following his return. The new Dodgers’ outfielder also shared a pivotal injury update on his back, per […]

Team Japan is looking to defeat Team Mexico on Monday to book their ticket to the World Baseball Classic championship. If Japan gets the job done on Monday, there’s a slight chance that Shohei Ohtani could pitch against Team USA, per Bob Nightengale. “I will check with his condition, but I would say that there […]

Team Mexico baseball is preparing to square off against Team Japan on Monday. Both squads are looking to punch their ticket to the World Baseball Classic championship. Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting pitcher Julio Urias was removed from Mexico baseball’s WBC roster on Monday, however, he wasn’t expected to pitch anyway after appearing on Friday, per […]

The participation of MLB players in the World Baseball Classic has been a particularly hot topic of late. More fuel has been poured into that subject in light of the injuries of New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz and Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve while playing for their respective countries in the tournament. But […]

Team Mexico squares off with Team Japan in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic! First pitch is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET. Below we continue our World Baseball Classic odds series with a Mexico-Japan prediction, pick, and how to watch. Mexico is fresh off a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals. […]

Chicago White Sox fans saw their worst World Baseball Classic fears come to life during the USA vs. Cuba semifinal matchup on Sunday. Third baseman Yoan Moncada was seen writhing in pain on the field after a scary collision with teammate Roel Santos while trying to gather a fly ball. USA Slugger Kyle Schwarber sent […]

Team USA is back in the World Baseball Classic final, looking to repeat as champions. A major reason why is Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner. Turner smacked two home runs in the Semifinal against Cuba, bringing his home run total for the tournament to four. The Americans put in a demolition job, beating the Cubans […]

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado exited Team USA’s World Baseball Classic game against Cuba after getting hit on the wrist with a pitch. Fortunately, he went to get a X-rays, and they came back negative, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Nolan Arenado exits the game after being hit in the hand […]

It’s not even the 2023 MLB season yet but Trea Turner is already flexing his muscles at the plate. In Sunday’s World Baseball Classic semifinals matchup between Team USA and Team Cuba, the Philadelphia Phillies shortstop, Trea Turner brutally launched a long bomb that traveled for 428 feet to extend USA’s lead to 3-1 in […]

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa has shown at the 2023 World Baseball Classic that he is not afraid to make major lineup changes. He did just that in Team USA’s last two games in the tournament. Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner was called on to bat last in Team USA’s wins against both Colombia and […]

There has been a lot of discussion about potential changes to the World Baseball Classic that could improve the tournament for the future, and Team USA manager Mark DeRosa had a funny response to the question, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. “Hot water in Arizona to take a shower, number one,” Mark […]

For grumps and cranks, the World Baseball Classic is a silly, dangerous distraction from the actual important games, like a mid-April series against the Cincinnati Reds. To the players and fans, though, these games have been a revelation, a reminder of how fun and vital baseball can be. While the World Baseball Classic has been […]

It’s the World Baseball Semifinal as Cuba faces the USA. We’re in Miami sharing our World Baseball Classic odds series, making a Cuba-USA prediction and pick while showing you how to watch. We are down to the final four of the World Baseball Classic tournament. Ultimately, these are the final four countries and the best […]

Every traditional team sport has an international event where countries play each other for national glory. For basketball, it’s the FIBA Basketball World Cup. For soccer, it’s the World Cup. The list goes on. The baseball world has it’s own World Cup: the World Baseball Classic. For a stretch of a few weeks, the best […]

Team USA advanced in the 2023 World Baseball Classic in dramatic fashion by taking down Team Venezuela. Trea Turner provided the heroics with a towering grand slam that put the Americans ahead and allowed them to win 9-7. Turner, in an 0-2 count with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, swung at […]

Houston Astros star second baseman Jose Altuve was hit by a pitch during Saturday night’s game at the World Baseball Classic between Team Venezuela and Team USA. Altuve exited the game shortly after getting hit, with the Astros also releasing a statement that the infielder will undergo more tests to see the full extent of […]

Lance Lynn, despite struggling in 2022, has been a reliable pitcher throughout the course of his big league career. Team USA is turning to Lynn on Saturday versus Team Venezuela in a must-win World Baseball Classic affair. However, one concerning statistic will catch the attention of fans before the game. Venezuela’s starting lineup has a […]

Team USA will be looking to book their spot in the last four of the World Baseball Classic on Saturday as they face Venezuela in the quarterfinals. On the mound, Lance Lynn will get the ball, despite Adam Wainwright last pitching in the tournament opener. It would make sense for him to earn the start […]