The 2026 World Baseball Classic is less than a week away. It’s the first WBC since 2023, and the sixth overall, dating back to 2006. With 20 nations competing on the international stage, let’s preview some of the top teams in this tournament and how they’re predicted to stand.
USA
After finishing as the runner-up to Japan in 2023, the United States is locked and loaded for this competition. Their roster is absolutely stacked on both sides. The pitching room is led with a one-two punch of 2025 Cy Young Award winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes, with Logan Webb as a great third option. Offensively, a lot of home run-hitting talent will come up to the plate with Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper. This team also has young rising stars in Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson, and Roman Anthony. In Pool B, their first test will be against Brazil on Friday, March 6, at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.
Dominican Republic
The last time the Dominican Republic played in the World Baseball Classic, they didn’t advance out of pool play. In 2026, they came in as one of the favorites to win the entire tournament. According to BetMGM, the Dominican Republic’s odds stand at +400 to win the World Baseball Classic, only behind Team Japan (+350) and Team USA (-110). This country has a star-studded lineup led by Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Julio Rodriguez, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ketel Marte, and Junior Caminero. Those six players combined for 196 home runs during the 2025 season. On the pitching side, they will have 2025 NL Cy Young runner-up Christopher Sanchez alongside Sandy Alcantara, Bryan Bello, and Luis Severino. The back end of the bullpen looks very scary with Abner Uribe, Carlos Estevez, and Dennis Santana. All three relief pitchers finished the 2025 season with at least a sub-2.50 ERA. Dominican Republic will take on Nicaragua on March 6 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, to kick off Pool D play.
Japan
This Japanese team will come in as the reigning tournament champions, winning their third overall in 2023. Shohei Ohtani will focus on his offensive power in the lineup instead of pitching due to limited restrictions. Ohtani has won an MVP the last three seasons and back-to-back World Series titles with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Other offensive pieces to look out for on this team are Seiya Suzuki and Masataka Yoshida. Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto, both transitioning to the MLB from the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), will also add power to their lineup. The pitching room will be led by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who appeared in two games in the 2023 WBC run, totaling 7.1 innings and 12 strikeouts with a 2.45 ERA. Japan will face off against Chinese Taipei in their first game of pool play on March 6 at the Tokyo Dome.
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