2023 World Baseball Classic: Schedule, how to watch, betting info, countries and groups
Mike Trout will play for the U.S., while his MLB teammate Shohei Ohtani will play for Japan. Ohtani and Trout are among seven MVP award winners participating in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, joining 2022 NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt (U.S.), 2020 NL MVP Freddie Freeman (Canada), 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts (U.S.), 2017 AL MVP José Altuve (Venezuela), and 2012 and 2013 AL MVP Miguel Cabrera (Venezuela).
Japan won the first two World Baseball Classics in 2006 and 2009, followed by the Dominican Republic in 2013. The United States finally broke through to win the 2017 World Baseball Classic. This edition of the World Baseball Classic was delayed two years because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Team USA strives to put World Baseball Classic on the map … in its own country
PLAYED UNDER OLD RULES:No pitch clock, shift limits for 2023 World Baseball Classic
How many countries are in the World Baseball Classic?
There will be 20 teams competing in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, up from 16 that participated in the 2017, the last time the World Baseball Classic was held. The 16 teams that competed in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, and four additional qualifiers (Czech Republic, Great Britain, Nicaragua and Panama) were added to the 2023 field.
What are the World Baseball Classic groups?
Pool A
Chinese Taipei
Cuba
Italy
Netherlands
Panama
Pool B
Australia
China
Czech Republic
Japan
South Korea
Pool C
Canada
Colombia
Great Britain
Mexico
United States
Pool D
Dominican Republic
Israel
Nicaragua
Puerto Rico
Venezuela
The top two finishers in each pool advance to the quarterfinals.
How to watch the 2023 World Baseball Classic
The tournament’s 47 games will be aired on FOX, FS1, FS2 and Tubi. Spanish-language broadcasts available on FOX Deportes. All games will stream on the FOX Sports app. Streaming also available on fuboTV.
What is the schedule for the World Baseball Classic?
Tuesday, March 7
Netherlands 4, Cuba 2
Wednesday, March 8
Panama 12, Chinese Taipei 5
Australia 8, South Korea 7
Netherlands 3, Panama 1
Thursday, March 9
Japan 8, China 1
Italy 6, Cuba 3 (10 innings)
Czech Republic 8, China 5
Cuba 13, Panama 4
Friday, March 10
Japan 13, South Korea 4
Chinese Taipei 11, Italy 7
Australia 12, China 2 (7 innings)
Panama 2, Italy 0
Saturday, March 11
Japan 10, Czech Republic 2
Chinese Taipei 9, Netherlands 5
Puerto Rico 9, Nicaragua 1
Colombia 5, Mexico 4 (10 innings)
Venezuela 5, Dominican Republic 1
United States 6, Great Britain 2
South Korea 7, Czech Republic 3
Cuba 7, Chinese Taipei 1
Sunday, March 12
Japan 7, Australia 1
Italy 7, Australia 1
Israel 3, Nicaragua 1
Great Britain vs. Canada, 3 p.m. ET (FS1)
Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico, 7 p.m. ET (FS1)
Mexico vs. United States, 10 p.m. ET (FS1)
Australia vs. Czech Republic, 11 p.m. ET (FS2)
Monday, March 13
South Korea vs. China, 6 a.m. ET (FS1)
Dominican Republic vs. Nicaragua, 12 p.m. ET (FS2)
Colombia vs. Great Britain, 3 p.m. ET (FS2)
Israel vs. Puerto Rico, 7 p.m. ET (FS1)
Canada vs. United States, 10 p.m. ET (FS1)
Tuesday, March 14
Nicaragua vs. Venezuela, 12 p.m. ET (FS2)
Canada vs. Colombia, 3 p.m. ET (FS2)
Israel vs. Dominican Republic, 7 p.m. ET (FS1)
Great Britain vs. Mexico, 10 p.m. ET (FS1)
Wednesday, March 15
Pool B runner-up vs. Pool A winner, 6 a.m. ET (FS2)
Venezuela vs. Israel, 12 p.m. ET (FS2)
Mexico vs. Canada, 3 p.m. ET (FS2)
Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic, 7 p.m. ET (FS1)
United States vs. Colombia, 10 p.m. ET (FS1)
Thursday, March 16
Pool A runner-up vs. Pool B winner, 6 a.m. ET (FS2)
Friday, March 17
Pool C runner-up vs. Pool D winner, 7 p.m. ET (FS1)
Saturday, March 18
Pool D runner-up vs. Pool C winner, 7 p.m. ET (FOX)
Sunday, March 19
Pool B runner-up-Pool A winner quarterfinal winner vs. Pool C runner-up-Pool D winner quarterfinal winner, 7 p.m. ET (FS1)
Monday, March 20
Pool A runner-up-Pool B winner quarterfinal winner vs. Pool D runner-up-Pool C winner quarterfinal winner, 7 p.m. ET (FS1)
Tuesday, March 21
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m. ET (FS1)
Where is the World Baseball Classic being held?
Four stadiums will host 2023 World Baseball Classic games:
► Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan (Pool A games)
► Tokyo Dome in Tokyo (Pool B and quarterfinal games)
► Chase Field in Phoenix (Pool C games)
► LoanDepot Park in Miami (Pool D, quarterfinal, semifinal and championship games)
Which country is favored to win the 2023 World Baseball Classic?
The Dominican Republic — which features a roster that includes Julio Rodríguez, Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Rafael Devers, Wander Franco, Willy Adames and Jeremy Peña, along with pitchers Sandy Alcantara, Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia and Johnny Cueto — is the favorite to win the tournament at +200, according to Tipico Sportsbook.