The 2026 World Baseball Classic delivered one among its marquee video games on Monday when the United States took on rival Mexico. Both groups entered the day 2-0 in Pool B. It was a tighter contest than may’ve been anticipated, however the Americans bought it carried out with a 5-3 victory to advance to 3-0 in the match. They face Italy on Tuesday to conclude their Pool B slate.
In the primary WBC game on Monday, South Korea beat Australia 7-2 to achieve the quarterfinals from Pool C. That gave South Korea a 2-2 file in pool play, an identical to Australia and Chinese Taipei — however South Korea’s seventh run in opposition to the Aussies swung the run-quotient tiebreaker in its favor. Also in Pool C, Shohei Ohtani and Japan secured a berth in the quarterfinals with a 4-3 victory over Australia on Sunday.
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This yr marks the sixth iteration of the worldwide baseball match, with Japan the reigning champion after defeating Team USA 3-2 in the 2023 final.
The Americans have taken dwelling one WBC title, again in 2017, they usually’re wanting for a second with a loaded roster that features 22 MLB All-Stars — the most of any roster in the match. Among those that will symbolize Team USA are Paul Skenes, Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge, simply to call a couple of of the celebrities, with the U.S. entering the tournament as the favorite (-105) over Japan (+350) at BetMGM.
During pool play, video games are being performed in Tokyo, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Miami and Houston. The pool stage runs by means of Wednesday, adopted by the quarterfinals (March 13 and 14) and semifinals (March 15 and 16). It all culminates with the WBC final on March 17 at loanDepot Park in Miami.
Games will air across Fox, FS1, FS2 and Fox Deportes, with streaming for all video games obtainable with a Fox One subscription.
Follow together with Yahoo Sports for the most recent information and updates from the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Czechia and Japan have but to attain by means of three innings in Tuesday’s opening game.
With nothing on the road for the final game of Pool C at Tokyo Dome, the 2 groups have mixed for seven strikeouts in the early going.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Five of the eight quarterfinal berths have already been determined getting into Tuesday:
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Puerto Rico (Pool A)
Japan (Pool C)
South Korea (Pool C)
Venezuela (Pool D)
Dominican Republic (Pool D)
The final Pool A spot will go to both Cuba (2-1) or Canada (1-1) whereas the 2 Pool C berths can be determined between the U.S. (3-0), Italy (2-0) and Mexico (2-1).
The U.S. can qualify for the quarters with a victory over Italy on Tuesday.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
With Japan having already clinched a spot in the WBC quarterfinals, Shohei Ohtani is not in the beginning lineup for the final pool play game in opposition to Czechia.
Czechia is wanting for its first win in its fourth and final game of the WBC whereas Japan is 3-0.
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It was nearer than the Americans would’ve favored in the final few innings, however Team USA bought it carried out, transferring to 3-0 with a win over Mexico.
Paul Skenes delivered 4 stellar innings, the bats produced a five-run inning, and Garrett Whitlock notched the save.
Meanwhile, Puerto Rico completed off a 4-1 victory over Cuba to additionally transfer to 3-0 in the match.
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Joey Meneses singles to proper discipline, and Mexico has the tying run on the plate once more.
Garrett Whitlock strikes out Alejandro Osuna and Julian Ornelas, and Mexico is right down to its final out.
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Matthew Boyd hits Randy Arozarena with a pitch, and that brings Jonathan Aranda to the plate because the tying run in this contest. There are not any outs in the highest of the eighth.
Boyd then struck out Aranda for the primary out, and Griffin Jax got here in and induced a double play to finish the inning.
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Mexico has minimize into its deficit, largely thanks to 2 solo homers from Duran.
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It’s now 5-1 in Houston after a solo blast from Duran.
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The reigning NL Cy Young winner seems to be in high type in his first WBC outing.
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Team USA’s beginning shortstop makes an incredible, diving seize and throw throughout the diamond to get Alejandro Kirk for the second out of the fourth inning.
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The youngest member of Team USA makes his mark and reveals off his energy with a three-run blast that places the Americans up 5-0.
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Martin Maldonado clears the bases with a double to place P.R. forward 3-0 in the second inning.
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After a Bryce Harper single, Judge blasts a two-run homer to place the US forward in the underside of the third.
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Led by a solo dwelling run and an RBI single from Ronald Acuña Jr., Venezuela has a snug lead by means of six innings.
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Mexico had two baserunners with two outs following Jarren Duran’s single.
Then Judge delivered a defensive gem for the Americans, throwing Joey Ortiz out at third from proper discipline.
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On a Brice Turang double, Roman Anthony made a splash for dwelling from first base.
His Red Sox teammate Jarren Duran had different concepts. Duran’s throw, relayed from Nick Gonzalez to Alejandro Kirk, beat Anthony to the plate to maintain this game tied 0-0.
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Paul Skenes notches two extra strikeouts after which will get Nacho Alvarez Jr. to fly out to finish the highest of the second.
USA bats are coming again to the plate.
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The U.S. loaded the bases in the underside of the primary on a single from Aaron Judge and walks from Kyle Schwarber and Alex Bregman, all with two outs.
But Mexico’s Manny Barreda bought Cal Raleigh to strike out to maintain it scoreless by means of the primary body.
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Jason Owens
Paul Skenes is off to a robust begin. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Cy Young winner and USA ace hit 100 mph in a 1-2-3 high of the primary inning vs. Mexico.
