Our experts make their picks for every round of the 2026 WBC -- from pool play through the championship game.
Three years after Japan hoisted the 2023 WBC champions trophy after a thrilling title game triumph over the United States, the 20-team tournament is back for another edition. As the action heats up, we asked 13 of our ESPN baseball experts to predict how this year's tourney will play out -- from which teams will advance out of each pool to which will be the last standing in the championship round along with their picks for MVP, top pitcher and breakout star the whole world will soon know.
was enough to give Puerto Rico the nod over an emerging Canada squad in the eyes of our voters -- and the vast majority of our experts predicted that both countries would move on to the quarterfinals.. With MVPs and MLB superstars up and down the roster, there was no question Team USA would be the team to beat and our experts agreed in making the United States a unanimous choice to advance.will be the surprise of this WBC is the only thing that kept Japan and Korea from a clean sweep of our Pool C predictions.to name a few, the Dominican Republic was a clear choice to rule Pool D in the eyes of our voters.There was no doubt in the eyes of our voters that the three superteams going into the tournament will be the final teams remaining at the end, but exactly how the championship round will play out was a much tougher question with the U.S. getting the narrow nod as the team to beat. Even though the Dominican Republic wasn't our top choice to win it all, Juan Soto was the most popular pick to dominate the tournament, with the rest of the leaderboard a who's who of MLB superstars., Yamamoto was the clear choice to rule on the mound again this spring followed by reigning NL Cy Young winner Skenes and runner-up Sanchez. Left open for interpretation by our experts, our breakout picks range from budding stars already playing at the major league level in Anthony and Caglianone to a 17-year-old high school ace in Contreras
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
How to watch 2026 World Baseball Classic for free: Schedule, livestreamsJapan is the defending WBC champ.
Read more »
Bettors loving Team USA ahead of 2026 World Baseball Classic openerMoney is flowing Team USA’s way ahead of their 2026 World Baseball Classic opener against Brazil on Friday.
Read more »
Team USA’s Full Schedule for the 2026 World Baseball ClassicThe full schedule for the United States in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, along with Team USA’s full roster and history in the event.
Read more »
World Baseball Classic 2026: Pool Standings and Updated BracketHere's how the pools are shaping up at the WBC.
Read more »
2026 World Baseball Classic Preview: Key Dates, Format, and Japan's DominanceA look ahead to the 2026 World Baseball Classic, highlighting key dates, the tournament format, host cities, and major storylines. Includes a recap of Japan's dominant performance against Taiwan, featuring Ohtani's impressive hitting, and a preview of Team USA's star-studded roster.
Read more »
FanDuel Promo Code: Claim $100 Bonus Bets for USA vs. Brazil, 2026 World Baseball ClassicNo FanDuel promo code needed for $100 bonus bets if your $5 bet wins on USA vs Brazil World Baseball Classic action March 6.
Read more »