Japan, United States Among Other Front-Runners
Baseball is back with the World Baseball Classic starting this week and when those games get going, they will be dominating the MLB news cycle.
The tournament begins on Tuesday when Cuba and Netherlands square off with those making baseball predictions viewing Cuba as the favorite.
Pool A, featuring Chinese Taipei, Netherlands, Cuba, Italy and Panama, and Pool B, with Australia, China Czech Republic, Japan and Korea, begin this week. Pool A games will be held in Taichung, Taiwan, with Pool B play taking place in Tokyo.
Phoenix will play host to Pool C contents beginning on Saturday with the U.S. team being joined by Colombia, Canada, Great Britain and Mexico.
Miami is the site for Pool D competition that begins on Saturday as well with Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela in a star-studded bracket. Israel and Nicaragua will also play in Pool D.
The quarterfinals will take place from March 15-18 with the semifinals on March 19 and 20 in Miami and the championship game on March 21.
China and the Czech Republic are the only teams without an active major league player on the roster so there could be some intriguing pitcher-batting showdowns.
When looking at the baseball odds, the Dominican Republic (+200), the United States (+275) and Japan (+275) are the current front-runners.
Here’s a look at some of the top contenders according to the sportsbook.
Dominican Republic
The pitching staff is headlined by starters Sandy Alcantara and Cristian Javier with Gregory Soto set to close the games out.
However, it is when the Dominican Republic comes to bat that has the baseball odds listing them as the favorite.
Even with Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vlad Guerrero Jr. out of the World Baseball Classic due to a knee injury, this has the potential to be an unstoppable lineup.
Vlad Guerrero Jr. will miss the World Baseball Classic due to a knee injury, per @longleysunsport pic.twitter.com/l2E74uNWRV
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) March 4, 2023
A lineup including outfielders Julio Rodriguez and Juan Soto, infielders Rafael Devers, Manny Machado and talented youngsters Jeremy Pena and Wander Franco will be going to work against the opposing pitching staffs.
Veterans Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz could add even more punch to what figures to be the best lineup in the tournament and is not a surprise that the Las Vegas odds consider this team as the front-runner.
United States
It will be worth watching to see how the starting pitching holds up.
Brady Singer of the Kansas City Royals could be ready to take the next step and the 41-year-old Adam Wainwright is a big-game pitcher. After that, it is hard to know what to expect. It will be interesting to see how things fall among those betting online.
Once the United States gets into the bullpen, things should be just fine with Devin Williams of the Milwaukee Brewers, Daniel Bard of the Colorado Rockies, Jason Adam of the Tampa Bay Rays and David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates among the proven MLB relievers.
With former MVP Mike Trout joined by Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Mookie Betts, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bobby Witt Jr., Jeff McNeil, Kyle Tucker and J.T. Realmuto, producing runs shouldn’t be an issue.
Japan
When looking at the scores and odds, Japan is tied with the United States at +275 in the odds to win the World Baseball Classic.
Plenty of eyes will be on pitching and hitting star Shohei Ohtani while starting pitcher Yu Darvish is another proven MLB star. Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals could be one of the better hitters in the tournament.
The majority of the team comes out of the pro league in Japan.
There are 10 pitchers aged 25 or younger. However, there is much more experience in the lineup and that makes Japan a team to keep an eye on.
Venezuela
Venezuela is back a little bit from the three front-runners according to MLB odds.
There are plenty of big-time arms for Venezuela manager Omar Lopez to call upon with Pablo Lopez, German Marquez, Jesus Luzardo, Martin Perez and Jose Alvarado leading the way.
Outfielders Ronald Acuna Jr. and Anthony Santander as well as infielder Jose Altuve join future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera to provide star power in the batting lineup.
Miguel Cabrera, a redondear en su “last dance”. #EnLaMira | #ElExtrabase⚾️🇻🇪 pic.twitter.com/ItVucjMvhc
— El Extrabase ⚾️ (@ElExtrabase) February 27, 2023
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico could challenge Venezuela in Pool D.
With Edwin Diaz and his brother Alexis part of the roster, it would be a good idea not to be trailing later in games against this team.
Marcus Stroman and Jose Berrios are the most familiar names on the Puerto Rico pitching staff.
There is plenty of depth at catcher with MJ Melendez, Martin Maldonado, and Christian Vazquez.
Javier Baez and Francisco Lindor are elite infielders. However, will there be enough depth throughout the batting lineup.
