The 2023 World Baseball Classic is back. The event returned for the first time in six years on Tuesday night (well, technically Wednesday morning) as the Netherlands beat Cuba in the opener. The Netherlands are off to a 2-0 start, as Xander Bogaerts and Co. beat Panama in their second game. Shohei Ohtani and Japan got their tournament started on Thursday, as Ohtani served as the starting pitcher and also collected two hits in an 8-1 victory over China. Italy and Australia, meanwhile, both pulled off surprise victories over Cuba and Korea, respectively. Team USA starts pool play on Saturday against Great Britain.
This version was originally supposed to be played in 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Action gets started on Wednesday, March 8 (technically first pitch of the 2023 WBC opener in Taiwan will take place at 11 p.m. ET on March 7), and there will be a total of 47 games. The championship game is set for Tuesday, March 21 in Miami.
Plenty of MLB stars are taking part in the event, including Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Julio Rodríguez, Francisco Lindor, Mike Trout and Trea Turner. Full team rosters can be viewed here, and here's a primer on the event from CBS Sports' Mike Axisa. Here are Matt Snyder's power rankings for the tournament.
Below, fans can find the full list of 2023 World Baseball Classic teams, as well as the entire schedule and odds.
2023 World Baseball Classic schedule
All games on Fox, FS1 and FS2 can be streamed on fuboTV (try for free).
(All times Eastern)
Thursday, March 9
Japan 8, China 1Italy 6, Cuba 3 (F/10)China vs. Czech Republic, 10 p.m., TubiPanama vs. Cuba, 11:30 p.m., FS1Friday, March 10
Japan vs. Korea, 5 a.m., FS1Chinese Taipei vs. Italy, 6 a.m., TubiAustralia vs. China, 10 p.m., FS2Italy vs. Panama, 11 p.m., FS1Saturday, March 11
Japan vs. Czech Republic, 5 a.m., FS1Chinese Taipei vs. Netherlands, 6 a.m., FS2Puerto Rico vs. Nicaragua, 12 p.m., FS2Mexico vs. Colombia, 2:30 p.m., FoxVenezuela vs. Dominican Republic, 7 p.m., FS1United States vs. Great Britain, 9 p.m., FoxKorea vs. Czech Republic, 10 p.m., FS1Cuba vs. Chinese Taipei, 11 p.m., FS2Sunday, March 12
Australia vs. Japan, 6 a.m., FS1Italy vs. Netherlands, 7 a.m., FS2Israel vs. Nicaragua, 12 p.m., FS2Canada vs. Great Britain, 3 p.m., FS1Puerto Rico vs. Venezuela, 7 p.m., FS1United States vs. Mexico, 10 p.m., FS1Czech Republic vs. Australia, 11 p.m., FS2Monday, March 13
China vs. Korea, 6 a.m., FS2Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic, 12 p.m., FS2Great Britain vs. Colombia, 3 p.m., FS2Puerto Rico vs. Israel, 7 p.m., FS1United States vs. Canada, 10 p.m., FS1Tuesday, March 14
Venezuela vs. Nicaragua, 12 p.m., FS2Colombia vs. Canada, 3 p.m., FS2Dominican Republic vs. Israel, 7 p.m., FS2Mexico vs. Great Britain, 10 p.m., FS1Wednesday, March 15
TBD vs. TBD (quarterfinals), 6 a.m., FS2Israel vs. Venezuela, 12 p.m., FS2Canada vs. Mexico, 3 p.m., FS2Dominican Republic vs. Puerto Rico, 7 p.m., FS2Colombia vs. United States, 10 p.m., FS1Thursday, March 16
TBD vs. TBD (quarterfinals), 6 a.m., FS2Friday, March 17
TBD vs. TBD (quarterfinals), 7 p.m., FS1Saturday, March 18
TBD vs. TBD (quarterfinals), 7 p.m., FoxSunday, March 19
TBD vs. TBD (semifinals), 7 p.m., FS1Monday, March 20
TBD vs. TBD (semifinals), 7 p.m., FS1Tuesday, March 21
TBD vs. TBD (championship game), 7 p.m., FS12023 World Baseball Classic scores
Tuesday, March 7
Wednesday, March 8
Panama 12, Chinese Taipei 5Australia 8, Korea 7Netherlands 3, Panama 12023 World Baseball Classic teams
Pool A (Group play in Taichung, Taiwan)
Chinese TaipeiCubaItalyNetherlandsPanamaPool B (Group play in Tokyo, Japan)
AustraliaChinaJapanKoreaCzech RepublicPool C (Group play in Phoenix, Arizona)
CanadaColombiaGreat BritainMexicoUnited StatesPool D (Group play in Miami, Florida)
Dominican RepublicIsraelNicaraguaPuerto RicoVenezuela2023 World Baseball Classic odds
(via Caesars Sportsbook as of Feb. 23)
Dominican Republic: +200United States: +250Japan: +280Puerto Rico: +650Venezuela: +1000Korea: +1200Cuba: +1600Mexico: +1800Canada: +3500Netherlands: +4000Chinese Taipei: +4000Panama: +6000Israel: +10000Great Britain: +10000Australia: +10000Colombia: +10000Italy: +15000Nicaragua: +15000China: +25000Czech Republic: +30000
