2026 World Baseball Basic scores: Group USA, Dominican Republic draw back in openers

The 2026 World Baseball Basic is underway, and Group USA is pulled away from Brazil for a lopsided opening win on Friday night time. The People will face Nice Britain on Saturday night time in Houston as pool play continues. Group USA has put collectively its most star-studded roster within the historical past of the event, led by captain Aaron Decide and highlighted by stars together with Cal Raleigh, Bobby Witt Jr., Kyle Schwarber, Pete Crow-Armstrong and extra. The rotation, in the meantime, is headlined by Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes.

Will that be sufficient to take down the defending champions? Group Japan opened play with a dominant 13-0 win over Chinese language Taipei on Tokyo on Friday. Shohei Ohtani hit a grand slam as a part of Japan’s 10-run second inning, and his Dodger teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched 2 ⅔ scoreless innings. 

Group USA, Japan and the Dominican Republic — with a robust lineup that options Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. amongst different stars — are thought of the favorites to win the event. 

The Dominican Republic shook off a gradual begin and finally broke issues open within the nation’s opener towards Nicaragua on Friday. Junior Caminero, Julio Rodríguez and Oneil Cruz all homered for the D.R. because the crew scored 12 runs.

The 20-team event is working from March 5-17 at 4 areas: Miami; Houston; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Tokyo. The Championship Recreation will probably be performed on March 17 at loanDepot Park, residence of the Miami Marlins. Pool play is a spherical robin double-elimination event. The highest two groups in Swimming pools A and B will meet within the quarterfinals in Houston, whereas the highest two groups in Swimming pools C and D will meet within the quarterfinals in Miami. The semifinals and finals will once more be performed in Miami. After pool play, the remainder of the event is single elimination.

All 47 video games of the 2026 WBC will probably be broadcast by Fox and affiliated networks, together with FS1, FS2, Fox Deportes and Tubi. Video games will also be streamed on fubo (Strive free of charge).

(All occasions are Jap)

WBC Pool Play

Wednesday, March 4
Australia 3, Chinese language Taipei 0

Thursday, March 5
Korea 11, Czechia 4
Australia 5, Czechia 1

Friday, March 6
Japan 13, Chinese language Taipei 0
Cuba 3, Panama 1
Venezuela 6, Netherlands 2
Mexico 8, Nice Britain 2
Puerto Rico 5, Colombia 0
Dominican Republic 12, Nicaragua 3
USA 15, Brazil 5
Chinese language Taipei 14, Czechia 0

Saturday, March 7
Korea vs. Japan (5 a.m., FS1)
Colombia vs. Canada (11 a.m., FS2)
Nicaragua vs. Netherlands (12 p.m., Tubi)
Brazil vs. Italy (1 p.m., Fox Sports activities App)
Panama vs. Puerto Rico (6 p.m., FS1)
Israel vs. Venezuela (7 p.m., FS2)
Nice Britain vs. USA (8 p.m., Fox)
Chinese language Taipei vs. Korea (10 p.m., FS2)

Sunday, March 8
Australia vs. Japan (6 a.m., FS1)
Colombia vs. Cuba (12 p.m., FS2)
Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic (12 p.m., Fox)
Nice Britain vs. Italy (1 p.m., Tubi)
Panama vs. Canada (7 p.m., FS2)
Nicaragua vs. Israel (7 p.m., Tubi)
Brazil vs. Mexico (8 p.m., FS1)

Monday, March 9
Korea vs. Australia (6 a.m., FS1)
Colombia vs. Panama (12 p.m., FS2)
Dominican Republic vs. Israel (12 p.m., FS1)
Brazil vs. Nice Britain (1 p.m., Tubi)
Venezuela vs. Nicaragua (7 p.m., FS2)
Cuba vs. Puerto Rico (7 p.m., FS1)
Mexico vs. United States (8 p.m., Fox)

Tuesday, March 10
Czechia vs. Japan (6 a.m., FS1)
Israel vs. Netherlands (7 p.m., Fox)
Canada vs. Puerto Rico (7 p.m., Tubi)
Italy vs. United States (9 p.m., FS1)

Wednesday, March 11
Canada vs. Cuba (3 p.m., FS2)
Italy vs. Mexico (7 p.m., Tubi)
Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela (8 p.m., FS1)

WBC Quarterfinals

Friday, March 13
TBD vs. TBD in Miami (6:30 p.m., FS2)
TBD vs. TBD in Houston (8 p.m., Fox)

Saturday, March 14
TBD vs. TBD in Houston (3 p.m., FS1)
TBD vs. TBD in Miami (9 p.m., Fox)

WBC Semifinals

Sunday, March 15
TBD vs. TBD in Miami (8 p.m., FS1)

Monday, March 16
TBD vs. TBD in Miami (8 p.m., FS1)

WBC Championship

Tuesday, March 17
TBD vs. TBD in Miami (8 p.m., Fox)