2026 World Baseball Classic Picks

Baseball season will kick off with a bang next March with the sixth iteration of the World Baseball Classic. Twenty countries will go head-to-head in pool-play rounds in multiple locations across the globe before wrapping up with the semi-finals and finals in Miami.

Will Japan successfully defend their title? Can Team USA or the Dominican Republic mount a challenge? Let's check the latest odds.

Country
USA	+155	+155	+155
Japan	+260	+260	+260
Dominican Republic	+410	+410	+410
Puerto Rico	+975	+975	+975
Venezuela	+1500	+1500	+1500
Mexico	+1900	+1900	+1900
Korea	+3000	+3000	+3000
Canada	+3500	+3500	+3500
Italy	+3500	+3500	+3500
Netherlands	+3500	+3500	+3500
Cuba	+4500	+4500	+4500
Colombia	+4500	+4500	+4500
Panama	+7000	+7000	+7000
Chinese Taipei	+7500	+7500	+7500
Israel	+7500	+7500	+7500
Australia	+8000	+8000	+8000
Brazil	+9500	+9500	+9500
Nicaragua	+10000	+10000	+10000
Great Britain	+10000	+10000	+10000
Czechia	+10000	+10000	+10000

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Japan strangely not favored

Team USA is a +155 favorite to win the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Which begs the question, why are the Americans the chalk pick over Japan (+260)? Led by Shohei Ohtani, the Land of the Rising Sun ran the table in 2023, outscoring opponents 56-18 en route to a perfect 7-0 record.

Ohtani struck out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout in the Championship Game to clinch his nation's third WBC title in five attempts. Coming off his third consecutive and fourth career MVP, the Japanese superstar will likely be joined by Roki Sasaki and 2025 World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

A look back at Shohei Ohtani's #WorldBaseballClassic MVP run 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9scVgelM6J

— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) November 25, 2025

Judge powers Team USA

Aaron Judge has committed to playing in his first-ever World Baseball Classic for Team USA, which won the 2017 tournament. The reigning two-time American League MVP is coming off a ridiculous season where he smashed 53 home runs and led the MLB in almost every hitting category.

Team USA will also have Cal Raleigh, the AL MVP runner, up behind the plate after he paced baseball with 60 dingers and 125 RBIs in 2025. Paul Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young, will top the rotation. The Pirates fireballer had a 1.97 ERA with 216 strikeouts in 187 ⅔ innings in 2025.

Other WBC contenders

The Dominican Republic (+410) is the only other country to win the World Baseball Classic, way back in 2013. Hoping to rebound from a disappointing quarterfinal exit at the last WBC, Albert Pujols will manage a club overflowing with talent. Baseball's highest-paid player, Juan Soto, will likely be joined by Ketel Marte, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jose Ramirez, Julio Rodriguez, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and more.

Puerto Rico (+975) will also be competitive with name brand stars like Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and George Springer expected to suit up this spring.

Matthew Boyd will pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic pic.twitter.com/c9hjljVWll

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) December 3, 2025

With Judge and Raleigh, Team USA (+155) is adding 113 combined home runs to a lineup that lost in the 2023 WBC final. However, Japan (+260) has won three-of-five World Baseball Classics and will maintain an incredible advantage if Ohtani once again doubles as a hitter and pitcher.

Since we can't decide, we'll play the Dominican Republic as a +410 longshot to capture their second WBC championship.

Dominican Republic to win 2026 World Baseball Classic