Puerto Rico seeking 2-0 start in Pool A against Panama (6 p.m. ET on FS1)
After losing a tight one, 3-1, in Game 1 against Cuba, the Panamanians are looking to bounce back. In these short, balanced group stages, they don’t have a ton of time to get those wins.
Puerto Rico, which shut out Colombia, 5-0, in its opener, is looking to bring the noise and some of that rubio magic at Hiram Bithorn. If Friday night is an indication, the sound coming out of the ballpark might shake the entire 3,500-square-foot island. This time, they’re even technically the home team -- giving them even more of a mental advantage.
Here’s what you need to know about the matchup:
When and where: Saturday, 6 p.m. ET at Hiram Bithorn Stadium
How you can watch: The Panama-Puerto Rico game will be available on FS1.
The FOX Sports family of networks (FOX, FS1, FS2, FOX Deportes), the FOX Sports App and Tubi will combine to air all 47 games of the 2026 World Baseball Classic in the United States, and all matchups will be available to stream live and on-demand on FOX One. Additionally, 41 out of the 47 contests will air in Spanish across a combination of FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App, Tubi and FOX One.
Netflix Japan will stream all tournament games in Japanese.
How you can listen: There is a free English-language audio stream available for every game.
Team results: Panama is 0-1 after a Friday loss to Cuba, while Puerto Rico is 1-0 after beating Colombia.
Probable starting pitchers: Ariel Jurado (Panama) vs. Eduardo Rivera (Puerto Rico)
What’s at stake: Panama is 0-1 after losing to Cuba on Friday. They’re in a tie for last place. It’s early, but they have ground to make up. Cuba is in a tie for first place at 1-0 after knocking off Panama in its opener. Puerto Rico is 1-0 and Colombia is 0-1. Canada will play its first game on Saturday at 11 a.m. ET against Colombia.
Matchup history: These two teams have played one another twice in two of the early World Baseball Classics. Panama faced Puerto Rico in the 2006 Classic and lost in a very tight 2-1 result. Then, Panama lost again in 2009 in a 7-0 blowout. Carlos Delgado and Ivan Rodriguez homered for the Puerto Ricans.
But hey, that was decades ago. This is a totally different Panama squad hoping to right those losses.