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Venezuela finds right pitching formula in semis, but final test looms large

12 minutes ago

MIAMI – When Venezuela starter Keider Montero walked consecutive lefty batters in the second inning against Italy, manager Omar López knew he was going to have his work cut out for him in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic on Monday night. “That,” he said, “was a red flag

Acuña making up for lost World Series in World Baseball Classic 

44 minutes ago

MIAMI -- "When we went to the World Series," Ronald Acuña Jr. said earlier this week, "I wasn't there. Thank God I'm living this great moment in my career." When the Atlanta Braves won the World Series in 2021, Acuña was reduced to spectator. A torn ACL had relegated the

Run to Classic semifinals has huge impact across Italy 

44 minutes ago

MIAMI – Team Italy has heard the jabs. They understand that people look at them not as an Italian ballclub, but a group of guys from America masquerading as an Italian team. But this team doesn’t care. “There's a lot of stereotypical Italians on this team,” captain Vinnie Pasquantino joked.

Venezuela rallies past Italy to reach first Classic final

12:54 AM EDT

MIAMI -- Outside, it was one of those relentless South Florida rains. But still, the hundreds of Venezuelan baseball fans who remained long after the last pitch of the World Baseball Classic semifinals had been thrown were in ecstasy. Thoroughly soaked but swept up in the moment, they sang, danced,

McLean raring to go in Classic title tilt: 'I'm built for this'

March 16, 2026

MIAMI -- When the United States assembled its super team for this World Baseball Classic, the selections were skewed toward established stars not just because of their talent but because of the guaranteed contracts that make them more prone to participate.

3 big lineup decisions facing Team USA in Classic final

@Theo_DeRosa
March 16, 2026

Managers often have to pull exactly the right strings to win a big game, and Tuesday’s World Baseball Classic final will be no exception. Ahead of Team USA’s championship clash with Venezuela at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, U.S. manager Mark DeRosa must make some major decisions when it comes

What you need to know about the 2026 World Baseball Classic final (8 p.m. ET, FOX)

@ByJasonFoster
March 16, 2026

The 2026 World Baseball Classic final is upon us. Team USA punched its ticket Sunday night with a win over the Dominican Republic and will face Venezuela, which defeated Italy on Monday night. The U.S. and Venezuela will match up in the WBC championship on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET

Palencia displaying his mound dominance on global stage

March 16, 2026

This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

History of the World Baseball Classic title game

@hellapalattella
March 16, 2026

Every time, the World Baseball Classic championship seems to create another legend. He may be best remembered in America for his days with the Red Sox, but Daisuke Matsuzaka rose to the occasion in the WBC's biggest moments, winning the tournament MVP Award twice. Before Edwin Encarnación was known as

Team USA's World Baseball Classic history

@ColeJacobson32 and @hellapalattella
March 16, 2026

After coming up short in 2023, the Americans will get another shot at winning their second tournament championship. With an edge-of-your-seat 2-1 victory over the powerhouse Dominican Republic in the semifinals, Team USA has punched a ticket to its third consecutive World Baseball Classic final. The Americans will face Venezuela,

From Aldegheri to Zhuang, the World Baseball Classic's top performing prospects

@benweinrib
March 16, 2026

The World Baseball Classic has been a stage for players across the world to show off their talents, and plenty of prospects have thrived in the spotlight. Players ranked on organizational Top 30 Prospects lists have shown out, in particular.

Who's available -- and who's not -- out of Team USA 'pen in title game?

March 16, 2026

MIAMI -- The delicate balance between going for the gold and getting ready for the regular season impacted Team USA’s pitching plans for the World Baseball Classic final. And it will be fascinating to watch how manager Mark DeRosa and the Americans try to piece together the 27 outs that

USA wins coin flip and will be home team in final vs. Venezuela

March 16, 2026

MIAMI -- When MLB instituted its current postseason format in 2022, there was no longer a need for coin flips or tiebreaker games, because a new, mathematical tiebreaker system was instituted. But lovers of the coin toss will be pleased to know it can still happen in the World Baseball

Bracket, schedule, how to watch 2026 World Baseball Classic

March 16, 2026

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

The 'crazy hour' dance that has carried Venezuela through the Classic

March 16, 2026

Before each game in the World Baseball Classic, Team Venezuela gathers in a circle in its dugout. As pitcher Eduard Bazardo pounds upon a special drum – known as el tambor – the players take turns jumping into and out of the circle to show off their moves. This isn’t

O's want Gunnar in USA lineup again for Classic championship

March 16, 2026

SARASOTA, Fla. -- There’s a consensus among every player in the Orioles’ Spring Training clubhouse: Gunnar Henderson should be back in the Team USA lineup for Tuesday night’s World Baseball Classic championship game vs. the winner of Monday's Italy-Venezuela semifinal matchup. Sure, maybe these Baltimore players -- all of whom

The one person who didn't want to see Miller vs. Tatis? Craig Stammen

March 16, 2026

PEORIA, Ariz. -- When Team USA edged the Dominican Republic in a thrilling 2-1 victory in their World Baseball Classic semifinal contest on Sunday night, Padres manager Craig Stammen was certainly watching like much of the baseball world. But it wasn’t easy for the first-year skipper to take in. Because

Roman's monster Classic doesn't surprise his teammates in the slightest

March 16, 2026

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Another magical moment by Roman Anthony in the World Baseball Classic -- this one a go-ahead solo shot that led Team USA to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Team Dominican Republic in the semifinals on Sunday night -- left his teammates at Red Sox camp in

Nola to start for Italy in semifinal vs. Venezuela, not Lorenzen

@ByJasonFoster
March 16, 2026

Team Italy manager Francisco Cervelli is making a change to his pitching plans for tonight's World Baseball Classic semifinal matchup against Venezuela (8 ET on FS1): Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola will get the start instead of previously announced starter Michael Lorenzen.

Electric homer was all proof USA needed that starting Gunnar was right call

@ssc627
March 16, 2026

Team USA's surplus of elite infielders would leave any manager sick with envy -- in theory. In practice, USA manager Mark DeRosa has to leave a top-tier player on the bench every day, and more often than not, the odd man out has been Gunnar Henderson, crowded out by another

Skenes opens up about Classic experience, wants to bring that excitement to Pittsburgh

March 16, 2026

MIAMI -- After Paul Skenes exited Sunday’s World Baseball Classic semifinal against the Dominican Republic, he found himself in a conversation with Clayton Kershaw and posed a question to the Dodgers legend. Skenes asked where the WBC -- an incredible event where this particular game packed 36,337 inside a raucous

USA shuts down DR stars in thriller to return to 3rd straight Classic final

March 16, 2026

MIAMI – The game met the hype. And the Americans met the moment. In a semifinals matchup rife with many of baseball’s biggest names and a game rife with the kind of tension that makes the sport great, Team USA outlasted the Dominican Republic, 2-1, on Sunday night at loanDepot

3 moments that decided USA-Dominican Republic Classic semifinal

@Theo_DeRosa
March 16, 2026

Baseball is a game of inches, and that was evident throughout Team USA’s thrilling 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic semifinals on Sunday night in Miami. Yes, the classic contest ended with a disputed called third strike against Dominican Republic shortstop Geraldo Perdomo -- but

Pujols on DR's exit: 'I don't want to focus on the last pitch'

March 16, 2026

MIAMI -- It was a team seemingly on course with destiny: 13 years after its lone World Baseball Classic title, the Dominican Republic had stormed through its first five games, battering any opponent that stood in its way. It was leading the tournament in home runs, runs scored and pitching