WBC 2026: Reranking USA, DR, Japan and all remaining teams

Pool play within the 2026 World Baseball Classic is formally over, and we’re headed to the quarterfinals.

The opening spherical of the match was not with out pleasure — or surprises. Team USA, the favourite to win it all with a deep, star-studded lineup, virtually did not advance to the quarterfinals after a loss to Italy left its destiny to be determined by the ultimate matchup between Italy and Mexico. Italy received to go undefeated in pool play — permitting the US to move on –while Mexico was eradicated.

Canada additionally stunned within the early video games, going 3-1 and beating Puerto Rico to win Pool A and advance to its first quarterfinals because the match’s inception in 2006.

How do the ultimate eight squads stack up towards one another? And how have their rankings modified since the tournament began? As the occasion strikes ahead to its elimination rounds, ESPN MLB specialists Jeff Passan, Alden Gonzalez, Jorge Castillo and David Schoenfield rerank the quarterfinal subject and break down what we have discovered about every nation’s crew thus far.

1.Dominican Republic

Pre-WBC rank: 2 | Title odds: +230

Next opponent: Korea (Fri. at 6:30 pm ET)

What we have discovered about Team DR: That the gamers can mash, and they know the way to have fun. The Dominican crew has gathered a tournament-high 13 dwelling runs of their 4 video games, with 5 of their gamers — Junior Caminero, Oneil Cruz, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.., Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr.. — all hitting a pair. Upon impression, they all flip their bats, yell, gesture towards one another, salute the followers, take their candy time rounding the bases, then come right into a dugout stuffed with props to proceed their celebration. DR supervisor Albert Pujols stated that is the perfect power he has been round in all his years within the huge leagues, and it is simple to see why. His crew is filled with superstars, however the scariest half? They’re taking part in unfastened. — Gonzalez

2.United States

Pre-WBC rank: 1 | Title odds: +140

Next opponent: Canada (Fri. at 8 pm ET)

What we have discovered about Team USA: Baseball is an unrelenting recreation. Talent doesn’t at all times equal to successful, and the tumult Team USA confronted after losing to Italy scared the crew straight. The Americans know they will hit in addition to any crew left within the WBC. With Logan Webb, Paul Skenes and Nolan McLean lined up on the mound, they have the perfect trio of starters. Now is the time for supervisor Mark DeRosa to dispense with making an attempt to get everybody on the roster within the recreation and concentrate on aggressively deploying his treasure trove of sources. Canny managing can win a match, and to beat Canada (and probably the DR within the semifinals and Japan within the finals), the United States goes to want the perfect of DeRosa as a lot as its gamers. — Passan

3.Japan

Pre-WBC rank: 3 | Title odds: +450

Next opponent: Venezuela (Sat. at 9 pm ET)

What we have discovered about Team Japan: Japan went 4-0 in pool play, however it wasn’t straightforward — aside from a 13-0 blowout of Chinese Taipei. Japan rallied late to beat Korea 8-6, trailed Australia via six innings, and was held scoreless by Czechia’s newbie pitchers till the eighth inning. Shohei Ohtani you might have performed his half, going 5-for-9 with two dwelling runs in three video games, however keep in mind: He’s not pitching. With the now competitors getting a lot more durable, the offense cannot rely on rallying towards non-MLB pitchers. We’ll see how the rotation traces up, however Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Yusei Kikuchi are lined as much as pitch the quarters and semifinals, which might go away 23-year-old Hiroto Takahashi to start out a possible championship recreation. –Schoenfield

4. Venezuela

Pre-WBC rank: 4 | Title odds: +900

Next opponent: Japan (Sat. at 9 pm ET)

What we have discovered about Team Venezuela: This crew is aware of the way to combat. It was evident late in Wednesday’s pool-play recreation towards the Dominican Republic, the primary time Venezuela had actually been examined on this match, when it was trailed by 4 runs heading into the ninth inning and managed to deliver the successful run to bat. Venezuela’s lineup is not nearly as good as that of the DR or the US, however it’s shut, with Ronald Acuna Jr.., Jackson Chourio, Gleyber Torres and Eugenio Suarez main the best way. The query is whether or not Venezuela can pitch sufficient. Ranger Suarezwho will take the ball reverse Yamamoto within the quarterfinals, must have an enormous recreation. And a bullpen headlined by Daniel Palencia and Eduard Bazardo wants to come back via behind him. — Gonzalez

5. Italy

Pre-WBC rank: 9 | Title odds: 18-1

Next opponent: Puerto Rico (Sat. at 3 pm ET)

What we have discovered about Team Italy: The Italians arrived forward of schedule, like an enormous league crew with an amazing farming system that places all the things collectively sooner than anticipated. The lineup is actual. Even with Kyle Teel on the shelf after tweaking his hamstring, Italy has huge leaguers with expertise (Vinnie Pasquantino, Jon Berti), kids with ceiling (Jac Caglianone, Jakob Marsee) and prospects with expertise (Andrew Fischer, Dante Nori, Sam Antonacci). Even if the pitching would not match the bats, Italy has restricted homers and walks whereas punching hitters out. Pool-play upsets are a part of WBC historical past. A crew like Italy making the ultimate 4 could be historical past. — Passan

6. Puerto Rico

Pre-WBC rank: 6 | Title odds: 16-1

Next opponent: Italy (Sat. at 3 pm ET)

What we have discovered about Team PR: The Puerto Ricans will go so far as their pitching workers takes them. Puerto Rico started pool play at dwelling with a shutout win over Colombia and allowed simply seven runs over the 4 video games. The offense, nonetheless, scored simply 15 runs. Five had been manufactured within the fifth inning of the opener towards the Colombians. Three had been produced on soon-to-be-retired 39-year-old Martin Maldonado’s bases-clearing double towards Cuba. That’s greater than half of their scoring output in simply two innings. Not having Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Javier Baez and Enrique Hernandez on the crew has had the anticipated impact on the lineup. Heliot Ramosthe crew’s finest hitter on paper, went 1-for-13 in San Juan. Puerto Rico’s firepower is restricted if he would not flip it round. Run prevention is paramount. — Castle

7.Canada

Pre-WBC rank: 8 | Title odds: 30-1

Next opponent: United States (Fri. at 8 pm ET)

What we have discovered about Team Canada: Canada has a really actual lineup. San Juan’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium performed huge in pool play by benefiting pitchers on all teams, however the Canadians posted the 2 largest scoring outputs and completed with a pool-high 21 runs as they superior to the WBC quarterfinals for the primary time of their historical past. Left fielder and top-100 prospect Owen Caissie (1,458 OPS) and veteran utilityman Abraham Toro (1,529 OPS) carried a lineup that additionally options Josh Naylor and Tyler O’Neill within the center. Canada begins huge leaguers at almost each place. Moving to hitter-friendly Daikin Park ought to assist this formidable group. — Castle

8. Korea

Pre-WBC rank: 7 | Title odds: 50-1

Next opponent: Dominican Republic (Fri. at 6:30 pm ET)

What we have discovered about Team Korea: Korea hadn’t superior out of pool play within the earlier three tournaments, so reaching the quarterfinals — even when simply barely, doing so through a tiebreaker over Australia and Chinese Taipei after all three completed pool play 2-2 — removes a variety of strain for a crew that had success within the first two WBCs. First baseman Bo Gyeong Moon has been the hitting star, batting .538 with two dwelling runs and 11 RBIs, however Korea will want extra manufacturing from its MLB gamers since its pitching depth is missing. Shay Whitcomb you might have two dwelling runs, however Hyeseong Kim (.100), Jahmai Jones (.222) and Jung Hoo Lee (.278) have not performed a lot. –Schoenfield