A new World Baseball Classic champion will be crowned Tuesday night, as Team USA takes on Venezuela in the WBC final, with first pitch at 8 p.m. ET.
USA entered the World Baseball Classic as favorites to win thanks to a loaded roster, with the likes of pitcher Paul Skenes, Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Kyle Schwarber and Pete Crow-Armstrong, among others. However, after starting out 3-0 in Pool B, Team USA incurred a stunning upset from Italy that put them in danger of missing the quarterfinals.
Advertisement
Thanks to Italy’s win over Mexico, the U.S. advanced, defeating Canada in the quarterfinals before stunning the Dominican Republic on a controversial final strike call to secure a spot in the championship.
Mets 24-year-old righthander Nolan McLean will get the start, coming off a rookie campaign with a 2.06 ERA and a 5-1 record. He’ll look to improve on his first start in the WBC after giving up two hits (both homers) and three earned runs against Italy.
Venezuela holds a 5-1 record through the WBC so far, advancing to the championship with a huge three-run rally in the seventh inning to defeat Italy. MLB veteran Eduardo Rodriguez will get the nod for Venezuela, looking to improve on his first start against the Dominican Republic in pool play, when he gave up three runs over 2 2/3 innings.
[Enter Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem now for your shot at $50K]
Bats Maikel Garcia (a tournament-best 10 hits) and Luis Arraez (eight hits, 10 RBI) will be among McLean’s top challengers for Venezuela.
Advertisement
These two teams last met back in the 2023 World Baseball Classic quarterfinals, where the USA defeated Venezuela 9-7 on the back of a wild, eight-inning, go-ahead grand slam from Trea Turner. It marks Venezuela’s first finals appearance in tournament history, while Team USA is seeking its second gold-medal win in the WBC.
Date: Tuesday, March 17
Start time: 8 p.m. ET
TV channel: Fox
Follow along with Yahoo Sports as Team USA takes on Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday night.
Live10 updates
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 5:14 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Two legends throwing out the first pitches: Ken Griffey Jr. for Team USA and Miguel Cabrera for Venezuela. Both have had roles in this tournament, Cabrera as Venezuela’s hitting coach and Griffey in his new career as a photographer.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 5:13 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 5:10 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 5:04 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Introductions are beginning for Team USA and Venezuela, with projected graphics in the outfield. Pretty cool atmosphere in Miami.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 4:52 PM PDT
Jack Baer
A quiet battle behind the scenes: Venezuela trying to convince its players’ MLB teams to let them use their arms like it’s a championship game. This is a case where the U.S. gets a clear advantage from its semifinal being held on Sunday instead of yesterday.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 4:45 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Get your TVs set! Team USA and Team Venezuela face off in the World Baseball Classic championship game with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, airing live on Fox and Fox Deportes.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 4:30 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Junior Caminero sat in the third-base dugout, glued to his seat while his teammates retreated inside, sinking into an unfamiliar feeling. To that point, his rollicking and resplendent Dominican Republic team had spent the World Baseball Classic outclassing and overwhelming its opponents, emphatically enjoying every second along the way. But this time, Caminero was left to watch someone else celebrate.
Moments earlier, the Dominicans fell 2-1 to Team USA in the WBC semifinals. It was a game that will be talked about for years to come, with the unprecedented amount of talent on display culminating in what felt like an All-Star Game with postseason tension. In the end, D.R. landed on the wrong side of the nail-biter, marking an abrupt end to a tournament run that at times seemed impossible to derail — at least until a foe with equal star power stood in its path.
“Just unbelievable,” USA manager Mark DeRosa said postgame. “That was high-level baseball at its finest.”
Read more on Team USA’s defeat of
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 4:15 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Ahead of first pitch, Team USA remains favored to win the 2026 World Baseball Classic with -250 moneyline odds at BetMGM. At those odds, a $10 bet on the US would yield $4 in profit for a total payout of $14 with a win.
Venezuela’s moneyline odds are at +200, where a $10 bet would yield $20 in profit for a total payout of $30 if the wager cashes.
The run line is set at 9.0, with the over at +100.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
24-year-old Mets righty Nolan McClean will get the start for Team USA, with Bobby Witt Jr. leading off.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 2:04 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff