After a long and exhilarating group stage, the 2026 World Baseball Classic has seen itself narrowed from 20 teams to eight.<\/p>\n
Brazil, Czechia, Nicaragua, and Panama\u2014all having finished at the bottom of their respective pools\u2014have been relegated. These four teams will need to re-qualify for the main tournament in 2029. Meanwhile, the United States, Canada, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Japan, Korea, Italy, and Puerto Rico have all advanced to the knockout stage.<\/p>\n
These eight remaining teams will play single elimination games tonight and tomorrow as the field is further cleared down to the last two teams standing for March 17th\u2019s championship bout in Miami, Florida.<\/p>\n
Game No. 1: Korea (\ub300\ud55c\ubbfc\uad6d) at Dominican Republic (Rep\u00fablica Dominicana)<\/p>\n
Venue: loanDepot Park \u2014 Miami, Florida, USA<\/p>\n
One of three Pool C teams to finish group play with a 2-2 record, Korea knocked out Australia and Chinese Taipei by way of tiebreakers and an incredibly exciting match-up against Samurai Japan. Now Korea is fighting for their first top four World Baseball Classic result since they took home the silver medal in 2009.<\/p>\n
Korea will be led tonight by starting pitcher and former MLB star Hyun-jin Ryu. Ryu will be making his second start of the tournament. The 39-year-old lefty worked three innings of one run baseball\u2014off a solo home run\u2014against Chinese Taipei and struck out three batters during the group round.<\/p>\n
One of just three 4-0 teams represents a sturdy wall against Korea\u2019s aspirations. The team from the Dominican Republic is absolutely stacked with current and former big league talent on their roster and coaching staff. Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, and Fernando Tatis Jr have been excellent at the plate, backed up by strong pitching that includes current Rockies reliever Juan Mejia and former Rockies reliever Carlos Est\u00e9vez.<\/p>\n
Making the start for the Dominican Republic is 2024 Philadelphia Phillies All-Star Cristopher S\u00e1nchez. The left-handed starter wasn\u2019t his sharpest his last time out against Nicaragua, giving up three earned runs on six hits and a walk over 1 1\/3 innings. He did, however, strike out four batters in the first inning to escape a bases loaded jam.<\/p>\n
Radio: MLB Audio; Sirius XM<\/p>\n
LHP Hyun-jin Ryu vs LHP Cristopher S\u00e1nchez<\/p>\n
Game No. 2: United States at Canada<\/p>\n
Venue: Daikin Park \u2014 Houston, Texas, USA<\/p>\n
It may sound unlikely, but the powerhouse United States team enters the knockout stage as one of the more controversial teams in this year\u2019s tournament. Despite being one of the most talented rosters on paper, Mark DeRosa\u2019s squad has been accused of not taking the World Baseball Classic seriously this year. From not being aware they were on the verge of elimination, to the manager not knowing who was in his own bullpen, to Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh refusing to shake the hand of MLB teammate and Team Mexico outfielder Randy Arozarena\u2019s hand, the Americans have been in the news for all the wrong reasons.<\/p>\n
Thanks to a commanding win by undefeated Italy over Mexico, the United States made it to the knockout stage and will be led on the mound by San Francisco Giants righty Logan Webb. Webb pitched a near-flawless four innings during the group stage against Brazil. He struck out six batters and his only blemish was a single hit\u2014a solo home run off the bat of Lucas Ramirez.<\/p>\n
USA\u2019s opponent tonight will be Team Canada, who have made the knockout stage for the first time in the history of the World Baseball Classic as the surprise top seed of Pool A. Even though they\u2019re the top seed, Canada remains the underdog. The squad from America\u2019s hat hasn\u2019t defeated the squad from Canada\u2019s pants since the 2006 tournament. They might have some extra motivation as they seek to avenge Team Canada\u2019s loss in the 2026 Olympic hockey finals.<\/p>\n
Arizona Diamondbacks righty Michael Soroka will take the mound for the Maples. He pitched three innings of one run baseball against Colombia his last time out with two strikeouts.<\/p>\n
Radio: MLB Audio; Sirius XM<\/p>\n
RHP Logan Webb vs RHP Michael Soroka<\/p>\n