For the first time since 2017, baseball fans can enjoy the ultimate international tournament for their sport when the World Baseball Classic returns in March. Nations are forming their rosters now, and odds are appearing at sportsbooks for the two-week competition.
The United States national team is listed at +300 at Caesars Sportsbook. Only one other nation, the Dominican Republic, has shorter odds, at +250. Twenty teams have qualified for the event, which was last scheduled for 2021, but was postponed due to COVID-19.
Three-time Most Valuable Player Mike Trout will be in uniform for the U.S. for the first time. Others who have committed for the U.S. team are 2022 NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt, two-time MVP Bryce Harper, former MVP and six-time Gold Glove outfielder Mookie Betts, and three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.
Odds To Win 2023 WBC: Dominican Republic Favored
While the U.S. team is expected to advance far in the 20-team tournament, which starts with group play on Mar. 8, 2023, the Dominican Republic sits atop the oddsboard. Here are odds from top sports betting apps as of Jan. 24
| COUNTRY | BetMGM | BetRivers | Caesars | DraftKings | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Republic | +200 | +250 | +250 | +200 | +200 |
| United States | +250 | +250 | +300 | +225 | +250 |
| Japan | +500 | +400 | +375 | +350 | +350 |
| Puerto Rico | +800 | +800 | +650 | +800 | +1500 |
| Venezuela | +1800 | +1300 | +1200 | +1300 | +2000 |
| Cuba | +1800 | +1400 | +1200 | +1400 | +3000 |
| South Korea | +1800 | +1800 | +1200 | +1400 | +3000 |
| Chinese Taipei | +3000 | +5000 | +2800 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Mexico | +4000 | +3300 | +3500 | +3500 | +3000 |
| Canada | +4000 | +5000 | +3500 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Netherlands | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 | +3000 |
| Panama | +5000 | +6600 | +6000 | +6500 | +10000 |
| Australia | +6600 | +6000 | +10000 | +6500 | +10000 |
| Colombia | +8000 | +6000 | +10000 | +8000 | +7500 |
| Isreal | +10000 | +7000 | +10000 | +8000 | +7500 |
| Great Britain | +10000 | +12500 | +10000 | +15000 | +10000 |
| Nicaragua | +15000 | +20000 | +15000 | +20000 | +12000 |
| Italy | +15000 | +8000 | +15000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| China | +15000 | +12000 | +25000 | +15000 | +12000 |
| Czech Republic | +15000 | +20000 | +30000 | +20000 | +12000 |
Check back here for updates on odds for the WBC as the tournament nears.
BetMGM Sportsbook
First Bet Refunded up to $1,000 in Bet Credits (if you don’t win)Use BetMGM Bonus Code ‘TODAY’, and if your first bet loses, receive up to $1,000 back in site credit. Sign up here!
Key Players for Top Contenders in World Baseball Classic
The U.S. pitching staff is not as strong as others, but the roster could change by March. The lineup will have power and speed, with Trout, Harper, Turner, and Betts leading the way.
UNITED STATES
- Mike Trout
- Bryce Harper
- Paul Goldschmidt
- Mookie Betts
- J.T. Realmuto
- Clayton Kershaw
- Adam Wainwright
- Trea Turner
- Kyle Schwarber
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Sportsbooks have the Dominican National Team listed as the favorite, with odds to win the WBC ranging from +200 to +250. That’s because the team has assembled a fantastic starting lineup that includes Soto, Ramírez, Machado, 2022 AL Rookie of the Year Rodríguez, and World Series MVP Jeremy Peña, in addition to many other MLB stars.
- Juan Soto
- José Ramírez
- Manny Machado
- Julio Rodríguez
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- Jeremy Peña
- Rafael Devers
- Sandy Alcantara
JAPAN
The Japanese have won the WBC twice, and have never failed to reach the final four of the World Baseball Classic tournament. Typically, their strength is pitching, speed, defense, and team play.
- Shohei Ohtani
- Yu Darvish
- Seiya Suzuki
- Yuhei Nakamura
- Shugo Maki
PUERTO RICO
Defense is the key to the success for Puerto Rico, who have twice finished as runners-up in the WBC.
- Carlos Correa
- Francisco Lindor
- Javier Báez
- Christian Vázquez
VENEZUELA
The Venezuelan team, as well as the Cuban national team, both have a veteran feel to them. But neither team is expected to win the title of “world champions.” Odds on Venezuela are as high as +2000, and you can find odds on Cuba at +3000 at FanDuel. That means a winning bet of $100 on Cuba, which has a rich tradition of baseball success, would pay $3,100, including your original stake.
- Jose Altuve
- Luis Arraez
- Pablo López
- Salvador Perez
CUBA
- Luis Robert
- Yoán Moncada
- Yoenis Céspedes
- Roenis Elías
World Baseball Classic — FAQs
The World Baseball Classic is the top international tournament for baseball. Major League Baseball partners with other organizations, such as the World Baseball Softball Confederation, to sanction the event, which takes place every four years.
The tournament includes 20 national teams. The top 14 teams from the previous WBC are invited to participate, and six spots are filled via a qualifying tournament that takes place typically the year prior to the WBC.
Yes, you can place bets on World Baseball Classic games, as well as futures bets on which nation you think might win the tournament. The top sportsbooks, like BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet, DraftKings, FanDuel, and others, offer odds.
When the Olympics removed baseball as a medal sport in 2008, a void was created. How to determine the best baseball team in the world? That’s where the World Baseball Classic comes in. The tournament is so respected by competing nations, that it’s the most coveted title they can win. In 2020, Major League Baseball announced that the term “world champion” would be attached to the winning nation of the World Baseball Classic.
Similar to the FIFA World Cup for football (soccer), the World Baseball Classic is the most prestigious international tournament for the sport of baseball.
Yes, many of the top professional baseball players from MLB, and other pro leagues around the world, make themselves available to play in the World Baseball Classic.
The WBC takes place during spring training for MLB, and players on a national team leave their MLB team to compete for as many as two weeks.
Here’s a list of the past World Baseball Classic winners and runner-up:
- 2006: Japan over Cuba
- 2009: Japan over South Korea
- 2013: Dominican Republic over Puerto Rico
- 2017: United States over Puerto Rico
The biggest difference between MLB and WBC play are the pitching usage rules:
A pitcher cannot pitch until:
- a minimum of four days have passed since he last pitched, if he threw 50 or more pitches when he last pitched
- a minimum of one day has passed since he last pitched, if he threw 30 or more pitches when he last pitched
- a minimum of one day has passed since any second consecutive day on which the pitcher pitched
There are also pitch count limits for each round, which ensures pitchers are not overused.
About the Author
