Can Team USA’s Reinforced Pitching Outsmart the World’s Best Sluggers at the World Baseball Classic?
World Baseball Classic
Winning score of championship game in parentheses:
- 2006 – Champion: Japan (10-6); Runner-up: Cuba; Third Place: South Korea
- 2009 – Champion: Japan (5-3, 10 innings); Runner-up: South Korea; Third Place: Venezuela
- 2013 – Champion: Dominican Republic (3-0); Runner-up: Puerto Rico; Third Place: Japan
- 2017 – Champion: United States (8-0); Runner-up: Puerto Rico; Third Place: Japan
- 2023: – Champion: Japan (3-2); Runner-up: United States; Third Place: United States
The Dominican Republic, even with winning the 2017 title, has underperformed in its WBC history, notably failing to advance from pool play three years ago. It features the deepest lineup in the tournament with the likes of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Julio Rodriguez, Fernando Tatis Jr., Ketel Marte and Oneil Cruz. Whether it has enough pitching to outlast the field is the question, with the top challenge in Pool D coming from Venezuela and a roster with Ronald Acuna Jr., Eugenio Suarez, Salvador Perez and the Contreras brothers, William and Wilson.



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