Henry Roldán
After five years of absence following a delay due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the World Baseball Classic will be played again starting next Wednesday, March 8, with 20 countries seeking to be crowned as the best in world baseball.
It is worth remembering that this will be the fifth edition of the tournament and that the United States was the last champion. Before them, the Dominican Republic was crowned in 2013, while Japan was the winner of the first two championships.
This edition of the tournament will again have four venues during the first round. The quarterfinals will be played immediately in Tokyo and Miami, while the semifinal and final, scheduled for March 21, will be played at LoanDepot Park.
Without further ado, at JefeBet, we don’t want to miss a single detail of the world’s top baseball competition, so we bring you an analysis of the favorites to win the event, those who can surprise and how the countries are positioned within the best bookmakers in Las Vegas.
Predictions, Odds, and Betting Preview for the World Baseball Classic 2023 on March 8-21
Favorites
Dominican Republic (+210)
The 2013 Classic winners are the favorites to win their second trophy, as they boast arguably the best offense in baseball history.
Although they will be without Jose Ramirez and Starling Marte, manager Rodney Linares will have the difficult task of putting together a lineup with these stars: Julio Rodriguez, Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Rafael Devers, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Wander Franco, Jeremy Peña, Willy Adames, Teoscar Hernandez, Ketel Marte, Jean Segura and Nelson Cruz.
But as if things weren’t already complicated when it comes to facing the offense, the Dominican Republic has in its rotation last season’s National League Cy Young winner, Sandy Alcántara, and a flamethrower reliever led by Diego Castillo, Gregory Soto and Hector Neris.
United States (+250)
In the United States, they know the potential of the Dominican Republic, and several of their superstars committed early on to defend the title obtained in the last edition of the tournament.
Led by manager Mark DeRosa, the Stars and Stripes will have a lineup that has little to envy that of the Dominican Republic with the presence of its captain, Mike Trout, as well as Trea Turner, Mookie Betts, Paul Goldschmidt, Pete Alonso, Nolan Arenado, Kyle Tucker, J.T. Realmuto and Jeff McNeil.
The problem for the United States is in their starting pitching, as they recently suffered the loss of Clayton Kershaw and will have the experienced Adam Wainwright as their ace. However, if the U.S. goes into the sixth inning with a lead, it is unlikely that their opponents will be able to turn the score around against a relief team that boasts the likes of Devin Williams, Ryan Pressley and Kendall Graveman.
Japan (+300)
In Las Vegas they don’t seem to give enough respect to the two-time World Baseball Classic winners, and they certainly deserve it not only for the level of their baseball, but also for the names they have in their roster for the tournament.
Just by having Shohei Ohtani, considered the best baseball player in the world today, in their ranks.is a plus for a Japanese team that has been in training for several days and has a core of very talented players who live in their country and have played together many times.
In addition to Ohtani, manager Hideki Kuriyama counts on pitchers such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto, winner in consecutive years of the Sawamura award for the best pitcher in the Japanese league, and 20-year-old Roki Sasaki, who pitched a perfect game with 19 strikeouts last season.
On the offensive side, it is well known the level and contact of the Japanese team, who will also be strong with the presence of Ohtani and Munetaka Murakami, who is coming off 56 home runs last season.
Sleeper Picks
Venezuela (+1100)
Venezuela is, along with the Dominican Republic, the second country outside the United States with the most players in the Major Leagues, enough reason to be among the favorites to win the tournament.
Led by Omar López, the South American team has a well-balanced squad with names such as José Altuve, Ronald Acuña Jr., Salvador Pérez and Miguel Cabrera’s last dance in the World Baseball Classic.
In the pitching staff they suffered an important loss with the injury of German Márquez, but their rotation is one of the most solid of the participants with Pablo López, Jesús Luzardo, Martín Pérez and Eduardo Rodríguez, all of them relevant starters in their respective MLB teams.
Puerto Rico (+1100)
Puerto Rico knows how to play this type of tournament and proof of this is that it has been a finalist in the last two editions, losing the 2013 edition to the Dominican Republic and the 2017 edition to the United States.
Although Carlos Correa will not be with them, the ninth led by Yadier Molina has a lot of offensive power in the form of Francisco Lindor, Javier Báez, Kiké Hernández and Eddie Rosario.
In terms of pitching, the Puerto Ricans will have in the starting rotation names such as José Berríos and Marcus Stroman, while for the ninth inning they have a sure thing in the presence of one of the best closers in the Major Leagues: Edwin Díaz.
Dark Horse
Cuba (+2500)
For the first time since the World Baseball Classic began, Cuban baseball players living in the United States will be able to represent the Caribbean island.
Cuba should always be taken into account, but now even more so with the likes of Luis Robert, Yoan Moncada and former big leaguer Yoenis Cespedes, who saw action in the Dominican baseball during the winter.
The question for the team coached by Armando Johnson is whether its pitching, accustomed to amateur play, will be able to dominate the powerful offenses it will have to face throughout the championship.
The 20 participants of the World Baseball Classic 2023
| Country | Odds |
| Dominican Republic | +210 |
| United States | +250 |
| Japan | +300 |
| Venezuela | +1100 |
| Puerto Rico | +1100 |
| South Korea | +1100 |
| Cuba | +2500 |
| Mexico | +2500 |
| China Taipei | +5000 |
| Netherlands | +6000 |
| Canada, | +9900 |
| Panama | +9900 |
| Colombia | +9900 |
| Italy | +9900 |
| Australia | +9900 |
| Israel | +9900 |
| Great Britain | +9900 |
| Nicaragua | +9900 |
| China | +9900 |
| Czech Republic | +9900 |
Odds provided by BetMGM.
JefeBet Prediction
While the Dominican Republic and the United States are taking all the spotlight with truly impressive lineups, no one can write Japan off from contention.
Two-time world champions, the Asian team is characterized by its order and intelligence when it comes to playing. In addition, they have been in training for a couple of weeks in their country and have with them the best player in baseball today: Shohei Ohtani.
The Angelinos’ infielder leads a pitching staff that has two players tantalized by major league teams in the coming years, while on offense good contact and a few power hitters make the team truly fearsome.
With a super accessible group and playing at home in the first round, it is almost a given that we will see Japan in the semifinals in Miami and, why not, Ohtani lifting the third championship trophy for her country.
Prediction: Japan.
