World Baseball Classic Best Picks, Top Predictions, & Team Rosters
The 2023 World Baseball Classic will take place March 8th to March 21st. The teams are split into four groups (pools) and the first round will take place in four locations.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, and from there four teams will remain where the championship game and runner-up game will take place. Here is a breakdown of the groups and teams as I see it.
‘I’ being Tokyo Brandon, the most successful handicapper around.
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World Baseball Classic Pools – Pool A Teams, Taiwan
- Taiwan
- Netherlands
- Cuba
- Italy
- Panama
Cuba is the only team in this group with even a remote shot at remaining in the final four.
They are currently at +1400 odds to win it all with no other team in the realm of +3000.
World Baseball Classic Pool A Picks & Predictions
Cuba and either Netherlands or Panama should be able to advance easily, but I will not spend much time on this group as there are no powerhouse teams here worth breaking down.
World Baseball Classic Pool B Teams, Tokyo
- Japan
- Korea
- Australia
- China
- Czech Republic
World Baseball Classic Pool B Picks & Predictions
This group has two contenders in it, Japan and Korea. Japan is currently +450 and Korea is +1400 at DraftKings to win it all.
Australia is the only other team with a shot of advancing but I do not think that chance is high. Japan and Korea should advance with little trouble and in that order, Japan first, Korea second.
World Baseball Classic Pool C Teams, Phoenix
- USA
- Mexico
- Columbia
- Canada
- Great Britain
World Baseball Classic Pool C Picks & Predictions
USA will advance as the first seed with little trouble. Mexico is the only other possible contender, but their odds to win it all are +3500 while the USA is the current favorite at +225.
The other teams in this group are cannon fodder.
World Baseball Classic Pool D Teams, Miami
- Puerto Rico
- Venezuela
- Dominican Republic
- Israel
- Nicaragua
World Baseball Classic Pool D Picks & Predictions
This is the most competitive group of the four. Puerto Rico (+800), Venezuela (+1300) and Dominican Republic (+225) are all contenders, with Dominican Republic being given the same chance to win it all as USA.
The battle between Puerto Rico and Venezuela to advance should be great to watch and very competitive. Nicaragua and Israel are mainly American players with threads of connections to these countries who could not make the USA team and simply have no chance to be competitive.
Conclusion
I see the USA, Dominican Republic and Japan as the only real contenders. How does an overall balanced team (USA) fare against teams with better pitching and less hitting (DR, Japan)? This will be must-watch TV.
I personally will be attending the Japan vs Korea game on March 10th in Tokyo and I will be putting out a lot of plays in this tournament. Sit back and enjoy!
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While most handicappers know the USA roster, Brandon knows THE WORLD! Brandon was a Major League Baseball scout in Japan for a decade, has lived in Japan for 30 years, and knows international baseball and foreign team rosters better than anyone.
Tokyo Brandon’s record speaks for itself, as he has been WagerTalk’s #1 All-Sports Profit Leader for TWO STRAIGHT YEARS and counting!
Baseball is his bread and butter; he has picked up +151.17 units in baseball profit and, since joining WagerTalk, sits in the #1 spot over that time in total baseball profit!
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World Baseball Classic Team Breakdowns & Rosters
USA, Dominican Republic and Japan are the main players and are all taking this tournament very seriously. Here is a breakdown of the rosters as we know them as of the time of writing this article.
USA World Baseball Classic Roster – WBC Roster for the US
The USA has held back from sending the best players in the past due to fear of injury or MLB contract complications. That is not the case this year.
This is a star-studded lineup with good depth and full of names we all know. Here is what the lineup is shaking out to look like:
C J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies
C Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
1B Pete Alonso, New York Mets
1B Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals
2B Trevor Story, Boston Red Sox
3B Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
3B Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
SS Tim Anderson, Chicago White Sox
SS Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies
OF Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
OF Cedric Mullins, Baltimore Orioles
OF Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies
OF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angles
OF Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros
SP Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks
SP Nestor Cortes, New York Yankees
SP Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
SP Brady Singer, Kansas City Royals
SP Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals
SP Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants
RP David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates
RP Dillon Tate, Baltimore Orioles
RP Devin Williams, Milwaukee Brewers
LP Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
Yeah, Mike Trout and Mookie Betts? The USA is not messing around. The rotation with Webb, Kelly, Cortes and Freeland looks solid (if not dynamic) and Kershaw on call for starter or bullpen duty if needed makes for solid pitching.
This team should be able to put a lot of runs on the board and the pitching should be good enough to propel them to the championship game. The USA is the most balanced team in the tournament.
Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic Roster
DR has a Major League roster and certainly has a chance of taking it all on their WBC roster. Here is the stellar rotation:
Sandy Alcantara
Framber Valdez
Cristian Javier
Luis Castillo
Follow that rotation up with these relievers:
Bryan Abreu
Camilo Doval
Diego Castillo
Emmanuel Clase
Felix Bautista
Genesis Cabrera
Gregory Soto
Jhoan Duran
Rafael Montero
Seranthony Dominguez
Wandy Peralta
Yimi Garcia
Reynaldo Lopez
Here are the position players:
Gary Sanchez
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Jose Ramirez
Jeremy Pena
Manny Machado
Starling Marte
Julio Rodriguez
Juan Soto
Eloy Jimenez
Rafael Devers
Francisco Mejia
Ketel Marte
Nelson Cruz (DH)
Pedro Severino
Robinson Cano (2B)
Teoscar Hernandez
Wander Franco
Pitching is the strength here and there are stars on the hitting side as well. It will be interesting to see how this pitching-strong team matches with a team like Japan, which is also pitch-reliant.
This team does not have the balance that the US has, but there is enough star power to win against anyone in the tournament in any one game.
Japan World Baseball Classic Roster
Japan wants to win this. They want to follow up Olympic gold with a WBC trophy. Asian countries take these international tournaments seriously and this roster is no joke.
The Japanese rotation will BY FAR be the best rotation in the tournament, hands down.
1. Shohei Ohtani
2. Yu Darvish
3. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Japan’s Cy Young winner)
4, Roki Sasaki (Japan’s #2 pitcher)
5. Shota Imanaga (Japan Series winner)
Nobody will put runs on this rotation, not even the US. Hitting is a different story. Japan will have Cubs hitter Seiya Suzuki and Japan League home run king and record setter Munetaka Murakami, but Asian teams do not hit with power like US players and run production will be the concern with this team.
Nevertheless, this team is a shoe-in to make the quarterfinals and has a serious chance of taking it all. The roster is not balanced like the US team, but the pitching is much better and that wins games. If Japan can score 3 runs they can win any game.
2023 World Baseball Classic Pass – ONLY $55 – BUY NOW!
The 2023 World Baseball Classic will begin on Wednesday, March 8, and conclude on Tuesday, March 21, with the Championship Game in Miami, Florida, and you can bet alongside one of the top international baseball sports bettors on the planet for the ENTIRE tournament for ONLY $55 (yes, really!)
While most handicappers know the USA roster, Brandon knows THE WORLD! Brandon was a Major League Baseball scout in Japan for a decade, has lived in Japan for 30 years, and knows international baseball and foreign team rosters better than anyone.
Tokyo Brandon’s record speaks for itself, as he has been WagerTalk’s #1 All-Sports Profit Leader for TWO STRAIGHT YEARS and counting!
Baseball is his bread and butter; he has picked up +151.17 units in baseball profit and, since joining WagerTalk, sits in the #1 spot over that time in total baseball profit!
Get FULL ACCESS to ANY selections from Brandon on the entire World Baseball Classic, including sides, totals, and any props or futures, and of course, any RARE 5% BEST BETS for just $55 using coupon code WBC55 when checking out!
* this package will include a minimum of 12 selections (if purchased before the tournament begins)
** the first fifteen buyers are eligible for a $55 coupon good for a future Tokyo Brandon purchase of $99 or higher
Tokyo Brandon World Baseball Classic | Team USA Video Preview
Tokyo Brandon gives his full Team USA roster breakdown providing in-depth betting info pertaining to how far they may go in this World Baseball Classic tournament. Listen to his preview now!
