On Friday night, Team USA defeated Team Canada 5-3 in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals. Brice Turang and Pete Crow-Armstrong provided support at the bottom of the lineup, each recording two hits and an RBI. Team USA will face the formidable Team Dominican Republic on Sunday at 8 p.m. with a spot in the WBC championship game on the line.

World Baseball Classic Results

Team Dominican Republic defeated Team Korea 10-0 by mercy rule in Friday night’s other quarterfinal matchup. Cristopher Sánchez tossed five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts while Juan Soto went 1-for-4 while also scoring a run with the help of a highlight-reel swim move.

Latest Mets News

The Mets played two split-squad spring training games on Friday. At home, the Mets lost to the Marlins 1-0. Kodai Senga provided three perfect innings with five strikeouts out of the gate, while Clay Holmes pitched five innings of one-run ball in relief. Devin Williams also pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.

On the road, the Mets defeated the Nationals 8-3. Carson Benge had an RBI single, continuing his hot spring, while Carl Edwards Jr. threw four scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

The Mets signed outfielder JT Benson out of independent ball. Benson had an .889 OPS with 24 stolen bases in 80 Frontier League games this past season.

Latest MLB News

This year’s World Baseball Classic has already set an all-time attendance record for the tournament. Records have also been set for attendance for an individual pool (Tokyo) and attendance for a pool in the United States (Houston).

Latest on MMO

Kai Chang highlights how great Luis Robert Jr. looked at the plate for the Mets in his spring debut.

Robert Colonna analyzes the changes Tobias Myers has made ahead of his first season with the Mets.

Robert Colonna provides the latest injury update on Francisco Lindor.

On This Date in Mets History

1961: The Mets named George Weiss as the team’s first President. One of Weiss’s first moves to boost the new franchise was to hire Casey Stengel as manager.

Born on This Date: Josh Stinson (1988).

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Luckily for them, Italy kept them alive after they defeated Team Mexico by a score of 9-1 on Wednesday night.

Now, the United States have new life in the tournament and are set to face off against Canada in the quarterfinals at Daikin Park in Houston. Elsewhere, the electric Team Dominican Republic will take on Team Korea from loanDepot Park in Miami.

Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Dominican Republic vs. Korea (6:30 p.m. EST, FS2)

After allowing three runs against Team Nicaragua last week, Cristopher Sanchez is back on the bump for the Dominican Republic. The Philadelphia Phillies ace will look to bounce back against a Team Korea lineup that features the likes of Jahmai Jones, Jung Hoo Lee, Bo Gyeong Moon and Hyeseong Kim.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays left-handed starter Hyun Jin Ryu will toe the rubber for Korea after giving up one earned run across three innings against Chinese Taipei in pool play.

Ryu has his work cut out for him, though, against a potent lineup that scored 41 runs in pool play thanks to the star power of Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ketel Marte, Julio Rodriguez and Manny Machado, among others.

The winners of this contest would move on to play the victor of the USA vs. Canada matchup on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. EST in Miami.

USA vs. Canada (8:00 p.m. EST, FOX)

The U.S. will call on San Francisco Giants All-Star right-hander Logan Webb in an attempt to shut down Canada’s lineup. Webb allowed one run on one hit with six strikeouts against Brazil in the opener of pool play.

Canada, meanwhile, will send Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Michael Soroka out for the start. He gave up one earned run over three innings in a victory over Colombia last week.

Team USA is looking to make it back to the semifinals of the WBC for a third-straight time, while Canada has never made it that far in the tournament throughout its 20-year history up to this point.

The post WBC Game Chat: Dominican Republic vs. Korea & USA vs. Canada appeared first on Metsmerized.

Mar 11, 2026; Miami, FL, United States; Dominican Republic left fielder Juan Soto (22) hits a two-run home run against Venezuela during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Friday’s games

Korea vs. Dominican Republic at loanDepot park in Miami, 6:30 p.m. ET on FS2

Korea is the only team in the quarterfinals that lost twice, and it advanced by winning a three-way tiebreaker with Australia and Chinese Taipei. (Something seemed wrong to me at first about the runs allowed/outs recorded tiebreaker, but after some thought I like it.)

Korea is trying to make it to the semifinals for the first time since 2009, when it lost to Japan in the finals. It is facing a deep Dominican Republic team, looking for its second WBC title (2013, Robinson Canó was MVP).

Juan Soto is 5-for-15 with two home runs, four RBIs, five walks and a stolen base. He is one of five players on the team with two home runs (Junior Caminero, Oneil Cruz, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.). The DR outscored its opponents 41-10 while going 4-0 in pool play. Huascar Brazobán has thrown 2 2/3 innings of scoreless, hitless ball. He’s struck out four (including Nicaragua’s Mark Vientos) and walked one.

USA vs. Canada at Daikin Park in Houston, 8 p.m. ET on FOX

Team USA survived a scare, and now Nolan McLean (a shaky outing vs. Italy) might get to pitch again. McLean, before the tournament, was named the starter should the Americans make it to the final. Clay Holmes (three scoreless innings, six strikeouts vs. Great Britain) is returning to the Mets.  Pete Crow-Armstrong and Aaron Judge have hit two homers apiece.

The United States is trying to win its second WBC (2017, Marcus Stroman was MVP) and it will have to go through Canada and Marlins outfielder Owen Caissie (7-for-14, a home run, a 1.458 OPS). Jared Young is 1-for-5 with two strikeouts for Team Canada.

Saturday’s games

Puerto Rico vs. Italy at Daikin Park in Houston, 3 p.m. ET on FS1

Puerto Rico lost in this round in 2023 and in the finals in 2017 and 2013. In 2023, Edwin Díaz suffered a torn patellar tendon while celebrating a win over the Dominican Republic. He is back and has thrown two scoreless innings with five strikeouts and a save. Italy pulled off the upset of the tournament so far with its win over the United States. Vinnie Pasquantino became the first player to hit three homers in a WBC game against Mexico.

Mets prospect Nick Morabito, seeing action as a defensive replacement in the Team Italy outfield, is 0-for-1.

Venezuela vs. Japan at loanDepot park in Miami, 9 p.m. ET on FOX

Shohei Ohtani is 5-for-9 with two homers, a double and four walks for defending champion Japan, and Seiya Suzuki has a couple of homers as well. Japan has won three of the five Classics and advanced to the semifinals every time. This will be its first time playing Venezuela, which had its best showing when it advanced to the semifinals in 2009.

Ronald Acuña Jr. is 4-for-13 with a home run, a double, six walks, a tournament-leading eight runs scored and two stolen bases. Luis Arraez has two home runs and nine RBIs. RHP Carlos Guzman (3.12 ERA in 49 innings combined at Triple-A Syracuse and Double-A Binghamton in 2025), got into one game, recorded two outs and gave up a hit and a walk.

The winners of Friday’s games will play Sunday in Miami, and the winners of Saturday’s games will play there on Monday. The championship game is Tuesday in Miami at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

Predictions

Anything can happen in one baseball game. But I don’t like the vibes from Team USA. I think it survives Canada and loses to the immaculately-vibing DR in the semifinals. I’ll take Italy to keep its magic going, Venezuela in an upset over Japan and DR over Venezuela in the finals. Soto will edge Brazobán for MVP honors.

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Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Notable Players

Hyun Min Ahn, 6-feet tall and 198 pounds, is nicknamed Muscle Man for his impressive physique. More impressive, the 22-year-old hit 22 home runs in the KBO last season in 482 plate appearances while slashing .334/.448/.570. The outfielder walked more times (75) than he struck out (72).

Infielder Do Yeong Kim, also 22, was the youngest player in KBO history to post a 30-30 season when he hit 38 homers and stole 40 bases in 2024. The .347/.420/.647 slash line that went with it wasn’t bad either.

In 2023, Edman became the first player born outside of Korea to play for the team in the WBC. This year, four MLB players have that distinction: Jahmai Jones (Tigers), Riley O’Brien (Cardinals), Dane Dunning (Mariners) and Shay Whitcomb (Astros). Other MLB players on the roster include Hyeseong Kim (Dodgers), Jung Hoo Lee (Giants) and Woo-Suk Go, a 27-year-old reliever who the Tigers signed to a minor-league deal this month. Go saved 139 games over seven seasons in the KBO.

Hyun Jin Ryu, who went 78-48 and pitched to a 3.27 ERA in 10 seasons with the Dodgers and Blue Jays, will pitch in his second WBC 17 years after appearing in his first. The 38-year-old threw his last MLB pitch in 2023.

Manager

Ji-Hyun Ru will be managing in his first WBC. He managed the KBO’s LG Twins for two seasons (2021-2022), was a coach for the Korean team in two WBCs (2006 and 2013) and played 11 seasons as a middle infielder in the KBO (1994-2004).

WBC History

Korea’s best showing was in 2009, when it advanced to the final against Japan. That game was a classic. Korea tied it at 3-3 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth when Bum Ho Lee singled in a run. Ichiro Suzuki (who else?) connected for a two-out, two-run single in the top of the 10th and 22-year-old Yu Darvish recorded the final outs of the 5-3 Japan victory.

In 2023, Korea split four games in pool play, including getting upset by Australia, and failed to advance.

Pool

Korea is in Pool C, games taking place in Tokyo, with Japan, Chinese Taipei, Australia and Czechia. Its first game is on March 5 vs. Czechia. Korea and defending champion Japan are the favorites to advance to the quarterfinals, which will be the top two teams from each pool.

For a ranking of all 20 teams by MMO’s Robert Colonna, click here.

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Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

The 2023 World Baseball Classic opened up play on Wednesday morning, and now would be a great time to take an in-depth look at Pool B as they are set to begin action later tonight.  The five teams in this pool will battle it out in Tokyo, Japan. A few of these teams are unproven at this level, which should make for some very intriguing matchups, while others have experienced groups with big-name MLB players.

Here is what the schedule looks like for Pool B:

March 8

Australia vs. Korea (10 p.m. ET, FS1)

March 9

China vs. Japan (5 a.m. ET, FS1)

Czech Republic vs. China (10 p.m. ET, tubi)

March 10

Korea vs. Japan (5 a.m. ET, FS1)

China vs. Australia (10 p.m. ET, FS2)

March 11

Czech Republic vs. Japan (5 a.m. ET, FS1)

Czech Republic vs. Korea (10 p.m. ET, FS1)

March 12

Japan vs. Australia (6 a.m. ET, FS1)

Australia vs. Czech Republic (11:00 p.m. ET, FS2)

March 13

Korea vs. China (6 a.m. ET, FS2)

5. China

Manager: Dean Treanor

Team China is a bit of an unknown as they enter the 2023 World Baseball Classic. As a country, they have struggled to have any sort of sustained success in the sport for quite some time. China will need a lot to go right in order to have any chance of coming out of pool B.

Luo Jinjun, a player who can be fill three different positions across the infield, is going to play a big role in this competition. His impact, both with the bat and the glove, will need to be prevalent in about every game. While Jinjun can help this team move in the right direction, the WBC may not provide much winning for China in 2023.

 4. Czech Republic

Manager: Pavel Chadim

The Czech Republic has quite a unique story that will resonate with baseball fans worldwide. The Czech team clinched their place in the World Baseball Classic with a 3-1 with over Spain in the qualifying round. Czech Republic may not have any big names, but what they do have is a team and a country that is together and supported in a way like no other.

Martin Schneider is a two-way player that has starred in the Czech Baseball Extraliga for a numbers of years. What makes his story so interesting is the fact that he his a firefighter during the day, and a baseball player at night. Schneider is one of those players that will shine during the WBC, more because of what he does off the field than what he does on it.

Getting to the WBC is an achievement in itself, but what the Czech Republic does in Pool B will be fascinating to watch. They won’t be favored to get through the group, but do not be surprised if they exceed expectations. It would not be the first time we see an underdog make a run in this competition.

 3. Australia

Manager: Dave Nilsson

Like the Czech Republic, Australia is a team that does not have a long history of success when it comes to the WBC. Australia finished ninth in the competition back in 2017, so they’ll be looking to improve upon that finish this time around. Australia has a veteran group that is hungry and prepared to make some noise in pool B.

Former Milwaukee Brewer and All-Star catcher Dave Nilsson is leading this Australian team in the right direction. Pitcher Tim Atherton, who is maybe their most important player, was a part of the Brisbane Bandits team that won back to back Australia Baseball League titles in 2018-19. Atherton having a big tournament could be key in them reaching the knockout stages.

 2. Korea

Manager: Kang Chul Lee 

Korea comes into this edition of the WBC as a potential dark horse out of pool B. They don’t have as many big names as some others teams, but what they do have is a well-coached team that is built on their team defense. What they do in the scoring department may determine their fate later on in the competition.

The combination of San Diego Padres infielder Ha-seong Kim and St. Louis Cardinals utility man Tommy Edman make up one of the best middle infields in the WBC. Their strength in the field will play a critical role for Korea. Catcher Yang Eui-ji has been an elite defensive backstop in the KBO for a number of years. 

Japan are the heavy favorites to finish at the top of Pool B, but if anyone is going to give them a run for their money, it has to be Korea. Their past success in the WBC cannot be underestimated, and they have a roster that is built to have success is this type of competition. Barring something out of the ordinary, expect to see Korea in the knockout stages of the tournament.

1. Japan

Manager: Hideki Kuriyama

The home team in this pool is certainly expected to top this group. Los Angeles Angles two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will draw a lot of attention, and rightfully so. After all, he is one of the most electrifying players in the sport and will give Japan every opportunity to make a deep run in this tournament. I expect to see him in the lineup, but how many innings will he throw, if any? That question will be answered in the coming days.

Ohtani is not the only big name on the Japanese roster, as San Diego Padres starter Yu Darvish and newly-signed Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida will also be participating. St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar will also be a part of their roster.

The Japanese roster is one filled with talent and experience. If any team from Pool B is going to in contention for a title, it has to be Japan. They should finish at the top of the group, but what they do beyond that will come down to the details. If they can get enough quality innings from their pitchers, Japan is going to be dangerous in the later rounds.

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