Author: rincon

This season, MLB players will be tapping their cap to signal that they’re challenging a pitch call with the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System. However, Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale won’t be among the players doing so.

“I will never challenge a pitch,” Sale said Friday when asked about the ABS Challenge System. “I’m not an umpire; that’s their job. I’m a starting pitcher. I’ve never called balls and strikes in my life. Plus, I’m greedy, and I know that. I think they’re all strikes. The catchers nowadays — the way they catch the ball, the way they receive it — they make them all [pitches] look like strikes. … I like pitches that are on the corner that might be a little off in the heat of the moment, especially when you throw a good pitch … they [catchers] make a lot of balls look like strikes, and I don’t want to take away one of those challenges that might be needed later on in the game — and I’ve dealt with it before.

“Across all games in my entire career, there [have] been balls called strikes and strikes called balls, and you just kind of deal with it. Now, if my catcher has something to say about it, I’ll leave that to him, but I’ve dealt with both sides, and I’m fine to kind of keep dealing with it.”

The ABS Challenge System, which Sale appears to be dead set against using, has been implemented at the MLB level for the 2026 season. Each team gets two challenges apiece, with only the pitcher, catcher and hitter able to challenge an individual pitch call from an umpire by tapping their head. Once one of the three players does so, a T-Mobile replay of the pitch will promptly determine whether the pitch was in the strike zone and play resumes.

The system has previously been used in the minor leagues and was also used in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. 

Last season, Sale recorded a 2.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 165 strikeouts, 4.0 wins above replacement and a 161 ERA+ in 21 appearances (20 starts) and 125 2/3 innings pitched with the Braves. He missed 10 weeks due to a rib injury but was still named an All-Star.

The Braves acquired Sale, now a nine-time All-Star, from the Boston Red Sox in the 2023-24 offseason. Following an injury-plagued stint in Boston (2017-23), Sale proceeded to win his first career Cy Young Award with the Braves in his debut season with the franchise, winning 2024 National League Cy Young honors after leading the NL in ERA (2.38), strikeouts (225), WAR (6.2), ERA+ (174) and wins (18).

Atlanta is coming off a 2025 campaign that saw it miss the playoffs and post a losing record for the first time since 2017, going 76-86 and finishing fourth in the NL East.

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GLENDALE, Ariz. — Alex Vesia closed his eyes, turned his head to the side and paused for a moment to compose himself Friday morning as he prepared to speak publicly for the first time since the loss of his newborn daughter during last year’s World Series.

“Bear with me,” the Dodgers reliever said before looking down at his phone and beginning an emotional six-minute statement, during which he thanked the Dodgers, the Blue Jays and fans worldwide for their support. He disclosed that he and his wife, Kayla, began therapy about six weeks ago and encouraged others who are dealing with a similar tragedy to also seek help. 

“The lessons we’ve learned from this is that life can change in an instant,” Vesia said, taking deep breaths, pausing and tapping his chest at times to get through the statement. “Ten minutes is all it took. Sterling Sol was the most beautiful girl in the world. We got to hold her, change her diaper, read to her and love her. Our time together was far too short. Kay and I will keep those precious moments and memories to ourselves. I hope that anyone listening can empathize and respect our wishes for privacy as we continue to heal and as we navigate the ups and downs of a baseball season.”

Vesia was one of the Dodgers’ most reliable late-inning arms when he was left off the World Series roster on Oct. 24 due to what the team described at the time as a deeply personal family matter. His daughter passed away two days later. Vesia and his wife shared the tragic news in an Instagram post on Nov. 7. 

As difficult as it was to step away during the World Series, Vesia said Friday that it was also an easy decision. 

“I was not prepared to not bring my baby girl home, but we’re carrying her with us every day,” Vesia said. “It’s been hard, but we’re doing OK.”

The baseball community rallied behind Vesia to show support. Early in the World Series, Dodgers relievers began wearing the No. 51 on their hats. By Game 6, Blue Jays relievers were doing the same in a gesture that moved Vesia in the midst of a heated seven-game series. 

When Vesia noticed his number on Toronto pitcher Louie Varland’s hat, he texted Louie’s brother, Gus, who pitched for the Dodgers in 2023 and 2024. 

“I asked him if I was seeing that correctly,” Vesia said. “He texted me back right away, and he said, ‘The Varlands love you, dude. The whole Toronto bullpen has it too. It’s bigger than baseball. We love you all.’ Kay and I, we were very emotional. We were super overwhelmed with emotion, and the baseball community, the relationships that you make along the way, it showed that it’s much bigger than baseball.”

In the aftermath of Vesia’s tragedy, the Los Angeles Rams surprised the Dodgers pitcher with a jersey signed by the whole team. On the back, it read “S. Vesia,” in honor of Sterling. Vesia plans to have it framed in his house. 

“The outpouring of love and support Kay and I have had over the past few months has been unmatched,” Vesia said. “We’re both grateful to not only Dodger nation but the fans worldwide. My DMs, messages… my DMs are basically broken on Instagram from all the love and support that we’ve had. I’ve tried to read all the comments and everything just because it’s meant the world, really.”

Vesia spoke Friday from Camelback Ranch on the first official report day for pitchers and catchers. Many of the Dodgers’ position players have already reported, as well, and enjoyed getting to be around Vesia again.

“I know a lot of guys saw him in the offseason, and they made themselves available to him,” Max Muncy told me. “I’m hoping he feels the love from all of us, just knowing we’re all here for him. That’s one of the most competitive guys on the mound that I’ve seen. It’s infectious to all of us, and I’m hoping he’s able to get back out there and keep being who he is and be that fire for us.” 

Vesia has pitched for the Dodgers since 2021, amassing a 2.67 ERA over five seasons with the club since getting traded from the Marlins. The 29-year-old lefty had a 3.86 ERA over seven appearances last postseason and had made six straight scoreless outings before the World Series, which the Dodgers won in seven games. 

“We still watched every pitch of the World Series,” Vesia said. “For us, in so many ways, that was a light in our darkness.”

On Thursday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts chatted with Vesia for about 30 minutes to catch up and offer his support. Roberts believes that getting back to playing baseball could be therapeutic for the pitcher, who returned to Arizona to begin working out just days after the loss of his daughter. The gym became a sanctuary for Vesia.

“Having something to look forward to has helped me,” Vesia said. “The gym has been my mental clarity. Being around the guys again, preparing for spring training, it’s been really nice. Gotten a lot of love so far in the clubhouse, and being able to laugh and joke around, that’s been really nice for me.” 

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Justin Verlander‘s return to the Detroit Tigers is a testament to his own longevity and the team’s increased relevance over the past couple of years.

Verlander said Thursday he knew he might someday come back, but it’s been a long road for both him and the franchise. Verlander agreed to a $13 million, one-year deal with Detroit earlier this week. He last pitched for the Tigers in 2017 before he was traded to the Houston Astros during that season.

“At that time, when I left, I thought that there was a chance that I could come back and potentially help the team in a full-circle thing when they’re good again,” said Verlander, who turns 43 next week. “As of a few years ago, it didn’t seem like that. Especially a couple years ago, when I had the neck injury and things were uncertain.”

Verlander was part of two pennant-winning teams in more than a decade spent with the Tigers, and he was the AL MVP in 2011. When Detroit reached a point where it needed to rebuild, Verlander was traded and finally won two World Series titles with the Astros.

The Tigers didn’t make it back to the postseason until 2024, but they made it again last year behind a new ace, two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

Verlander said he was open to a return this offseason, although it didn’t seem the feeling was entirely mutual at first. But now the Tigers have lost right-hander Reese Olson for the season following shoulder surgery.

“At first, it didn’t seem like there was much room for me,” Verlander said. “Unfortunately, there were some things that happened recently where some innings that I think they were planning on aren’t going to be filled. I think that opened the door.”

Reporting by The Associated Press

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Turns out, the Philadelphia Phillies were ale-ing last year.

Deciding their relationship ruptured when Nick Castellanos angrily brought a beer into the dugout after he was pulled from a game, the Phillies released the outfielder on Thursday even though they owe him $20 million for the final season of a $100 million, five-year contract.

Draught was an issue in a season that extended the team’s title drought.

In a four-page handwritten letter posted Thursday, Castellanos admitted he broke a team rule by bringing a Presidente beer into the dugout last June “after being taken out of a close ball game in front of my friends and family.” Phillies manager Rob Thomson made the move for defense with a 3-1 eighth-inning lead during a 5-2 win at Miami on June 16.

“I’m proud of him because he owned up to what he did and, hey, we all make mistakes,” Thomson said Friday. “Nick had helped us out in a lot of ways here. He’s had some big hits and big plays and helped us win a lot ballgames. So I do, I wish him all the best.”

During a season that ended with a Division Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Castellanos hit .250 — his lowest in a non-shortened season — with 17 homers and 72 RBIs.

Any team can sign Castellanos for the $780,000 major league minimum. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski had decided Castellanos wouldn’t report to the team for spring training — the 33-year-old did not have a locker assigned and two photos of him in the corridor of player images had already been removed.

“A lot of times when a good player has their role change with the club, it can cause some friction, and his role changed last year from where it was,” Dombrowski said. “I mean you played every single day for a lot years in a row, and so sometimes that can contribute to it. Sometimes, then, people have debates between themselves where they’re not all on the same page. But when you put all that together, sometimes you just need to make sure that you have a change of scenery.”

Castellanos’ minus-12 outs above average — how many outs they gain defensively over the average fielder at their position, according to MLB Statcast — tied the New York Mets‘ Juan Soto and the Los Angeles Angels‘ Jo Adell for 108th and last among 110 qualified outfielders.

Castellanos was removed for Johan Rojas, who took over in center as Brandon Marsh moved from center to left and Max Kepler from left to right.

“I then sat right next to Rob and let him know that too much Slack in some areas and too tight of restrictions in others and not [conducive] to us winning,” Castellanos wrote. “Shoutout to my teammates and Howie [Phillies special assistant Howie Kendrick] for taking the beer out of my hands before I could take a sip.

Castellanos said he “aired out our differences” after the game during a meeting with Thomson and Dombrowski.

“The conversation ended with me apologizing for letting my emotions get the best of me,” Castellanos wrote.

Castellanos was benched the next day for what Thomson said then was “an inappropriate comment.” Castellanos wrote that the Phillies told him not to divulge details to reporters.

“I was surprised that a lot of people didn’t see what was taking place at the time,” Dombrowski said.

Thomson doesn’t regret the messy details didn’t become public at the time.

“I thought it was appropriate what we did,” he said.

Castellanos appeared in 75 of the team’s final 90 regular season games and hit .133 with three RBIs in the four-game Division Series loss to the Dodgers. His production decline led to the decision as much as the beer beef.

“That wasn’t the final or determining factor, because if that was, we would have done that at that particular time,” Dombrowski said.

Philadelphia secured a replacement in December, agreeing to a $10 million, one-year contract with Adolis Garcia.

Reporting for the new season and hoping to win Philadelphia’s first title since 2008, Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber wished Castellanos the best.

“We’ve had a lot of really good memories here over the last four years, and he’s had some really big moments with us,” Schwarber said. “Hopefully, wherever he goes next, he’s able to keep going out there and keep doing his thing and keep having those big moments.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The Philadelphia Phillies released outfielder Nick Castellanos on Thursday after the team was unable to make a deal to trade him. Castellanos then revealed he was benched last season after bringing beer into the dugout during a game.

The team wanted the situation resolved before its first full-squad workout at spring training, which is Monday.

Castellanos was benched last season after he made what Phillies manager Rob Thomson described as “an inappropriate comment” after he was pulled for a defensive replacement. Castellanos said in September that communication with Thomson had been “questionable, at least in my experience.”

On Thursday, Castellanos posted a hand-written note on social media explaining an incident in Miami that preceded his benching. He said he brought beer into the dugout after being taken out of a game and complained to Thomson about team rules. He said teammates took the beer away before he drank any.

Afterward, he went into the office with Thomson and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.

“We aired out our differences and the conversation ended with me apologizing for letting my emotions get the best of me,” Castellanos said, adding that he was benched the next game as punishment.

Castellanos, who turns 34 on March 4, hit .250 with 17 homers and 72 RBIs in 147 games for the NL East champions last year. He was going into the final season of a $100 million, five-year contract, but Dombrowski said Monday the Phillies were talking to other teams about him.

Adolis Garcia is expected to replace Castellanos in right field after he signed a $10 million, one-year contract with Philadelphia in December.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is optimistic that major-leaguers will play in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Manfred, speaking following an owners meeting Thursday, said there are still issues to resolve with the Major League Baseball Players Association before those Olympic aspirations are a reality, but “I think we’re a lot closer to there than we were the last time we talked about it,” he said.

The six-nation baseball tournament will be played from July 13-19 at Dodger Stadium. MLB is planning for an extended All-Star break between July 9 and July 21, with the All-Star Game likely at San Francisco on July 11.

An agreement with the union is needed.

“I sense a lot of momentum towards playing in LA in 2028,” Manfred said. “I think we are going to get over those issues. I think people have come to appreciate that the Olympics on U.S. soil is a unique marketing opportunity for the game. I think we had a lot of players interested in doing it and, you know, I feel pretty good about the idea (that) we’ll get there.”

In addition, an agreement is needed on insurance to cover player contracts for time with Olympic teams.

The United States will have an automatic berth in the both the baseball and softball tournaments and the top two other nations from the Americas in next month’s World Baseball Classic will earn berths.

MLB did not allow players on 40-man rosters to participate in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, when Nippon Professional Baseball interrupted its season and Japan beat the U.S. 2-0 in the gold medal game.

Manfred was also asked if the involvement of Casey Wasserman, the prominent businessman and talent agent who has recently lost clients because of his appearance in recently released government files on Jeffrey Epstein, would deter the league from participating in the Olympics. He declined to comment on Wasserman, who is the chairman of the Los Angeles games, saying, “Look, our dealings are not with Casey. Our dealings are with the institution of the Olympics.”

Manfred on Dodgers: ‘Great teams’ good for baseball

The addition of star outfielder Kyle Tucker by the Los Angeles Dodgers to what already was among the highest payrolls again sparked debate over whether management will propose a salary cap in collective bargaining this year.

Manfred said there hasn’t been much movement in salary cap talks.

Tucker, the right fielder who is considered one of the best players in baseball, is the latest accomplished veteran brought in by the Dodgers, who have three of the top eight current contracts by average annual value. Los Angeles also signed top closer Edwin Diaz to bolster its bullpen.

“Look, I think great teams are always good for baseball,” he said. “I think with respect to this particular great team, it added to what we have been hearing from fans in a lot of markets for a long time about the competitiveness of the game. But great teams are always good baseball.”

Bargaining is likely to start this spring on a labor contract to succeed the deal that expires Dec. 1.

“We’re in the preparation process,” Manfred said. “We haven’t agreed on a calendar with the MLBPA and it does take two to tango, as they say, but historically after opening day we kind of get started.”

WBC insurance process

Manfred said there likely isn’t a way around insurance issues that have come up for MLB-contracted players planning to play in next month’s World Baseball Classic. Several stars, including Puerto Rico’s Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa, were left off their countries’ rosters because the WBC insurer wouldn’t cover them.

“We like that, when they say they want to play, obviously,” Manfred said. “But then to have a problem with the insurance and the guy being unable to play, we recognize that. I’m just not sure that there is a way around it.”

The tournament is co-owned by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association. Insurance is provided by National Financial Partners.

“In order to get clubs comfortable with the idea that guys should play earlier in games they otherwise would not play, we had to protect them financially,” Manfred said.

Coach’s boxes

Owners approved a rules change requiring first- and third-base coaches to remain in the marked coaching boxes. Coaches have frequently moved toward home plate, in a better position to better relay signs from the defensive team that may pick up.

Decline of regional sports networks

MLB will produce and distribute local television broadcasts of at least 14 teams this season following financial problems of Main Street Sports Group’s FanDuel Sports Network.

“The RSN situation has an impact on our revenue growth because the decline there is a drag on what is otherwise a growing industry,” Manfred said. “It is true that the smaller markets have been hit harder than the larger markets, which impacts revenue sharing. Having said both of those, I think longer term, our content is inherently valuable. We deliver tons of eyeballs, and I think when we have an opportunity to get to market in 2028, we’re going to be just fine.”

Manfred said the 14 teams are “probably making a little less than they made under their old contracts.”

“The key word there is old,” he added. “The reason those contracts aren’t there anymore was they were not economic given the cord-cutting that’s going on.”

Changes in team control

Teams approved two changes in controlling owners: Cincinnati Reds CEO Phil Castellini succeeds his father Minnesota Twins board member Tom Pohlad takes over from takes over from his younger brother Bob.

Manfred said of the San Diego Padres‘ sale process: “There is robust interest in what is viewed as a really appealing asset.”

Executive council

Milwaukee chairman Mark Attanasio and Baltimore control owner David Rubenstein were voted to the eight-man executive council, replacing Arizona managing general partner Ken Kendrick and Seattle chairman John Stanton. The council also includes San Francisco chairman Greg Johnson and Cleveland chairman Paul Dolan (whose terms expire in 2027) and Miami chairman Bruce Sherman and Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno (2028) and New York Mets chairman Steve Cohen and Athletics managing partner John Fisher (2029).

Corporate deals

MLB approved extensions of its contract with Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. and of the deals for Comcast Corp. and Cox Communications Inc. to carry the Extra Innings package of out-of-market TV broadcasts.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

All-Stars, MVPs, and Cy Young winners. Plenty of MLB’s best players will be taking the diamond and representing their countries at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. 

FOX Sports announced the U.S. broadcast schedule for the tournament, which will begin Wednesday, March 4 and conclude with the much-anticipated Championship Game at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, on Tuesday, March 17 (FOX, 8 p.m. ET).

In all, the WBC’s 47 games will air across FOX Sports’ family of networks (FOX, FS1, FS2 and FOX Deportes), as well as the FOX Sports App and Tubi. All matchups will also be available to stream live and on-demand on FOX One. Additionally, 41 out of the 47 contests will air in Spanish across a combination of FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App, Tubi and FOX One.

The tournament will begin with Pool C play in Tokyo on March 4, with the remaining three pools – Pool A in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Pool B in Houston; and Pool D in Miami – beginning on Friday, March 6. 

Pool B features the star-studded Team USA, whose squad includes top players like Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. FOX will broadcast its first game when the USA plays its opening game against Brazil at Daikin Park (home of the Houston Astros) on Friday, March 6 at 8 p.m. ET.

FOX will carry a total of seven games, including two quarterfinal games: in Houston on Friday, March 13 at 8 p.m. ET, and the matchup in Miami on Saturday, March 14 at 9 p.m. ET. FOX will also carry the Championship Game on Tuesday, March 17 at 8 p.m. ET.

FS1 coverage, which will include 19 contests, will be headlined by coverage of the semifinals in Miami on Sunday, March 15 at 8 p.m. ET and Monday, March 16 at 8 p.m. ET. In addition, FS1 will air highly anticipated pool play matchups between Korea and Japan on Saturday, March 7 at 5:00 a.m. ET; Cuba and Puerto Rico on Monday, March 9 at 7:00 p.m. ET; and the Dominican Republic and Venezuela on Wednesday, March 11 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Here’s the entire WBC broadcast schedule:

World Baseball Classic Schedule

All times are ET.

March 4 (Wednesday)

Chinese Taipei vs. Australia: 10 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

March 5 (Thursday)

Czechia vs. Korea: 5 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Australia vs. Czechia: 10 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

March 6 (Friday)

Japan vs. Chinese Taipei: 5 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Cuba vs. Panama: 11 a.m. on FS2/FOX Deportes

Mexico vs. Great Britain: 1 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Puerto Rico vs. Colombia: 6 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

USA vs. Brazil: 8 p.m. on FOX/FOX Deportes

Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia: 10 p.m. on FS2

March 7 (Saturday)

Korea vs. Japan: 5 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Colombia vs. Canada: 11 a.m. on FS2/FOX Deportes

Nicaragua vs. Netherlands: Noon on Tubi

Brazil vs. Italy: 1 p.m. on FOX Sports App

Panama vs. Puerto Rico: 6 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Israel vs. Venezuela: 7 p.m. on FS2

Great Britain vs. USA: 8 p.m. on FOX

Chinese Taipei vs. Korea: 10 p.m. on FS2

March 8 (Sunday)

Australia vs. Japan: 6 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Colombia vs. Cuba: Noon on FS2

Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic: Noon on FOX/FOX Deportes

Great Britain vs. Italy: 1 p.m. on Tubi

Panama vs. Canada: 7 p.m. on FS2

Nicaragua vs. Israel: 7 p.m. on Tubi

Brazil vs. Mexico: 8 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

March 9 (Monday)

Korea vs. Australia: 6 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Colombia vs. Panama: Noon on FS2

Dominican Republic vs. Israel: Noon on FS1/FOX Deportes

Brazil vs. Great Britain: 1 p.m. on Tubi

Cuba vs. Puerto Rico: 7 p.m. on FS1

Venezuela vs. Nicaragua: 7 p.m. on FS2

Mexico vs. USA: 8 p.m. on FOX/FOX Deportes

March 10 (Tuesday)

Czechia vs. Japan: 6 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Canada vs. Puerto Rico: 7 p.m. on Tubi

Israel vs. Netherlands: 7 p.m. on FOX Sports App/FOX Deportes

Italy vs. USA: 9 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

March 11 (Wednesday)

Canada vs. Cuba: 3 p.m. on FS2/FOX Deportes

Italy vs. Mexico: 7 p.m. on Tubi

Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela: 8 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

March 13 (Friday)

Quarterfinals

1. Pool C runner-up vs. Pool D winner: 6:30 p.m. on FS2/FOX Deportes

2. Pool A runner-up vs. Pool B winner: 8 p.m. on FOX/FOX Deportes

March 14 (Saturday)

Quarterfinals

3. Pool B runner-up vs. Pool A winner: 3 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

4. Pool D runner-up vs. Pool C winner: 9 p.m. on FOX/FOX Deportes

March 15 (Sunday)

Semifinal

1. QF1 winner vs. QF2 winner: 8 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

March 16 (Monday)

Semifinal

2. QF3 winner vs. QF4 winner: 8 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

March 17 (Tuesday)

Championship

SF1 winner vs. SF2 winner: 8 p.m. on FOX/FOX Deportes

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Strength of pitching might be what separates the 2026 World Baseball Classic favorites from the rest of the field like it was in 2023, but make no mistake: the best sluggers in the world will make sure to leave their mark on this year’s tournament.

FOX Sports Research ranks the top-10 hitters in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, and to no surprise, the superstars of Major League Baseball are well-represented:

[RELATED: Full World Baseball Classic broadcast schedule]

Since making his big-league debut in 2019, Tatis has brought the juice. The shortstop-turned-right fielder is a menacing hitter from the right side of the plate with mammoth power. Tatis, who’s a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, led the National League with 42 home runs in 2021, boasts a career .513 slugging percentage and is among the most electric players in the sport.

Speaking of power, Schwarber will be playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. The left-handed hitter has a level, compact swing from the left side that generates an absurd amount of power and production. Last season, Schwarber totaled a National League-high 56 home runs and 132 RBIs and posted a career-best .563 slugging percentage. He has averaged 46.8 home runs and 108.5 RBIs per season from 2022-25.

It’s all about Acuna being healthy, because when the career-long Braves star is on the field, he’s one of the most gifted players in the sport (Acuna has played fewer than 100 games in three of the last five seasons). Acuna, who won the 2023 NL MVP and boasts a career .524 slugging percentage, is an impact hitter who hits for both contact and power and wreaks havoc on the basepath. He’s a three-time Silver Slugger and five-time All-Star.

Rodriguez can do it all. He can hit for both contact and power, runs well, has a plausible arm and is a terrific center fielder. The face of the Mariners for the better part of his MLB career (2022-present), Rodriguez has earned three All-Star nods, blasted 30-plus home runs in two seasons and posted a career-high 6.8 wins above replacement in 2025, a season which saw Seattle come one win short of winning its first AL pennant; Rodriguez hit four home runs across Seattle’s 12 postseason games.

Guerrero is one of the most dangerous hitters that MLB has to offer. Just take this past postseason, as the Blue Jays star totaled eight home runs and 15 RBIs, while posting a .397/.494/.795 slash line. Guerrero, a two-time Silver Slugger, is a balanced hitter who has a great deal of power but also seldom strikes out and will lay off pitches. In 2021, Guerrero, a career .288 hitter, was the runner-up for the AL MVP Award.

5. Seattle Mariners C Cal Raleigh (USA)

Even before a 2025 campaign that saw Raleigh hit an MLB record 60 home runs for a catcher and be the runner-up for the 2025 AL MVP, Seattle’s backstop was already among the best at his position. A switch-hitter, Raleigh averaged 32 home runs per season from 2023-24 and was a Gold Glover in 2024. He’s smooth behind the plate, an impact hitter from either side of the plate and arguably the best all-around catcher in the sport.

Many of the compliments that one could give Soto in his 2018 rookie season are the same as the ones that are given to him in the present. He’s an elite hitter who works the count, drives the ball to all fields and is battle-tested in postseason play. Soto, a six-time Silver Slugger with 42.6 wins above replacement for his career, is disciplined in the batter’s box, slugs at a high rate, hit 42 home runs per season from 2024-25 and just stole an NL- and career-best 38 bases in 2025.

Witt is a force to be reckoned with. He’s an extra-base-hitting machine who creates noise on the bases, has become an elite shortstop and averaged 8.3 wins above replacement per season from 2024-25. Witt has led the AL in hits in each of the last two seasons, while winning the 2024 AL batting title (.332) and leading the AL with 47 doubles in 2025. Moreover, over his four-year MLB career (2022-25), Witt has averaged 26.3 home runs, 93.3 RBIs, 37.0 stolen bases and 5.4 wins above replacement per season, while posting a combined .290/.340/.504 slash line.

Trying to find a weakness in Judge’s game is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The AL MVP in three of the last four seasons, Judge has terrorized opposing pitchers since his first full season in the big leagues in 2017. He has a crisp, overwhelming swing and has led the AL in intentional walks in each of the last two years. Judge — who has totaled 50-plus home runs in four seasons, 10-plus wins above replacement in two seasons and plays right field at a high level — has also led the AL in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+ and walks in each of the last two seasons. Judge has put himself in Yankees’ Mount Rushmore territory.

When Ohtani is hitting and pitching at the same time — like he was last season — he’s the best baseball player on the planet. Sticking with the bat, he’s a year removed from becoming the first player to post a 50-50 season (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases) in MLB history. Ohtani has elite strength and power from the left side of the plate, sending pitches that are up in the strike zone near the concourse with ease. He has also led the NL in slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+ and runs scored in each of the last two seasons. Ohtani, who’s a four-time league MVP and has now won back-to-back World Series with the Dodgers, is a force at the plate, on the mound and on the basepath.

Honorable mentions:

• Arizona Diamondbacks IF Ketel Marte (Dominican Republic)
• Baltimore Orioles IF Gunnar Henderson (USA)
• San Diego Padres IF Manny Machado (Dominican Republic)
• Philadelphia Phillies IF Bryce Harper (USA)
• Chicago Cubs IF Alex Bregman (USA)

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

After coming up just short in 2023, the USA has a roster that has it as the favorite entering the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The big difference? Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb headline an impressive pitching staff.

USA’s journey will begin with pool play. All four of its games in Pool B will be played at Daikin Park (home of the Houston Astros) against Mexico, Italy, Great Britain and Brazil. The Americans’ quarterfinal game would also be in Houston before the semifinals and Championship Game take place at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins.

[RELATED: Full World Baseball Classic broadcast schedule]

You can catch all the action on FOX. Here’s when you can tune in to watch Team USA this March:

USA Pool B Schedule

March 6

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March 7

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March 9

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March 10

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Quarterfinals

If Team USA advances as the first-place team in Pool B, it will play in Houston at Daikin Park on March 13 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. If it finishes second in Pool B, it will play in Houston on March 14 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1. 

Every game in the knockout stage of the tournament will be on FOX Deportes, as well.

Semifinals

The two semifinals will be played on March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park in Miami. If the USA advances from the quarterfinals after winning Pool B, it will play on Sunday, March 15 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. If the USA advances coming out of Pool B as the runner-up, it will play on Monday, March 16, at 8 p.m. ET.

Final

The WBC final will be in Miami on Tuesday, March 17, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The World Baseball Classic is going to be memorable. But because of its worldwide scheduling, it is also going to be on at all hours of the day. 

You’ll need to plan for that with alarms and early or late bedtimes.

[RELATED: Full World Baseball Classic broadcast schedule]

To help you out, we have identified the best matchup of each day in pool play — as well as hypothetical contests for the rest of the tournament — so you can know when it’s time to wake up to catch some international baseball.

Pool Play

March 4, Chinese Taipei @ Australia, 10 p.m. ET on FS1

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The World Baseball Classic kicks off with Chinese Taipei taking on Australia in Tokyo, Japan in Pool C play. Neither is favored to win either their pool or the WBC at large, but none of that matters on day one — the fact the tourney is here at long last is reason enough to tune in.

March 5, Czechia @ Republic of Korea, 5 a.m. ET on FS1

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Korea is one of the better teams in Pool C and at the tournament — maybe not elite like Team USA or Japan, but capable of making some noise and hanging with any of the best. This one requires an early wakeup, but you get to see an intriguing Czechia squad as well. 

March 6, United States @ Brazil, 8 p.m. ET on FOX

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If you want to see Team USA in its first action of the tournament, it’s in primetime against Brazil, one of the biggest longshots of this year’s WBC. The USA has a loaded rotation – Aaron Judge, Tarik Skubal, Cal Raleigh to name a few stars – and this team is favored to win it all.

March 7, Republic of Korea @ Japan, 5 a.m. ET on FS1

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Japan, the Pool C favorite, takes on its most significant competition in the Republic of Korea. Shohei Ohtani isn’t pitching, but watching him at the plate is always a treat, and this is a chance to see new MLB players Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto in action as well for the defending WBC champions.

March 8, Colombia @ Cuba, 12 p.m. ET on FOX

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Neither Cuba nor Colombia are expected to be a WBC power this year, but neither is one that can be ignored by the competition. That makes this game even more vital for both teams. Anything can happen in a tournament setting, and a win here increases the chances that either gets to stick around beyond pool play.

March 9, Dominican Republic @ Israel, 12 p.m. ET on FS1

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The Dominican Republic’s lineup is ridiculous, as expected — Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, Oneil Cruz, Julio Rodriguez, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Juan Soto all in one place? Even the big-spending Dodgers haven’t pulled that off (yet).

March 10, Canada @ Puerto Rico, 7 p.m. ET on Tubi

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If Canada is going to get out of pool play, it will likely need a win against Puerto Rico late into the schedule. Josh Naylor will try to power Canada to a win, while Denzel Clarke is a threat to catch any ball that hasn’t cleared the fence. And also some that have.

March 11, Dominican Republic @ Venezuela, 8 p.m. ET on FS1

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This very well might be two of the top-five teams in the whole tournament facing off, and on the last day of pool play. Chances are good that the game will be for more than just Pool D bragging rights. The Dominican lineup is loaded, but Venezuela has Ronald Acuna Jr., Eugenio Suarez, Willson Contreras, Salvador Perez and Maikel Garcia, so it’s got plenty of pop, too.

Quarterfinals

Based on the current betting odds and favorites for pool play, here are the matchups you can expect in the quarterfinals and beyond.

March 13, Pool A Runner-Up (Canada) @ Pool B Winner (United States), 8 p.m. ET on FOX

Canada has talent, but this is probably the end of the road for the team given the tremendous pitching of the United States. You will want to watch either way, since a display of dominance or an upset is great television regardless.

March 14, Pool D Runner-Up (Venezuela) @ Pool A Winner (Japan), 9 p.m. ET on FOX

Under the assumption that the Dominican Republic wins Pool D and Japan wins on its home turf in Tokyo, we end up with Venezuela taking on the defending champions in the quarterfinals. Venezuela is an underdog here, but only slightly — this would be a serious clash.

Semifinals

March 15, Quarterfinal Winner (Puerto Rico) vs. Quarterfinal Winner (United States), 8 p.m. ET on FS1

Puerto Rico is favored to win Pool A, and here it would be in action against the would-be winner of Pool B – should the USA win the potential quarterfinal against Canada. Regardless of which starter is on the mound for the USA, viewers should be in for a treat.

March 16, Quarterfinal Winner (Japan) vs. Quarterfinal Winner (Dominican Republic), 8 p.m. ET on FS1

Will Japan’s pitching, sans Ohtani, hold up against the intense lineup of the Dominican Republic? That would be must-watch TV, and not just because it’s the lone game on the schedule.

Championship

March 17, Semifinal Winner (United States) vs. Semifinal Winner (Japan), 8 p.m. ET on FOX

The odds say that Japan does return to the Championship Game, leaving us with a rematch of the 2023 edition. Does the USA have the arms to get through this time? Or is a half-operational Ohtani still the most dangerous opponent around?

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports