The 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) gets underway on Friday night for Pool B play at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, as the United States takes on Brazil. First pitch is set for 8:00 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed or streamed on FOX.
Let’s build our bankroll with our best World Baseball Classic picks & predictions for Friday, March 6th.
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Friday’s Best World Baseball Classic Picks & Predictions
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All bets are for 1 unit
United States (-7000) at Brazil (+2000) | O/U 14.5 (-132/+108)
The United States, led by manager and former Major Leaguer Mark DeRosa, has a star-studded lineup. After suffering a disappointing loss to Japan in the 2023 title game, the organization is on a mission to make sure that never happens again.
The United States begins its trek to what it hopes is a championship with a WBC opener against Brazil. If this were a soccer match, the odds might be completely flipped. But, for baseball, Brazil doesn’t have a chance. If Brazil can keep it within single digits, that would be a nice start.
The Americans have All-Star pitchers like Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers, but neither pitcher is starting on Friday. It will be San Francisco’s Logan Webb getting the ball to start. Of note, the WBC has a 65-pitch limit rule, as Major League Baseball organizations do not want their pitchers worked into the ground for games that do not benefit them. Plus, it is early in spring training, and most of these pitchers just aren’t stretched out for a regular-season workload.
The USA carries 16 total pitchers, including a very deep bullpen with middle men and long men. Once the starters exit, don’t expect a precipitous drop-off.
In addition, Brazil isn’t exactly super deep. Former farm hand pitcher Bo Takahashi, who was in the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds systems until 2021, gets the ball for Brazil. He currently pitches for the Saitama Seibu Lions of the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization (NPB) in Japan.
Takahashi reached Triple-A in 2021 with the Reds, going 3-7 with a 4.45 ERA in 17 starts and 18 appearances with a 1.28 WHIP, 32 walks and 89 strikeouts with 14 homers allowed in 89 innings before leaving for Asia. That was his only season in Triple-A. Essentially, you have a subpar Triple-A pitcher trying to take down an All-Star lineup. That won’t end well.
There is no way you can back the United States straight up, risking 70 times your potential return. That shouldn’t even need to be said, really. But, can Brazil keep it within single digits against the likes of Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh?
It’s worth a look in the opener, especially at even money. Remember, the United States opened with a 6-2 win over Great Britain in the first game in 2023, and it lost to Mexico in the second game before finally getting warmed up. For Brazil, Dante Bichette and Leonardo Reginatto give the Brazilians a threat of offense.
Picks: Brazil +9.5 (+100) & Under 14.5 Runs (+108)
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