How will the five teams in Pool C fare at Chase Field in Phoenix? Let’s take a look:
The United States is heavily favored to win Pool C of the World Baseball Classic in Phoenix, Arizona at Chase Field. The U.S. is -450 to win Pool C, and second to win the WBC at + 250 odds via Draft Kings sportsbook. The U.S. has aspirations of winning the whole tournament and, is managed by former Major League Baseball infielder Mark DeRosa. Their biggest threat appears to be Mexico, which has +400 odds of winning Pool C. Colombia and Canada are even at +2,500 to win Pool C. Great Britain is an extreme long shot with +10,000 odds to take first place in Pool C.
United States
Notable Players: Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Trea Turner are at the top of their lineup. They could have the best lineup in the entire tournament, especially with the recent knee injury to Dominican Republic first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Old reliable 41-year-old Adam Wainwright will serve as their ace pitcher. The bullpen is anchored by Devin Williams.
Best result at WBC: The USA won the 2017 World Baseball Classic Championship.
Pool Play Schedule
March 11 – vs. Great Britain – 9 p.m. ET – Fox
March 12 – vs. Mexico – 10 p.m. ET – Fox Sports 1
March 13 – vs. Canada – 10 p.m. ET – Fox Sports 1
March 15 – vs. Colombia – 10 p.m. ET – Fox Sports 1
Prediction: They’ll have an easy time against every team in Pool C but Mexico. They’ll finish second in the group and end up running the table toward the championship.
Mexico
Notable Players: Mexico features outfielders Randy Arozarena and Alex Verdugo as the first two hitters in their lineup. First baseman Joey Meneses burst into the big leagues last season at age 30 with the Washington Nationals. He hit 13 home runs with an OPS of .930. Mexico’s strength could lie in their starting rotation, which is led by Los Angeles Dodgers ace Julio Urias. Patrick Sandoval backs him up as the second starter. Mexico is managed by Benji Gil, a former MLB infielder who is now an infield coach with the Los Angels Angles. Mexico will look to atone for the disappointment of the last WBC in which they went 1-2 in pool play.
Best Result at the WBC: Mexico took sixth place in 2006.
Pool Play Schedule
March 11 – vs. Colombia – 2:30 p.m. ET – Fox
March 12 – vs. USA – 10 p.m. ET – Fox Sports 1
March 14 – vs. Great Britain – 10 p.m. ET – Fox Sports 1
March 15 – vs. Canada – 3 p.m. ET – Fox Sports 2
Prediction: Mexico will get upset early by Colombia, but they will run through the pool undefeated after that. They’ll shock team USA but will lose in the quarterfinals.
Colombia
Notable Players: Harold Ramirez, Oscar Mercado, Gio Ursehela and Jorge Alfaro are big leaguers that stand out in their lineup. Urshela and Alfaro were just prospects in the last WBC and didn’t crack their official roster. Jose Quintana was their ace, but he is now dealing with left-side tightness. He left his first spring training start with the New York Mets due to the injury, per their general manager Billy Eppler. Quintana wrote on his Instagram that he will not be able to pitch in the WBC. Veteran Julio Teheran pitched 11 years in the majors and could be called upon to replace Quintana. Quintana and Teheran both pitched for Colombia in the country’s lone WBC appearance in 2017.