⚾ Israel vs. Venezuela Predictions & Odds: WBC 2026 Betting Picks for Tonight

I'm expecting a lopsided contest while making my Israel vs. Venezuela predictions and World Baseball Classic betting picks.

A severely outgunned Israel team will try to keep up, beginning with the first pitch at 7 p.m. ET from loanDepot Park in Miami, Fla. It'll be Ben Simon vs. Enmanuel De Jesus in the pitching matchup.

A strong Venezuelan side already handled the Netherlands easily, and it'll be looking to start 2-0.

⚾ Israel vs. Venezuela WBC predictions: Tonight, 7 p.m. ET

Here are our World Baseball Classic picks for tonight's Israel vs. Venezuela matchup; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5 star scale.

Total wagered: 1.25 units | Max profit: 3.26 units

💰 Israel vs. Venezuela best bet

Venezuela -5.5 (-115)

Israel has a recent history of getting walloped when facing the premier baseball nations during the WBC. That includes an 8.3-run margin of defeat across the country's four losses in 2023.

The loss against Venezuela three years ago was a decisive though still respectable 5-1. But we can feel more confident in Venezuela racing away during the next clash tonight, particularly when facing Ben Simon. He boasts some strikeout ability, but Simon can be wild and posted a 3.0 BB/9 across a career-high 54 1/3 innings in the minor leagues last year.

🔥 Best Israel vs. Venezuela player prop

Spencer Horwitz 2+ hits (+120)

Israel might be in for an unpleasant evening, but Spencer Horwitz can still do some damage and generate activity on the base paths, especially early against Venezuelan starter Enmanuel De Jesus.

The sample size is small, as is often the case when analyzing the career arc of second-tier pitchers in the WBC. But the southpaw has struggled with same-sided batters in the majors, posting an OPS allowed of 1.192. That comes along with a 4.74 career ERA.

Meanwhile, Horwitz lifts off frequently, and he boasted a launch-angle sweet spot rate in the 87th percentile last year, according to Baseball Savant.

💣 Israel vs. Venezuela home run prediction

Wilyer Abreu to hit a home run (+350)

Wilyer Abreu started his tournament hot while going 2-for-4 for Venezuela during a win over the Netherlands.

That comes after his power continued to surge this past MLB season, his third in the majors and second as a full-time player. He finished with a career-best 22 dingers across 115 games. Much of that was a product of Abreu's premier bat speed, which ranked in the 80th percentile of MLB last campaign, according to Baseball Savant.

He also rakes against righties like Simon, with the lefty putting up an .808 OPS against right-handers last season.

🚀 Israel vs. Venezuela same-game parlay

We get some negative correlation here through rolling with Horwitz to register two-plus hits. That's ultimately the boost to our parlay, and what could lead to a tidy profit if the heavily favored Venezuelan side comes through to both cover and do much of the lifting to get the game Over the total.

⚖️ How I'm betting Israel vs. Venezuela

The best way to approach a game when one side is so clearly overmatched is to ride with the run line.

It's a line that's admittedly a little scary at first, but keep in mind how frequently Israel was demolished in 2023, especially against upper-echelon teams. That includes 10-0 losses to both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Embrace the rout in every way, as the moneyline odds for Venezuela are quite clearly zapped of all value at -1600.

In Horwitz I'm also tabbing the Israeli player best-positioned for success during an affair that will be a slog otherwise for the team.

📊 Israel vs. Venezuela odds & analysis

Here are the World Baseball Classic odds for Israel vs. Venezuela tonight at 7 p.m. ET; odds via DraftKings:

There's unsurprisingly a colossal slant toward Venezuela, with the nation getting 96% of the action on the moneyline at DraftKings and 93% of the run line bets. Given that heavy lean, it wouldn't be surprising to see the run line move off 5.5 and even further in Venezuela's direction.

The split isn't quite as heavy when it comes to the total, though the Over is still drawing 74% of the bets. Similarly, we could see the number climb even higher beyond 10.5 as the Over gets hammered.

🆚 Israel vs. Venezuela starting pitchers & projected lineups

Here are the projected starting pitchers and lineups for tonight's Israel vs. Venezuela matchup:

Key players to watch

Israel - Harrison Bader: Harrison Bader has played for a whole lot of MLB teams, and at his best he offers a blend of speed and quality bat-to-ball skills, with decent power. He was impressive over 50 games with the Philadelphia Phillies this past season, producing a .305 average and .824 OPS.

Venezuela - Salvador Perez: Never forget that big Salvador Perez has no business still posting the numbers he's putting up as primarily a catcher while getting set to turn 36 years old soon. A position notorious for wearing down the body seems to have little effect on Perez, who clubbed 30 homers last year, his second-highest single-season total.

📺 How to watch Israel vs. Venezuela

• When: Saturday, March 7
• First pitch: 7 p.m. ET
• Where: loanDepot Park (Miami, Fla)
• TV: FS2

❓ Israel vs. Venezuela World Baseball Classic FAQ

Here's what people are asking about Israel vs. Venezuela for tonight:

Who is the favorite in Israel vs. Venezuela?

Venezuela is the massive favorite while getting -1600 betting odds from DraftKings.

What time is the Israel vs. Venezuela WBC game?

First pitch for Israel vs. Venezuela takes place at 7 p.m. ET.

Who are the starting pitchers for Israel vs. Venezuela?

Ben Simon will start for Israel, while Emmanuel De Jesus gets the nod for Venezuela.

Where can I watch the Israel vs. Venezuela WBC game for free?

Israel vs. Venezuela is available on FS2.