⚾ South Korea vs. Japan Predictions & Odds: WBC 2026 Betting Picks for Saturday

We have a meeting between two teams that won their first game in Pool C action, and the winner of this one will join Australia at 2-0. Our South Korea vs. Japan predictions look at whether the underdogs have a real chance of defeating Shohei Ohtani and Co., or if they'll do well just to cover the +5.5 run line.

Japan sends left-handed starter Yusei Kikuchi to the mound as a -1800 betting favorite, while South Korea answers with Young Pyo Ko.

I don't blame you if you start watching this one late, as it starts at 5 a.m. ET from Tokyo Dome (FS1). Based on my bets, you could wake up to a high-scoring affair.

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⚾ South Korea vs. Japan WBC predictions: Saturday, 5 a.m. ET

Here are our World Baseball Classic picks for Saturday's South Korea vs. Japan matchup; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5 star scale.

Total wagered: 3.33 units | Max profit: 5.07 units

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💰 South Korea vs. Japan best bet

Over 10.5 (-115)

I don't feel especially confident taking either team on the run line, so I'll opt for a play on the total as my best bet. Yes, they were facing inferior teams, but South Korea and Japan combined to score 24 runs in their respective first games of the tournament.

Japan murdered the ball against Chinese Taipei, with nearly a handful of players managing an exit velocity over 100 mph. South Korea was even more dangerous against Czechia, and I think we see a ton of rockets hit on Saturday morning.

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🔥 Best South Korea vs. Japan player prop

Shohei Ohtani home run (+160)

I don't think I've ever bet a full unit on a player to hit a home run, but if I have or would, it'd be on Shohei Ohtani.

Ohtani went yard in Japan's first game and also annihilated a 117-mph double. He added a soft little 98.1-mph single in the mix, too. Just a reminder that the last time Ohtani was focused solely on hitting - like he is in this tournament - he had his best season at the plate of his MLB career.

These +160 odds are super short, sure, but Ohtani is inevitable.

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💣 South Korea vs. Japan home run prediction

Jahmai Jones (+500)

I'm not sure there are many WBC fans familiar with Jahmai Jones' game, but let me tell you, this dude hits absolute missiles. He had three hard-hit balls in South Korea's first game, while the fourth was a 94.8-mph flyout.

He didn't qualify last year, but if he did, he'd have some of the most elite Statcast data in the league. An average exit velocity of 91.5 mph, barrel rate of 13.4, hard-hit percentage of 53.6, and a home run every 21.42 plate appearances is some All-Star-caliber stuff.

Additionally, Jones was used by the Tigers mostly as a weak-side platoon bat, because he crushes lefties like Kikuchi. No, I won't bet a full unit like I did with Ohtani, but I'm definitely firing this up still.

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🚀 South Korea vs. Japan same-game parlay

FanDuel won't let me parlay our selections from there, so I'm combining the Over 10.5 runs with South Korea to cover at DraftKings for my South Korea vs. Japan SGP.

💵 Best South Korea vs. Japan parlay bet

• South Korea +5.5 (-105)
• Over 10.5 (-120)

Best odds: +425 via DraftKings (0.2u -> 1.05u)

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⚖️ How I'm betting South Korea vs. Japan

As I said, I never bet a full unit on a home run prop due to my personal bankroll management, but I don't think I can resist when it comes to Ohtani. I would personally leave the spread alone in this one and bet a total of 2.33 units on the Over 10.5 and the two home run props. It's just a bit too sketchy for my liking.

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📊 South Korea vs. Japan odds & analysis

Here are the live World Baseball Classic odds for South Korea vs. Japan on Saturday:

The longest odds on Japan to win outright are -2500, so I'm leaving both sides alone on the moneyline. At DraftKings, 89% of the moneyline bets have been placed on the favorites as of 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday. That's actually a much bigger number for South Korea than we've seen for the underdogs facing USA and the Dominican Republic on Friday night. Meanwhile, 57% of the bets are on this game going Over its total, so the public is a bit split on the total.

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🆚 South Korea vs. Japan starting pitchers & projected lineups

Here are the projected starting pitchers and lineups for Saturday's South Korea vs. Japan matchup:

Key players to watch

South Korea - Jahmai Jones: Overall, South Korea actually has a really talented team with plenty of names to choose from. But I want to once again highlight Jones, not only because he crushes the ball, but also because he especially crushes the ball against lefties. This is the perfect spot for him to put on a show.

Japan - Kazuma Okamoto: I know, you thought I was going to say Ohtani. Well, of course, everyone is watching Ohtani. But I'm really interested to see how Kazuma Okamoto performs this tournament, as he could be a key piece of the Toronto Blue Jays this season.

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📺 How to watch South Korea vs. Japan

• When: Saturday, March 7
• First pitch: 5 a.m. ET
• Where: Tokyo Dome (Tokyo, Japan)
• TV: FS1
• Streaming: Fubo

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❓ South Korea vs. Japan World Baseball Classic FAQ

Here's what people are asking about South Korea vs. Japan on Saturday:

Who is the favorite in South Korea vs. Japan?

Japan is a massive favorite to win, with odds as short as -2500.

What time is the South Korea vs. Japan WBC game?

This game will start at 5 a.m. ET.

Who are the starting pitchers for South Korea vs. Japan?

South Korea will send Young Pyo Ko to the mound, while Yusei Kikuchi will start for Japan.

Where can I watch the South Korea vs. Japan WBC game?

You can watch this game on FS1 or stream it on Fubo.

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