World Baseball Classic Odds & Favorites 2026: USA is Favorite Following Skenes Commitment

USA is the favorite to claim the 2026 World Baseball Classic title following Paul Skenes' commitment to the squad.

Andrew Brennan

Last Updated: May 14, 2025 12:54 PM EDT • 3 minute read

Pictured: Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes pitches against the New York Mets. Photo by Brad Penner via Imagn Images.

News breaking of a major commitment has shaken up the World Baseball Classic odds. Team USA is the new favorite at our best sports betting sites as superstar pitcher Paul Skenes announced his commitment to the team.

It's less than a year until the 2026 World Baseball Classic, with plenty of time for changes ahead of one of the biggest international baseball tournament.

🔢 World Baseball Classic odds 2026

World Baseball Classic odds as of May 14, 2025 and subject to change.

Team	Odds (DraftKings)	Implied probability	Profit ($10 bet)
USA	+210	32.26%	$21
Japan	+240	29.41%	$24
Dominican Republic	+450	18.18%	$45
Puerto Rico	+750	11.76%	$75
Venezuela	+1400	6.67%	$140
South Korea	+1600	5.88%	$160
Mexico	+1800	5.26%	$180
Netherlands	+2200	4.35%	$220
Cuba	+3500	2.78%	$350
Panama	+4000	2.44%	$400

🤖 World Baseball Classic 2026 AI prediction

For entertainment purposes, we asked ChatGPT to analyze World Baseball Classic trends and the current landscape to project the winner of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. ChatGPT is not recommended for betting advice but can provide additional information and insights into the betting market.

🔍 Analysis of leading contenders

USA (+210): The United States, as the reigning WBC champion, enters the 2026 tournament as the favorite. Its roster depth and experience make it a formidable opponent
Japan (+240): Japan, a perennial powerhouse in international baseball, remains a close second in the odds. Its disciplined approach and strong pitching staff keep it in contention
Dominican Republic (+450): The Dominican Republic boasts a roster filled with MLB talent, making it a strong contender. Its offensive prowess is particularly noteworthy

💡 Value bets to consider

Puerto Rico (+750): Puerto Rico has consistently performed well in past WBC tournaments, reaching the finals in 2013 and 2017. Their blend of seasoned veterans and emerging talent could make them a dark horse in 2026
Venezuela (+1400): Venezuela's roster includes several MLB stars, and if they can harness their potential, they might surprise many in the upcoming tournament.

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2026 World Baseball Classic info

When: March 5 to March 17, 2026
Where: Miami, Houston, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Tokyo
Favorite: USA (+210 via DraftKings)

Past World Baseball Classic winners

Year	Team	Runner-up
2023	Japan	USA
2017	USA	Puerto Rico
2013	Dominican Republic	Puerto Rico
2009	Japan	South Korea
2006	Japan	Cuba

World Baseball Classic FAQs

Who is the World Baseball Classic favorite?

Team USA is the World Baseball Classic favorite, with odds of +210 at DraftKings carrying an implied probability of 32.26% that it'll win the tournament.

Who won the World Baseball Classic last time?

Japan won the last World Baseball Classic in 2023, defeating Team USA in the final.

When was the last time the World Baseball Classic was won back-to-back?

Japan won back-to-back in 2006 and 2009 and has a chance to do so again in 2026.

When will the World Baseball Classic be decided?

The 2026 World Baseball Classic will be played from March 5 to March 17, 2026.

Where will the 2026 World Baseball Classic be played?

The 2026 World Baseball Classic pool play rounds will be played in Miami; Houston; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Tokyo. The quarterfinals will be split between Miami and Houston, and the final round will be played in Miami.

Who has won the most World Baseball Classic titles?

Japan has won the most World Baseball Classic titles with three.

MLB betting odds pages

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Written by:
Andrew Brennan

Andrew Brennan is a publishing editor for Sportsbook Review. He also heads the website’s MLB coverage, from the various futures markets to daily picks. Andrew believes a math-based approach is the best way to enjoy long-term success in sports betting, and he’s spent the better part of the last year fine-tuning his own process for MLB, NBA, and NFL picks. Andrew uses eight different sportsbooks to find the best odds available and various projection models to gather as much information as he can. His most used sportsbooks are bet365, FanDuel, and theScore Bet. When it comes to daily projection models, he regularly references NumberFire across all sports, as it’s one of the best free tools available. In terms of which daily markets Andrew attacks, he almost exclusively bets on pitcher strikeouts for baseball. When the winter rolls around, you’ll see him providing more variety when it comes to the NBA (points, assists, rebounds) and NFL (almost any offensive-based player prop). He used these tools to go +150 units in 2023. Andrew is also a passionate fantasy sports player. He’s played fantasy football, fantasy Premier League, and fantasy baseball for the last decade. He graduated from Durham College with his diploma in journalism after earning his degree in law from Carleton University. He’s worked in sports media since early 2017, first contributing at FanSided before moving to theScore. He joined SBR in 2022.