Pool play is officially a wrap at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, with the field narrowed from 20 qualifying teams to eight participants seeking a bid to the semifinals in Miami.
In Friday’s first game, the Dominican Republic jumped out to a 3-0 lead over Korea in the second inning on RBI hits by Junior Caminero, Julio Rodriguez and Fernando Tatis Jr. The D.R. opened the third with three straight hits for another two runs. Then two more runs came in on bases-loaded walks. That was more than enough support for Cristopher Sanchez, who struck out eight Korean batters in five innings. Austin Wells ended the game in the eighth with a 3-run homer to give the D.R. a 10-0 “mercy rule” win.
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Closing out Friday’s slate is an Olympic rematch, as Team USA (-800 favorites) takes on Canada (+550). All eyes will be on the U.S. in this contest following an upset loss to Italy, which briefly left the Americans in danger of missing a bid to the quarterfinals. The U.S. advanced thanks to Italy’s dominant win over Mexico, but there’s no doubt that manager Mark DeRosa has some critics to silence following his viral gaffe.
On Saturday, the WBC quarterfinals continue with Italy vs. Puerto Rico (3 p.m. ET) and Japan vs. Venezuela (9 p.m. ET).
6:30 p.m. ET: Dominican Republic vs. Korea on FS2/Fubo
8 p.m. ET: USA vs. Canada on Fox/Fubo
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest news, updates and highlights coming out of Friday’s WBC quarterfinal matchups:
Live58 updates
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 7:43 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Cal Raleigh struck out to end the eighth inning for the Americans.
Garrett Whitlock relieves David Bednar to face the Canadians.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 7:33 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 7:32 PM PDT
Jack Baer
It took nine pitches, but David Bednar strikes out Owen Caissie to complete the escape. It’s still 5-3 USA heading into the eighth inning.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 7:28 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Now Tyler O’Neill strikes out. The Americans are one out away from escaping.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 7:28 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Josh Naylor pops out on a full count and that’s one down for Team USA.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 7:25 PM PDT
Jack Baer
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 7:24 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Canada opens the bottom of the seventh inning with back-to-back infield hits and now have Josh Naylor, Tyler O’Neill and Owen Caissie due up with none out. Then a passed ball Cal Raleigh puts both runners in scoring position. Buckle up.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 7:19 PM PDT
Jack Baer
The Blue Jays minor leaguer faced Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber and came out unscathed, though Judge did come just short of crushing a ball to center field. In comes David Bednar to face the 9-1-2 of the Canada lineup with two runs of breathing room.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 7:07 PM PDT
Jack Baer
We have a ballgame on our hands. In a lefty-on-lefty matchup, Canada catcher Bo Naylor crushes an inside slider for a two-run homer to cut the deficit to two. That’s the 10th homer Team USA has allowed in five games in the WBC.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 7:03 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Canada gets on the board after Owen Caissie walks, takes second on an Abraham Toro groundout and scores on a Tyler Black single. Team USA manager Mark DeRosa is pullling Brad Keller for Gabe Speier.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 6:54 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Bobby Witt Jr. grounds into a double play to end the top of the sixth, but Canada’s now going to need something special to pull off the upset here.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 6:53 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Pete Crow-Armstrong follows up with another single to center.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 6:51 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Brice Turang laces a single up the middle and it’s a four-run lead for Team USA. Still only one out with runners on the corners.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 6:50 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Micah Ashman ran into trouble with a Roman Anthony single and Cal Raleigh walk and was a few degrees from two different foul balls becoming homers. That will do it for him, as Phillippe Aumont enters to keep Canada within striking distance.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 6:50 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The Dominican Republic defeated Korea, 10-0, on Austin Wells’ 3-run home run in the eighth inning, resulting in a “mercy rule” win.
But Wells’ homer was also the D.R.’s 14th of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, which ties a tournament record. Mexico also hit 14 in the 2009 WBC. Wells, Junior Caminero, Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Oneil Cruz have each hit two home runs, while Ketel Marte and Julio Rodríguez have homered once.
And the D.R. has at least one more game remaining in this 2026 tournament, facing the winner of USA-Canada in the semifinals.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 6:39 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Brad Keller gets Josh Naylor to ground out and that will do it for the fifth inning. Canada is 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and has left five on base.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 6:36 PM PDT
Jack Baer
The Team USA starting pitcher reaches 71 pitches with two outs in the fourth and that will do it for him due to his 70-pitch limit. Brad Keller enters the game with a runner on second and Team USA up 3-0.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 6:27 PM PDT
Jack Baer
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 6:26 PM PDT
Jack Baer
The minor leaguer, facing a lineup of MLB All-Stars, has allowed just a hit in 2 1/3 innings of work so far. He’s the reason why this is still a game so far.
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Fri, March 13, 2026 at 6:24 PM PDT
Jack Baer
