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We have our first walk off of the 2026 WBC! Athletics infielder Darell Hernaiz smacked a two-out home run for Puerto Rico to walk off Panama in ten innings, the first walk-off home run in tournament history. USA and Venezuela maintained their perfect starts to the tournament with resounding wins over Great Britain and Israel, respectively. Let’s see how it all shook out.

Pool A: Puerto Rico (2-0) 4, Panama (0-2) 3

The starting pitchers opened this rain-delayed game in San Juan with quite a duel, Ariel Jurado of Panama getting the upper hand with his five scoreless innings allowing three hits and no walks with five strikeouts over Puerto Rico’s Eduardo Rivera, who also struck out five in his 4.1 innings of one-run ball. Panama broke the seal in the fifth, Jonathan Araúz reaching with one out on a hit-by-pitch and scoring on a Christian Bethancourt double, himself scoring as Luis Castillo followed with a double of his own.

Puerto Rico cut that deficit in half in the sixth on a sac fly by Nolan Aranado with the bases loaded after Bryan Torres and Willi Castro singled and Heliot Ramos was hit by a pitch. Then in the bottom of the ninth, Eddie Rosario walked, Martín Maldonado singled, and Matthew Lugo walked to again to load the bases, allowing Castro to draw the game-tying free pass to send the game to extra innings.

Panama immediately put the pressure on in extras, a sac bunt advancing the automatic runner to third, allowing him to score the go-ahead run on a José Caballero single. However, after stealing second, the Yankees’ speedster and back-to-back AL stolen base leader was thrown out at the plate by Carlos Cortes on a Leonardo Bernal single.

Buoyed by that play to end the top-half, Puerto Rico put the game to bed in the bottom of the tenth. Luis Vázquez singled to lead off and advance the automatic runner to second and again it was Cortes’ turn to come through, his ground ball double play plating the tying run. Up stepped A’s infielder Darell Hernaiz with two outs to yank the first walk-off home run in WBC history just fair inside the left field foul pole.

Pool D: Venezuela (2-0) 11, Israel (0-1) 3

It was a hit parade for Venezuela in Miami, with 14 base knocks against the hapless Israel pitching staff. They set the tone scoring four in the first and never took their foot off the gas pedal from there. Luis Arraez opened the scoring with a double after Ronald Acuña drew a leadoff walk, the former coming around to score on a Salvador Perez single. Eugenio Suárez then crushed a two-run bomb, and already you could sense that this could be a blowout.

From that point forward, this became the Luis Arraez game. Known almost to a fault as a slap singles hitter, the newly-minted Giant brought his slug to the ballpark today. To go along with his first inning RBI double, Arraez lined a solo home run to right in the fifth before smacking a three-run bomb to almost exactly the same spot as part of Venezuela’s five-run sixth, Maikel Garcia also chipping in with a two-run single with the bases loaded earlier in the frame.

Venezuela’s dominant offensive display was matched by that of their starting pitcher, Enmanuel De Jesus setting the tournament high water mark with eight strikeouts in his five innings of one-run ball. RJ Schreck and Harrison Bader hit solo home runs for Israel, but the game was already well in hand for Venezuela at that point.

Pool B: United States (2-0) 9, Great Britain (0-2) 1

It was a slow start for Team USA despite having the best pitcher on the planet on the mound, but the bats broke out once they dug into Great Britain’s bullpen. Tarik Skubal declared prior to the tournament that he would only make one start, and it followed an eerily similar trajectory to that of Logan Webb the night prior. The two-tim defending AL Cy Young winner surrendered a leadoff home run to Nate Easton on the very first pitch of the game, but was nigh-on untouchable from that point forward. He finished his outing having given up two hits and no walks with five strikeouts, setting the tone for the rest of the game as he, Clay Holmes, David Bednar, Griffin Jax, and Brad Keller combined to strike out 17 British hitters.

The United States offense was silent for the first four innings before exploding for five in the fifth, following the pattern from their tournament opener of scoring in bunches. Ernie Clement reached on a one-out throwing error and scored the tying run on a wild pitch after a Pete Crow-Armstrong double advanced him to third. Following up on his two-hit day on Friday, Kyle Schwarber put the USA on top with a booming two-run blast to right, Gunnar Henderson then tacking on a further pair of runs with a two-out single with the bases loaded after Alex Bregman doubled, Bryce Harper was plunked, and Will Smith walked — part of a 4-for-5 performance from the Orioles shortstop in the lineup in place of Bobby Witt Jr.

In their game against Brazil, the US relied on their patience to get the job done, drawing an astonishing 17 walks. With the Great Britain pitcher much less afraid to challenge their daunting lineup in the strike zone, the US had to shift gears to more of a batted ball approach to get the job done. They collected three more insurance runs in the sixth, initially loading the bases with no outs on a Clement leadoff single and walks by Schwarber and PCA. Bregman hit a sac fly and Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper lined RBI singles to put the game to bed, Bregman wrapping up the scoring with his second sac fly an inning later. Brad Keller struck out Jazz Chisholm Jr. to end the contest, the Yankees second baseman going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts to earn the dreaded golden sombrero.

Pool C: Chinese Taipei (2-2) 5, South Korea (1-2) 4

Chinese Taipei have bounced back valiantly from getting manhandled in their first two games of the tournament, scrapping out an extra-innings victory to finish at an admirable 2-2 in pool play. The long ball was the difference maker of this contest, seven of the nine combined runs coming via the home run.

2023 was the last time that Hyun Jin Ryu last pitched in MLB, the 38 year old now plying his trade for the Hanwha Eagles of KBO, but he showed he’s still got it with three innings of one-run ball for South Korea. The only damage against him was the opening run of the contest, a leadoff home run from Yu Chang in the second. South Korea responded in the fifth, a run-scoring double play ground ball from Shay Whitcomb plating the tying run after Hyun Min Ahn drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a Bo Gyeong Moon single.

Tsung-Che Cheng reclaimed the lead for Chinese Taipei with a home run to leadoff the second, but it was immediately erased in the bottom half, Do Yeong Kim slugging a two-run blast to grab the lead for South Korea after Dong Won Park drew a leadoff walk. That set Stuart Fairchild up for his second clutch home run in as many nights, following up his grand slam on Friday with the go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth. However, Do Yeong Kim replied with an RBI double in the bottom half to send the game to extras.

Home runs pay have powered most of the scoring, but this game was won in the most small ball way possible, Chinese Taipei plating the automatic runner in the top of the tenth with consecutive sacrifice bunts. It looked like South Korea would follow suit in the bottom half, but Ju Won Kim was thrown out at home on a soft grounder to preserve Chinese Taipei’s 5-4 victory.

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After back-to-back days with eight games, today and tomorrow will only feature seven as we wrap up pool play. As expected, the US and Japan are the early frontrunners with two wins through two, although Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Australia are more than holding their own with perfect records as well. Here’s the slate for today:

Australia vs. Japan (Pool C)
Pitching matchup: RHP Connor MacDonald vs. RHP Tomoyuki Sugano
Time: 6:00 a.m. ET
TV: FS1
Venue: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan

Colombia vs. Cuba (Pool A)
Pitching matchup: RHP Luis Patiño vs. RHP Denny Larrondo
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS2
Venue: Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, PR

Dominican Republic vs. Netherlands (Pool D)
Pitching matchup: RHP Luis Severino vs. RHP Arij Fransen
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Venue: loanDepot park, Miami, FL

Great Britain vs. Italy (Pool B)
Pitching matchup: TBD vs. RHP Dylan DeLucia
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: Tubi
Venue: Daikin Park, Houston, TX

Israel vs. Nicaragua (Pool D)
Pitching matchup: RHP Dan Kremer vs. RHP Carlos Rodriguez
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: Tubi
Venue: loanDepot park, Miami, FL

Panama vs. Canada (Pool A)
Pitching matchup: TBD vs. RHP Jameson Taillon
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS2
Venue: Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, PR

Brazil vs. Mexico (Pool B)
Pitching matchup: RHP Eric Pardinho vs. RHP Taijuan Walker
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
Venue: Daikin Park, Houston, TX

Three hours and 13 minutesafter the biggest comeback win of the season for Missouri baseball, Josh McDevitt provided the Tigers with what they had been lacking for the first two games of the series in their 7-0 series-clinching victory over UIC. Quality starting pitching.

In his previous three outings this season, McDevitt has given up six hits combined. He had an ERA of 3.21 coming into Saturday. He’s struck out 19 batters and consistently finished his outings around the pitch mark of the mid 80’s. The one problem? He’s walked 16 batters this season.

McDevitt’s fourth start of the season at Taylor Stadium saw him tie his career-high in strikeouts with seven, dousing the Flames despite walking six batters. He worked his way out of two jams in the third and fifth innings, in which UIC left a combined five runners on base.

“I think they gotta get in and do some things mechanically with him this week, before we get into conference play,” Jackson said. “Really missing to the glove side, and yanking a lot of fastballs, high counts to guys, walks that we’re not accustomed to seeing him doing. Coach Drew, he’s gotta get in there with him and kind of try to figure that out a little bit, because it’s really good stuff — a good three‑pitch mix, very, very competitive — but we’re putting ourselves in situations that we shouldn’t be putting ourselves in.”

The final result ended with two five shutout innings for McDevitt, two hits allowed by the Tigers staff, and the first shutout victory for Missouri since Mar. 7, 2023, a 6-0 victory over Western Illinois. It also marked the 11th straight victory for the black and gold.

Perhaps UIC was still deflated after the Tigers completed their massive comeback win less than an hour before; even so, the Missouri offense came out with a purpose. The first inning saw Macon open the game how he likes to, a lead-off hustle double, his seventh of the season, extending his hit streak to 14 games.

Jase Woita followed with an RBI single to left, and Cameron Benson added another run with a sharp base hit to make it 2–0 before UIC recorded its second out of the first inning.

Benson capped off the Tigers’ 12-run comeback against UIC, and just like the rest of the offense, he kept continuing to pick up right where he left off. Missouri, already up 4-0 in the top half of the fifth, Benson cushioned the driver’s seat, cracking a two-run shot over the right field fence. The first two homers of his season came in one day, both 377 feet apiece.

“Cam is capable of doing whatever he wants to do on a baseball field,” head coach Kerrick Jackson said. “He’s finally coming into his own and realizing that, and it’s fun to watch.”

Missouri wasn’t done. Utility man Jamal George followed with a double down the right‑field line, driving in another run to make it 7–0 in the fifth and effectively put the game out of reach.

Relievers Isaiah Salas, Keyler Gonzalez, and Dane Bjorn combined to finish the final four innings, allowing only three hits and striking out four. Gonzalez, making his Mizzou debut, tossed a clean eighth inning with his first strikeout as a Tiger.

“You’re seeing a lot of freshmen come out in big situations and compete their tails off,” Jackson said. “High leverage is high leverage, and they’re getting valuable experience.”

The Tigers have now thrown 15 straight scoreless innings and improved to 13–2 — their best start since the 2017 team opened 20–1.

“We just needed to come out and throw punches,” Jackson said. “If we play our baseball, we’ll be in a great situation.”

The same guys have been getting the attention at Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training, like Konnor Griffin, and rightfully so. The No. 1 prospect has been putting on a clinic with his towering home runs and impressive skills. He is also building a compelling case to make the Pirates’ Opening Day roster and become the starting shortstop. 

Former MLB GM for the Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds Jim Bowden believes Griffin is the best teenage prospect ready for the show since Juan Soto and Bryce Harper. 

Bowden also believes the Pirates should already pursue a long term extension for the 19 year old. 

“Griffin told the media that he would be open to signing a long-term contract, something the Pirates should jump on as soon as possible because he profiles as one of the best players in the sport over the next 10-15 years,” Bowden wrote.

It feels a little risky to me to already give Griffin a massive contract extension without even seeing how good he is going to be in the major league. Although if he plays well in his rookie season and he is already looking like the star everyone expects him to be, they should extend him early. 

 Bowden also praised O’Neil Cruz for trying to address the flaws in his game before the start of the season.

“Oneil Cruz of the Pirates struggled last year against left-handed pitching, batting just .102 against them over 125 plate appearances. He hired a left-handed batting practice pitcher this offseason to improve his at-bats against southpaws,” Bowden wrote. “In addition, he hit just .141 against breaking balls and has been working hard on tracking them and making better contact against them.”

Cruz has the potential to be an elite player in the National League. He has serious power to his bat with the potential of having a 30 plus home run season. He just has to put it all together and if he can do that we will be looking at one of the most improved players in the league. You also have to look at defensive play which needs to seriously improve for this upcoming season. 

Cruz is emerging as an above-average hitter and that would give Pittsburgh’s lineup a much needed boost. 

What Bowden is saying in my opinion is absolutely true. If the young star for the Bucs can make that next step the Pirates can compete for a playoff spot. The pitching will do their thing this year but it’s up to the offense and the young guys to back the pitching up. 

Two-time Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal planned to make just one start in the World Baseball Classic before returning to spring training with the Detroit Tigers.

But after getting a taste of what it's like to represent Team USA, he's not so sure he's ready to leave.

"When you get into these environments, when you get this team, it’s hard to walk away from that," Skubal said Saturday, March 7, after tossing three strong innings in the Americans' 9-1 win over Great Britain.

"I didn’t expect these types of emotions to run through my brain or my thoughts to differ. I was pretty committed to making a start and getting back to camp," Skubal said. "Things have changed, obviously, that’s why I’m going to have some conversations to try and figure out a plan for me."

The Tigers left-hander, who is ticketed for free agency – and likely one of the largest contracts in baseball history – at the end of the 2026 season, said he'll talk with the Tigers, his agent and his family before making what he calls "one of the tougher decisions I’ve made in my career."

He said he'll make the call "in the next couple days."

Skubal allowed a leadoff home run to Great Britain's Nate Eaton in the first inning, but he settled down and struck out five over his three-inning stint on Saturday in Houston. But he said he didn't expect his emotions to take over the way they did after getting on the mound.

"It just changes your perspective a little bit, you know?" Skubal said. "And how proud I am to be an American and go out there and pitch and compete. (Thinking about) the people that make real sacrifices for me to play a kid's game. So we'll see."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tarik Skubal considers extending stint with Team USA beyond one start

2025 saw Andy Pages fully emerge at the plate, with his 27 home runs on the season ranking second on the Dodgers behind Shohei Ohtani while being one of the best offensive hitters while playing at home. In the postseason, Pages was a shell of himself at the plate, relegated to bench duties during the final two games of the World Series.

Had it not been for a season-saving catch to rob Ernie Clement of a World Series winning walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7, Pages’ reputation as a postseason letdown would’ve made all the headlines. Instead, he enters the 2026 season as one of many unsung heroes during the Dodgers’ most recent title run.

Pages has performed well at the plate so far this spring to the tune of a .350/.364/.600 slash line with four RBI, and is firmly positioned to be the Dodgers’ starting center fielder this season. Dave Roberts noted that the team has instilled confidence in Pages as he continues to mature as a big league hitter and get past his postseason struggles, notes Doug Padilla of the Orange County Register.

“I do think (the Game 7 catch) can add that confidence because he was a big part of what we did all year,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I hope that he learned from that last month, month and a half, whatever it was, and know he was still valuable to the end. He’s a confident young player right now.”

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Landon Knack tossed three solid innings on the mound on Saturday against the Colorado Rockies, allowing a pair of runs on two sacrifice flies while also holding Colorado to just one hit— thanks in part to a horrible route by Teoscar Hernández in left field. Knack is one of a handful of young arms eager to be a part of the Dodgers rotation for opening day, but Knack has his sights on staying in the big league rotation throughout the duration of the season, per Courtney Hollmon of MLB.com.

Two years ago, James Tibbs III was selected 13th overall out of Florida State University by the San Francisco Giants. A year later, he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox in the Rafael Devers trade before being traded again to the Dodgers in the Dustin May deal. Now, he is putting on a show in his first big league spring training.

There is promise for the young outfield prospects, and Dave Roberts hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Tibbs making his big league debut at some point this upcoming season, per Jack Harris of the California Post.

“He’s on our radar,” manager Dave Roberts said Monday, after Tibbs belted a 458-foot home run, in a left-on-left matchup no less, for what has been his biggest highlight so far in camp. “I wouldn’t be surprised at all if, at some point this year, he makes his debut.”

How nice that there was no available media coverage of the game on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I was looking forward to cocking one eye at the game. But no.

The faithful are taken for granted. Our only view is obstructed. We do not provide much in the way of profits, either short or long-term. We’re shut out of the entire process. We have no say. We have no power.

<snip rant>

The Cubs defeated the Athletics, 4-3, getting back to one game under .500. Once again the starting pitcher gave up three runs in his stint. This time it was Mike Imanaga who took the ball, while Shota rested. Grant Kipp walked a guy, and Riley Martin gave up a hit. That was all the A’s had. Chicago pitchers struck out ten Athletics.

Ian Happ solo-homered, Pedro Ramirez took one deep, and Nico singled in a run for the Cubs’ tallies, at home in Sloan Park.

Seiya Suzuki had a good game for Japan.

Right now, the Magic 8-Ball tells me that Ben Brown and Javier Assad will be in Des Moines to start the season.

*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.

• Kin Leung (North Side Baseball*): Marquee’s shortcomings have put a damper on Cubs’ Spring Training. “There have been plenty of fun things happening during Cubs spring training, but we wouldn’t know since we can’t see most of it.“
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Here are the Cubs’ 4 most intriguing pitching developments. “… there are jumps in velocity, new pitches being developed and issues to iron out before the season arrives.”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Colin Rea shows value by accepting role, always looking for ways to improve. “At this point, I’m just used to it,” Rea said.
• Maddie Lee (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs pitcher Ben Brown ‘hell-bent’ on bouncing back from up-and-down 2025. “He allowed three runs and three hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 2 2/3 innings Friday against the Padres.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs’ catching corps returns, but it could look different. “Carson Kelly had one of the best offensive seasons of his career. He also caught a career-high 105 games, but that could dip this season if Miguel Amaya can stay healthy.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Now seen as one of Cubs’ biggest offensive threats, Busch looking to take next step. “He’s become a dangerous, dangerous hitter,” said the Cubs manager.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Assad, Suzuki showing out for Cubs on World Baseball Classic stage. “At some point, we’re going to need Javy’s outs. When, is probably the question.”

Food For Thought:

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