Editorial

The Rosters For The World Baseball Classic Have Been Released, And Here Are The Best Lineups

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Eric Hosmer #35 of team United States, who made the final out in the ninth inning, celebrates with teammates after their 8-0 win against previously undefeated Puerto Rico during Game 3 of the Championship Round of the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Dodger Stadium on March 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Andrew Powell Sports and Entertainment Blogger
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I don’t know about you guys, but I love the World Baseball Classic — so thank God, it’s back!

The World Baseball Classic — which to those not familiar is an international baseball tournament that our major leaguers can actually (and do) partake in — is back for 2023 after being away since 2017.

Normally, the WBC is every four years like the Olympics, but they had to push the 2021 edition back to this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which explains the six-year absence.

Now that we’re just a month away (the tournament officially begins March 7), the official rosters have been released, so we’re going to go over the best ones and also include the betting odds, courtesy of Barstool Sportsbook.

Let’s hop into it:

Dominican Republic (+225)

United States of America (+275)

Japan (+300)

Puerto Rico (+800)

Venezuela (+1300)

I know a lot of people are hyping up the Dominican Republic, but I honestly like the United States’ chances of winning again — if you don’t remember, they won the last tournament in 2017.

Don’t get me wrong, the Dominicans are loaded with talent, and so is Japan, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. But that’s the thing — so are we. Plus, baseball is our game. That’s reason enough to expect gold and nothing less from our boys. (RELATED: San Diego Padres Have Just Eclipsed The Half-A-Billion Dollar Mark In Offseason Spending With Big Yu Darvish Deal)

If I can manage to find a way to bet on this tournament, I’m taking America — in true red, white and blue glory.