World Baseball Classic 2026

[Dixie Flatline]

Other matches will also be available through the ESPN app/Disney+ (ala how you can access NHL matches).

I suspect it will be the MLB International feed and not the Fox Sports (US) feeds for the US based matches

It absolutely will be the international feed, just like the World Series in Australia. Stephen Nelson did the play-by-play for the Japan-based games back in 2023.

 

[brucetiki]

Team Australia's warm up games.

They lost 2-0 to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars on Saturday
Their match against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks was washed out
They beat the Tokyo Giants 5-1 today

 

[Dixie Flatline]

I'm heading over to Japan on Friday, and to our complete and utter surprise, scored tickets in the international ballot for the Australia v Japan match! Also going to Australia v Korea.

I heard on the commentary during the Australia v BayStars warm up match that the Emperor will be in attendance for the Australia v Japan match - first time in something like 67 years since an Emperor has attended a professional match in Japan.

Going to be surreal seeing the likes of Shohei Ohtani up against guys that played in the ABL this season. Heck, Jack O'Loughlin played club ball for Port Adelaide in the ABL pre-season.

Also, looks like ticket sales have been solid for all matches - the only matches with tickets available are Korea v Czechia, Australia v Czechia and Australia v Korea.

Notwithstanding the shut-out against the Baystars, I do think Australia has the hitting to do well at the WBC; it's the pitching I'm doubtful about. Jack O'Loughlin and the Wells twins do not exactly inspire fear in the hearts of other countries' hitters (especially Japan and Korea). Going to need a strong pitching performance to get through the group, and I hope that Dave Nilsson is more proactive with pitching changes than he was in 2023.

Australia beat the Yomiuri Giants 5-1 this afternoon in their last warm-up game before the WBC starts. They're flying to Tokyo tomorrow to have one training session at the Tokyo Dome and then straight into the tournament.

 

[MatthewB]

strike zone is all over the place

 

[brucetiki]

Who’s the home plate umpire Angel Hernandez?

At least he’s equally terrible for both sides

 

[MatthewB]

no one wants to take any pitches

 

[MatthewB]

opposite field shot, pretty decent

 

[brucetiki]

2 run homer to Perkins!

 

[MatthewB]

good chance to blow it open here

 

[MatthewB]

Bazzana crushed that

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Trav gonna be a beauty

 

[brucetiki]

3 outs to go

 

[MatthewB]

needed to attack that ground ball

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Great out

 

[MatthewB]

great pick by the first baseman

 

[FreoRicci]

Bazzana smoked that. He’s looking ready for the Majors

 

[MatthewB]

great win to start off with

 

[FreoRicci]

Just missed the game tying 3 run HR. Warning track catch. Phew

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

1 in the books

 

[brucetiki]

Big win - and one few people tipped us to win!

A 3-0 shut out against the world number 2 team!

What a game!

Here we go Aussies! Here we go!

 

[basashi]

Now THAT was a great win!

 

[basashi]

Cool stat: Australia is the only team to have won a game at the 2026 World Baseball classic

 

[Dixie Flatline]

So hyped by that. Sitting at the Grand Prix and watching the game on my phone.

So, so pleased for Jon Kennedy. Have grown to know him quite well over the last 12 months. Tremendous bloke. He is also cousins with the shortstop, Jarryd Dale.

 

[BigVic]

All WBC games on Disney+ this year

 

[MatthewB]

nice 3 run shot by Mead