Overview
- The 20-team tournament runs March 5–17 across Miami, Houston, San Juan and Tokyo, with pool play followed by quarterfinals, semifinals and a March 17 title game.
- Team USA routed the Giants 15-1 in Scottsdale, as Paul Skenes struck out four in three innings and plans solidified with Logan Webb slated to start Friday vs. Brazil, Tarik Skubal expected to make one WBC start, and Skenes lined up for Mexico on Monday.
- Manager Mark DeRosa said Mets right-hander Nolan McLean, who has been dealing with vertigo-like symptoms, is tentatively scheduled for the group-stage finale against Italy and is improving.
- Venezuela announced its exhibition lineup and will compete in Pool D without José Altuve after he did not receive Astros permission/insurance to play, opening with the Netherlands on Friday and Israel on Saturday in Miami.
- The Mets beat Dusty Baker–managed Nicaragua 6-3 in Port St. Lucie, where Nicaragua’s Mark Vientos faced his MLB club, and FOX will carry the WBC on Fox/FS1/FS2 with select free games on Tubi, including USA–Brazil on Friday.