Jeff Passan made an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” offering insights into the U.S. roster ahead of the upcoming 2026 World Baseball Classic. After narrowly missing the championship title three years ago, the American team has now ascended to the status of odds-on favorites to seize the title this time around.
As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings listed the United States as -110 favorites to win the tournament, followed by Japan, the reigning champion, at +350 and the Dominican Republic at +400. Venezuela is next with odds of +900, while Puerto Rico and Mexico have odds of +2000 and +2200, respectively.
Initially, the U.S. was valued around +140 in sportsbooks, but due to significant betting interest, these odds have tightened, establishing the team firmly as favorites. Notably, 70% of tickets and 78% of the total money wagered at DraftKings are in support of the American squad.
The competitive landscape of the tournament this year contrasts significantly with 2023, when the Dominican Republic was the favorite at +200, closely followed by the U.S. at +275 and Japan at +300. Outside of the top three teams, only Venezuela has garnered notable attention from bettors, representing 5% of the handle at BetMGM, while long-shot Chinese Taipei has attracted 2.5% of the wagers.
When exploring expectations for pool play, USA (-800), Japan (-575), and the Dominican Republic (-160) are all marked as substantial favorites. Puerto Rico is seen as a slight favorite at -125 to win Pool A, where the competitive balance is notably tight, with all five teams within +1200 odds.
The excitement surrounding the 2026 World Baseball Classic continues to grow, as the U.S. team prepares to capitalize on their favorite status and strong backing from fans and bettors alike. With such heavy expectations and a talented roster, anticipation is building for what promises to be an exhilarating tournament.