The World Baseball Classic has returned after a six-year hiatus. Los Angeles Angels star outfielder Mike Trout and Team USA look to defend their crown when the action starts Wednesday, March 8. Angels two-way standout and 2021 American League MVP winner Shohei Ohtani (Japan), New York Mets All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco Giants slugging outfielder Joc Pederson (Israel) are among the more notable MLB players participating in the 2023 WBC.
Read on for all the ways to safely and securely stream the 2023 World Baseball Classic with a VPN.
How to watch the 2023 World Baseball Classic
Fox Sports will have exclusive coverage of every World Baseball Classic game in the United States. Here’s how to best watch every WBC game this spring.
- Get ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a server location in the U.S.
- Go to Sling TV Blue (40 USD/month), Hulu+Live TV (70 USD/month), fuboTV (65 USD/month) or YouTube TV (65 USD/month) and use a free trial. Every service offers Fox and FS1.
- Enjoy the baseball!
Watch the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Japan
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video holds broadcasting rights for the World Baseball Classic in Japan. A 30-day free trial is available. A Prime Video subscription is an important have for sports fans, especially those who enjoy the NFL and Premier League.
Price: 500 yen (4 USD) and up
Where is the 2023 World Baseball Classic?
Japan, Taiwan, and the United States are all serving as host countries in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The U.S.-based games will be played at Chase Field (home of the Arizona Diamondbacks) and LoanDepot Park (home of the Miami Marlins). Quarterfinal games will be played at the Tokyo Dome and LoanDepot Park, with the entire championship round occurring in Miami from March 19-21.
2023 World Baseball Classic schedule
The 2023 World Baseball Classic begins March 8, 2023 when Cuba and the Netherlands clash at Taichung Stadium in Taiwan. The first round runs through March 15, the same day the quarterfinals begin in Tokyo. The winners from each second-round game will converge in Miami for the championship round from March 19-21. Here’s the full WBC semifinals schedule.
| Game | Date and time | Location | TV |
| United States vs. Cuba | Sunday, March 19, 7 p.m. EDT / 11 p.m. GMT | loanDepot park, Miami, Fla. | FS1 |
| Mexico vs. Japan | Monday, March 20, 7 p.m. ET / 11 p.m. GMT | loanDepot park, Miami, Fla. | FS1 |
2023 World Baseball Classic: Groups and list of qualified countries
The 2023 World Baseball Classic features 20 teams competing for glory. Each team has been assigned to a five-team group. Here are the four groups competing in this year’s tournament.
| Pool | Teams |
| A | Chinese Taipei (hosts), Netherlands, Cuba, Italy, Panama |
| B | Japan (hosts)*, South Korea, Australia, China, Czech Republic |
| C | United States (hosts)*, Mexico, Colombia, Canada, Great Britain |
| D | Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic*, Israel, Nicaragua |
* Previous World Baseball Classic winner
2023 World Baseball Classic odds
Will the United States win their second straight World Baseball Classic? Here are the latest odds according to DraftKings.
| Team | Odds |
| United States | -165 |
| Japan | +175 |
| Mexico | +600 |
What is Team USA’s 2023 World Baseball Classic roster?
The United States enters the 2023 World Baseball Classic as the odds-on favorite to win the tournament again. Here’s the U.S. roster ahead of any potential Spring Training changes.
Hitters
| Player | Position | Team |
| J.T. Realmuto | Catcher | Philadelphia Phillies |
| Kyle Higashioka | Catcher | New York Yankees |
| Will Smith | Catcher | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| Paul Goldschmidt | First base | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Pete Alonso | First base | New York Mets |
| Jeff McNeil | Second base | New York Mets |
| Bobby Witt Jr. | Shortstop | Kansas City Royals |
| Tim Anderson | Shortstop | Chicago White Sox |
| Trea Turner | Shortstop | Philadelphia Phillies |
| Nolan Arenado | Third base | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Cedric Mullins | Outfield | Baltimore Orioles |
| Kyle Schwarber | Outfield | Philadelphia Phillies |
| Kyle Tucker | Outfield | Houston Astros |
| Mike Trout | Outfield | Los Angeles Angels |
| Mookie Betts | Outfield | Los Angeles Dodgers |
Pitchers
| Player | Role | Team |
| Adam Ottavino | Relief pitcher | New York Mets |
| Adam Wainwright | Starting pitcher | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Brady Singer | Starting pitcher | Kansas City Royals |
| Brooks Raley | Relief pitcher | Tampa Bay Rays |
| Clayton Kershaw | Starting pitcher | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| David Bednar | Relief pitcher | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Daniel Bard | Relief pitcher | Colorado Rockies |
| Devin Williams | Relief pitcher | Milwaukee Brewers |
| Jason Adam | Relief pitcher | Tampa Bay Rays |
| Kendall Graveman | Relief pitcher | Chicago White Sox |
| Kyle Freeland | Starting pitcher | Colorado Rockies |
| Lance Lynn | Starting pitcher | Chicago White Sox |
| Merrill Kelly | Starting pitcher | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| Miles Mikolas | Starting pitcher | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Ryan Pressley | Relief pitcher | Houston Astros |
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FAQ: About the 2023 World Baseball Classic
Who won the 2017 World Baseball Classic?
The United States won the most recent World Baseball Classic in 2017, defeating Puerto Rico in the championship game. The U.S. had never won the WBC before their victory six years ago. Japan won the first two WBC events in 2006 and 2009, and the Dominican Republic captured victory in 2013.
Is the World Baseball Classic every year?
No, the World Baseball Classic is not a yearly event. Although there was a three-year break between the first two events (2006 and 2009), the WBC soon took on a four-year gap similar to the Olympics. The last two World Baseball Classics were held in 2013 and 2017.
How can I purchase World Baseball Classic tickets?
Fans can purchase tickets to any 2023 World Baseball Classic game, including those in Taiwan and Japan, through MLB.com.
How does the World Baseball Classic impact MLB spring training?
Major League Baseball’s spring training will begin slightly earlier than normal as a result of the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The first spring training games are scheduled for Friday, February 24. Additionally, there will be 20 exhibition games featuring MLB clubs facing the WBC teams across Florida and Arizona on March 8 and March 9.
Can I stream sports on my computer?
Definitely. If you’re accessing the streaming service from a web browser, be sure to also install the ExpressVPN extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. The extension has a few features under the hood that can smooth out common streaming issues.
Can I stream sports on my phone or tablet?
Yes. ExpressVPN has apps for every major mobile device, including iOS and Android.
How can I stream on my TV with a VPN?
In brief there are five different ways to stream sports on your TV with ExpressVPN:
-With the native app for a smart TV, Android TV device, or other streaming device
-By streaming on your computer and connecting to the TV with an HDMI cable
-By mirroring or casting wirelessly to your TV or streaming device from your computer or mobile device
-By connecting to an ExpressVPN-enabled router, which allows for unlimited devices and makes it super simple to connect to different server locations simultaneously
-With MediaStreamer, ExpressVPN’s solution for devices that cannot install a VPN, such as Apple TV or gaming consoles. MediaStreamer only needs to be set up once, although it does not provide the full security benefits of a VPN. (Note that by connecting your Apple TV or gaming console to a router, you can get the best of both worlds!)
For more information on all the ways to get ExpressVPN on your big-screen TV, click here or contact a 24/7 Support agent for step-by-step instructions.
I connected to the VPN but my internet speed is slow
If your internet speed is slow or your streaming seems to lag, there are a few possible reasons:
-The distance of your selected VPN server location from your physical location
-Your connection type (wired connections are more reliable than wireless connections)
-Suboptimal interconnectivity between the VPN and your ISP
-Slow internet connection speed at your location
-Your device type and processing power
Try each of the following steps to troubleshoot:
-Download the latest version of ExpressVPN
-Connect to a different VPN server location
-Change your VPN protocol
If you try each of the above and are still experiencing issues with your streaming speed, contact the ExpressVPN Support Team 24/7 and someone will be with you in seconds.
