World Baseball Classic 2026 Scores, Reaction from Tuesday Pool Play Results Ahead of KO Bracket
Four teams put their undefeated records on the line during Tuesday's action in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Japan, the United States, Italy and Puerto Rico were all undefeated in pool play entering Tuesday's slate as they all battled for positioning ahead of the single-elimination quarterfinals on Friday and Saturday.
Japan took care of business as it put the finishing touches on its Pool C win, but Puerto Rico and the United States were unable to do the same with losses to Canada and Italy, respectively. Italy's win means the Americans are in danger of missing the knockout round entirely because of the tiebreaker rules that include runs allowed.
Here is a look at how the action unfolded with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the quarterfinals.
Pool A
1 of 4
1. Puerto Rico (3-1) – Advancing
2. Canada (2-1)
3. Cuba (2-1)
4. Colombia (1-3)
5. Panama (1-3)
Tuesday's Results
Canada 3, Puerto Rico 2
Puerto Rico missed a chance to win Pool A, but it is still advancing thanks to its early efforts. Canada, on the other hand, remained alive in quarterfinal contention as a result of the narrow victory.
Brock Dykxhoorn was one of the heroes for the victors with a three-inning save. He didn't allow a single run or hit to preserve the narrowest of leads after Nolan Arenado and Martín Maldonado each notched an RBI earlier in the game.
Owen Caissie (two doubles), Abraham Toro (RBI), Tyler Black (RBI) and Tyler O'Neill (RBI) provided the offense for Canada and set the stage for a massive game against Cuba on Wednesday.
Pool B
2 of 4
1. Italy (3-0)
2. United States (3-1)
3. Mexico (2-1)
4. Great Britain (1-3)
5. Brazil (0-4)
Tuesday's Results
Italy 8, United States 6
Italy may be 3-0 and sitting atop the Pool B standings, but Tuesday's result was the most shocking of the tournament to this point. After all, the United States' roster is loaded with some of the biggest stars in the league and looked the part of the favorite to win the whole thing.
Now it might not even make it out of pool play depending on what unfolds in Wednesday's game between Italy and Mexico.
Michael Lorenzen started for Italy and allowed just two hits in 4.2 shutout innings. The bullpen wasn't nearly as effective, but the offense provided enough run support to pull off the upset.
Kyle Teel, Jac Caglianone and Sam Antonacci all launched home runs. Caglianone also scored three runs.
The United States got a three-run homer from Pete Crow-Armstrong in the seventh and another solo blast from the Chicago Cubs star in the ninth.
It also brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth, but Bryce Harper flew out with a chance to play hero. That was just the start, as Gunnar Henderson and Aaron Judge each struck out with the tying run at the plate in the ninth.
Pool C
3 of 4
1. Japan (4-0) – Advancing
2. South Korea (2-2) – Advancing
3. Australia (2-2)
4. Chinese Taipei (2-2)
5. Czechia (0-4)
Tuesday's Results
Japan 9, Czechia 0
Japan maintained its undefeated record and overall dominance of Pool C with a 9-0 blowout victory over Czechia that was much closer for much of the game than the final score indicated.
All nine of Japan's runs came in the eighth inning after Ondrej Satoria pitched 4.2 shutout innings for Czechia. The bullpen was far less effective, while Czechia's bats could never figure out Japan's pitching staff.
While Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani had the day off, Munetaka Murakami provided the fireworks with a grand slam in that nine-run frame. Ukyo Shuto also hit a three-run homer in that inning.
That was more than enough for Japan's pitchers.
Hiroto Takahashi struck out five in 4.2 shutout innings to start, and the bullpen didn't allow a run the rest of the way either. Koki Kitayama struck out the side in the ninth after Yumeto Kanemaru struck out five in two innings of work.
Pool D
4 of 4
1. Venezuela (3-0) – Advancing
2. Dominican Republic (3-0) – Advancing
3. Israel (2-2)
4. Netherlands (1-3)
5. Nicaragua (0-4)
Tuesday's Results
Israel 6, Netherlands 2
While both Israel and the Netherlands were eliminated from quarterfinal contention prior to Tuesday's contest, it was an opportunity for each of them to improve to .500 in pool play.
And Israel took advantage of that opportunity.
While the Netherlands jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks in part to an RBI from Xander Bogaerts, Israel responded with five runs in the sixth inning.
Jake Gelof led the way with three RBI, while Matt Mervis added two RBI.
