2017 World Baseball Classic Betting Preview, Tournament Odds, Analysis

After sitting as a slight favorite to win the 2017 World Baseball Classic, the United States is now co-favored along with the defending champions, the Dominican Republic, at +250 betting odds (bet $100 to win $250) at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.

The United States was previously listed at +200 earlier in the week, with the international tournament set to begin play on Monday at venues around the world.

One of the biggest challenges the Americans will face early on is the fact that the Dominicans are in Pool C along with them. The United States has never placed higher than fourth in the three previous tournaments, while the Dominican Republic blanked Puerto Rico 3-0 for their first WBC championship four years ago in San Francisco. Team USA is headlined by outfielders Giancarlo Stanton (Miami Marlins) and Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh Pirates) and catcher Buster Posey (San Francisco Giants).

Two-time champ Japan finished third after falling to the Puerto Ricans 3-1 in the 2013 semifinals. The Japanese won the WBC in 2006 and 2009 behind ace pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, who was named MVP of the tournament both times. Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano won MVP honors for the Dominicans in 2013.

Cano, Seattle teammate Nelson Cruz and the Baltimore Orioles' Manny Machado lead a powerful offense for the Dominican Republic that again will be tough to beat.

The top two teams from each pool advance to the second round, so Team USA figures to earn one of those spots with Canada and Colombia the other two countries in Pool C. The Canadians are at +5000 odds to win the WBC, with Colombia an even longer shot at +15000.

Pool B includes Japan, Cuba (+1800), China (+15000) and Australia (+15000). Of that group, the Cubans obviously pose the biggest threat to the Japanese, although they have failed to place since finishing as runners-up in 2006.

South Korea (+1200) leads Group A and is the only other country besides the Dominican Republic and Japan to place at least twice. The South Koreans lost to the Japanese 5-3 in 10 innings in the 2009 title game and also finished third in 2006.

In Pool D, Venezuela (+1000) and Puerto Rico (+1200) are the top two teams, with each of them placing once in the previous two tournaments. The Venezuelans are hoping to ride the strong arm of Mariners ace Felix Hernandez to the title this year.