World Baseball Classic Schedule 2017: Dates, Times, Locations, TV Info and More

The World Baseball Classic, a 16-team, 16-day tournament taking place in four different countries, kicks off Monday, March 6, when Israel faces Korea to open pool play.

If you're a baseball junkie dying to watch games until the MLB season arrives Sunday, April 2, then you can tune into MLB Network and ESPN Deportes, which will simulcast every single WBC contest.

Here's a look at the WBC schedule, as well as some quick rundowns of the teams and a few predictions.

Pool A: Seoul

Game	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)
1	Israel vs. Korea	Monday, March 6	4:30 a.m.
2	Israel vs. Chinese Taipei	Monday, March 6	10 p.m.
3	Korea vs. Netherlands	Tuesday, March 7	4:30 a.m.
4	Chinese Taipei vs. Netherlands	Wednesday, March 8	4:30 a.m.
5	Netherlands vs. Israel	Wednesday, March 8	10 p.m.
6	Korea vs. Chinese Taipei	Thursday, March 9	4:30 a.m.
7	Tiebreaker (if necessary)	Friday, March 10	4 a.m.

The Netherlands has the most MLB talent out of any team in this group. They have five MLB infielders: Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts, New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius, Rangers infielder Jurickson Profar, Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim shortstop Andrelton Simmons.

That's a lot of middle infielders and not enough space, so the Netherlands is going to have to figure that one out. However, what isn't up for debate is the closer position, as Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen has that on lockdown.

The Netherlands will survive this pool and so will Korea, who will be buoyed by its raucous crowds.

Pool B: Tokyo

Game	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)
1	Cuba vs. Japan	Tuesday, March 7	5 a.m.
2	China vs. Cuba	Tuesday, March 7	10 p.m.
3	Japan vs. Australia	Wednesday, March 8	5 a.m.
4	Australia vs. China	Thursday, March 9	5 a.m.
5	Australia vs. Cuba	Thursday, March 9	10 p.m.
6	China vs. Japan	Friday, March 10	5 a.m.
7	Tiebreaker (if necessary)	Saturday, March 11	5 a.m.

This is the weakest group of the four. In previous years, Cuba would pose a threat, but the country banned players who defected from participating on the national team. So would Japan, but the big-name stars are not participating this year, including 22-year-old Shohei Otani, who is basically Nippon Professional Baseball's version of a young Babe Ruth before he stopped pitching (check out Otani's stats here).

The most recognizable names from this group include Houston Astros outfielder Nori Aoki and former journeyman starting pitcher Bruce Chen (China).

The guess here is that Japan, like Korea, is backed by its home crowd and advances out of the group, as does Cuba.

Pool C: Miami

Game	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)
1	Canada vs. Dominican Republic	Thursday, March 9	9 p.m.
2	Colombia vs. United States	Friday, March 10	9 p.m.
3	Colombia vs. Canada	Saturday, March 11	3 p.m.
4	United States vs. Dominican Republic	Saturday, March 11	9:30 p.m.
5	Dominican Republic vs. Colombia	Sunday, March 12	3:30 p.m.
6	Canada vs. United States	Sunday, March 12	10 p.m.
7	Tiebreaker (if necessary)	Monday, March 13	9 p.m.

The favorites here are more clear-cut, as the Dominican Republic and the United States should advance from this pool easily.

The Dominican Republic, the defending WBC champion, is the most well-rounded (and the best) team in the entire tournament. If it doesn't win, it will be a major upset.

Here's Doug Miller of MLB.com on how great this team is:

"

Looking for power? Here's Adrian Beltre, 2013 Classic MVP Cano, Nelson Cruz, Carlos Santana, Jose Bautista, Manny Machado and Hanley Ramirez. Speed and defense? Here's Starling Marte, Jose Reyes, Gregory Polanco and Jonathan Villar. Starting pitching? How about Johnny Cueto, Carlos Martinez, Bartolo Colon, Ivan Nova, Luis Severino and Edinson Volquez. Relievers? Here's Dellin Betances, Jeurys Familia, Santiago Casilla and Fernando Rodney, among many others. In a word, wow.

"

The United States is sending a darn good team to the WBC too, headlined by Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey, Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones and Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer.

Still, the USA (or any team) can't compete with the balance the Dominican Republic has going for it in the WBC.

With all due respect to Canada and Colombia, it would be a major shock if either team made it to the next round.

Pool D: Jalisco

Game	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)
1	Mexico vs. Italy	Thursday, March 9	9 p.m.
2	Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico	Friday, March 10	9 p.m.
3	Venezuela vs. Italy	Saturday, March 11	3 p.m.
4	Puerto Rico vs. Mexico	Saturday, March 11	9:30 p.m.
5	Italy vs. Puerto Rico	Sunday, March 12	3:30 p.m.
6	Mexico vs. Venezuela	Sunday, March 12	10 p.m.
7	Tiebreaker (if necessary)	Monday, March 13	9 p.m.

This is the best pool of the entire tournament. Italy, which figures to finish last, made a run to the second round of the 2013 WBC, so fans shouldn't sleep on them.

However, the other three countries will be tough to beat in what is easily the WBC's Group of Death.

Mexico's pitching staff would be one of the best in the MLB. From Miller again: 

"

Starters include Major Leaguers Julio Urias, Yovani Gallardo, Jaime Garcia, Marco Estrada and Jorge De La Rosa, and a stacked bullpen features Roberto Osuna, Oliver Perez, Joakim Soria, Sergio Romo and Carlos Torres.

"

Every pitcher on that team was a member of a starting rotation or bullpen last season.

Puerto Rico has the best middle infield in the entire tournament, with all due respect to the Dominican Republic and the Netherlands, as future MVP candidates—Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa and Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor—will likely draw starts. 

Chicago Cubs second baseman Javier Baez, who dazzled with his glove in the MLB postseason, is also in the mix. Puerto Rico also has two great veterans in outfielder Carlos Beltran and catcher Yadier Molina to lead the team.

Finally, Venezuela features some serious star power, led by Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez.

It's a tough call, but Venezuela and Mexico have the best pitching staffs, so expect that to be the key in those two countries advancing.

Pool E: Tokyo

Game	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)
1	Pool A winner vs. Pool B runner-up	Saturday, March 11	10 p.m.
2	Pool B winner vs. Pool A runner-up	Sunday, March 12	6 a.m.
3	Pool A runner-up vs. Pool A winner	Monday, March 13	6 a.m.
4	Pool B runner-up vs. Pool B winner	Tuesday, March 14	6 a.m.
5	Pool A runner-up vs. Pool B runner-up	Tuesday, March 14	11 p.m.
6	Pool A winner vs. Pool B winner	Wednesday, March 15	6 a.m.
7	Tiebreaker (if necessary)	Thursday, March 16	6 a.m.

If I can put on the Captain Obvious pirates hat for a second, the downfall of the WBC pool play system will show itself in this round, as Pools A and B are clearly the weakest of the field.

However, two of these teams will receive automatic berths to the semifinal round. That doesn't seem right, especially considering that arguably the best five teams in the WBC are in Pools C and D.

Anyway, the Netherlands should advance easily behind its fantastic, slick-fielding infield. Japan, behind its home crowd once more, will advance from the group as well.

Pool F: San Diego

Game	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)
1	Pool C winner vs. Pool D winner	Tuesday, March 14	9 p.m.
2	Pool C runner-up vs. Pool D runner-up	Wednesday, March 15	9 p.m.
3	Pool D runner-up vs. Pool C winner	Thursday, March 16	10 p.m.
4	Pool C runner-up vs. Pool D winner	Friday, March 17	10 p.m.
5	Pool D winner vs. Pool D runner-up	Saturday, March 18	3:30 p.m.
6	Pool C runner-up vs. Pool C winner	Saturday, March 18	10 p.m.
7	Tiebreaker (if necessary)	Sunday, March 19	6 p.m.

Every team in this group will be a powerhouse, and it will feature the best four teams remaining in the field. This group is so stacked that it should honestly be a championship round-robin.

Unfortunately, two teams have to go home early.

It's hard to bet against the Dominican Republic, which checks off literally every single box a baseball team needs to win ballgames. As for the second-place finisher, it's a toss-up between Venezuela and the United States. Whoever has the better pitcher on the mound will win that day.

Looking at the depth of each starting rotation, Venezuela has the better ace in Hernandez (but not by much over Archer), but the United States has a deeper rotation, featuring Toronto Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman, Kansas City Royals starter Danny Duffy and others.

Therefore, the pick is for the USA to advance to the finals.

Finals: Los Angeles

Game	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)
WBC Semifinals	Pool F winner vs. Pool E runner-up	Monday, March 20	9 p.m.
WBC Semifinals	Pool F runner-up vs. Pool E winner	Tuesday, March 21	9 p.m.
WBC Finals	Semifinal winner vs. semifinal winner	Wednesday, March 22	9 p.m.

The Dominican Republic and the United States will defeat Japan and the Netherlands, respectively, and advance to the WBC finals. Once there, the Dominican Republic will simply prove to be too strong for the United States side. It simply has too much power and speed for any team in this tournament.

Roster information via mlb.com.

Schedule information via worldbaseballclassic.com.