It has come down to the final game of the World Baseball Classic. The most hyped international baseball tournament has come down to two remaining teams—Venezuela vs. the United States. With MLB Opening Day just around the corner, this will be a matchup for the ages with hopefully a lot of action and many close calls. These two powerhouse teams have proven so much during this tournament as to why they deserve a spot in the final game of the WBC, and now it is their time to prove who’s the best.
Both these teams have beaten two of the strongest and most proven teams across their journey getting here. Team Venezuela knocked out 2023 WBC winner Team Japan last week in a close game that saw them win 8-5, while Team USA took out arguably the most complete and fearsome hitting lineup in the Dominican Republic, defeating them 2-1, led by two solo home runs by the heroes of the American League East: Orioles third baseman Gunnar Henderson and Red Sox left fielder Roman Anthony.
To name a few, some of the most consistent Team USA features for the WBC start off with Bobby Witt Jr., who is having one of the all-time greatest starts to a young career and is batting leadoff for the USA. He has been incredibly productive in this tournament. As of March 16, 2026, Bobby Witt Jr. is hitting .286/.423/.381 (AVG/OBP/SLG) for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, contributing two doubles, five walks, and three stolen bases across five games.
Kyle Schwarber has been another dominant force for the WBC, known for his power and high slugging rate. He hit 56 home runs last year, making him a force to be reckoned with. Kyle Schwarber has been a key contributor for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, batting .500 with a home run and 2 RBIs through early play. He has been a consistent offensive threat, reaching base 11 times over his first five games.
But the best overall player for the team is none other than Roman Anthony of the Red Sox. Anthony, who wouldn’t even have had a chance to make the squad if not for Corbin Carroll getting injured and needing an outfield replacement, has been one of the most electric and pure bats. Still only 21 years old, he has shown why he deserved a spot in the WBC and why he is better than some of the more dominant players in the game. In the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), 21-year-old Team USA outfielder Roman Anthony has been a standout performer, batting .318 with two home runs, seven hits, and a tournament-leading seven RBI in six games. He boasts a .423 OBP and 1.014 OPS, highlighted by a game-winning homer against the Dominican Republic. He ranks first in every offensive category.
Key 2026 WBC Stats (as of March 16, 2026): OPS: 1.014 Games: 6 Average: .318 Hits: 7 (T-1st in tournament)
HR: 2 (T-1st in tournament) RBI: 7 (1st in tournament) Runs: 5 (T-1st) Slash Line: .318/.423/.591
And of course, the captain, Aaron Judge, who will hopefully lead this team to a finals victory and the second consecutive time the USA reached the finals, with the last being in 2023 when the USA lost to Team Japan 2-1. Judge, though, is someone who has been cold before but has gotten hot at the right moments, although it takes him longer to get hot in the playoffs when it matters. I believe he will make a tremendous impact tonight if he does everything right. For 2025, let’s not forget he had .331/.457/.688 | 53 HR | 114 RBI | 10 SB for a 215 OPS+, clearly our biggest weapon if all things go the right way.
Team USA Lineup
Nolan McLean Pitching
- Bryce Harper 1B
- Bobby Witt Jr. SS
- Aaron Judge RF (Captain)
- Kyle Schwarber DH
- Alex Bregman 3B
- Roman Anthony LF
- Will Smith C
- Brice Turang 2B
- Bryon Buxton CF
Team Venezuela Lineup
Eduardo Rodriguez Pitching
- Ronald Acuña Jr. RF
- Maikel Garcia 3B
- Luis Arraez 1B
- Eugenio Suarez DH
- Gleyber Torres 2B
- Ezequiel Tovar SS
- Wilyer Abreu LF
- Salvador Perez (Captain) C
- Jackson Chourio CF
The Venezuela team is also one of the strongest in the tournament and features so much defined talent from 1 through 9. Led by 2023 NL MVP winner Ronald Acuña Jr., who finished the year with 73 stolen bases and 41 homers, they also have Luis Arraez, the three consecutive time batting champion winner, and the captain of the Royals, Salvador Pérez, who has 300 home runs and is in the conversation for one of the best power hitters in Venezuela with Miguel Cabrera.
To name a few of the standout performances for Team Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Ronald Acuña Jr. has set the tone at the top with a .308/.526/.615 slash and 1.141 OPS, adding 1 home run, 2 RBIs, 2 stolen bases, and drawing 6 walks to fuel an elite .526 OBP and constant pressure on opposing pitchers, while Luis Arráez has been the engine of the offense, slashing an absurd .625/.667/1.250 with a 1.917 OPS, collecting 12 hits in 19 at-bats with 5 extra-base hits and 7 RBIs, highlighted by a historic two-homer performance, and Maikel García has provided dynamic all-around impact with a .421/.450/.684 slash and 1.134 OPS, contributing 8 hits in 19 at-bats along with 3 RBIs, 3 stolen bases, and extra-base production, showing his value as a high-contact, speed-driven, situational hitter who helps keep the lineup moving.
Both teams are loaded from top to bottom with star power and MVP winners. Both teams want it more badly than the other, but only one team is hungrier enough to take home the trophy. Who will it be?
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