2023 World Baseball Classic: USA Team Preview

The 2023 World Baseball Classic kicks off on March 7 for the first time since 2017. The United States will look to defend its title with the addition of one of the best sluggers in the world, Mike Trout. The 2023 WBC is must-watch TV for all baseball lovers with the most talent-packed rosters to date. 

It will be tough to top what happened in 2017 when USA’s center fielder Adam Jones robbed his former Orioles teammate, Manny Machado of a HR in an elimination game versus the Dominican Republic with the world watching. But I wouldn’t be surprised if we see something that we’ll remember for years. 

USA Team Preview: WBC 2023

The United States opens its 2023 WBC tournament against Great Britain on March 11 in Phoenix, Arizona. The US is part of the Pool C group along with Mexico, Colombia, Canada and Great Britain. There won’t be time to rest, as Trout and the US faces off against Mexico the very next day. You can view the entire World Baseball Classic schedule here. 

Here’s the WBC bracket with the World Baseball Classic Championship being played on March 21 in Miami, Florida.

WBC: USA Roster

The United States’ roster is jam-packed with superstars. Their pitching rotation might not strike fear into their opponents, but their lineup is filled with the best players in the world. We could see manager Mark DeRosa roll out a lineup that looks something like this: 

1. Trea Turner
2. Mookie Betts
3. Mike Trout 
4. Pete Alonso 
5. Kyle Tucker
6. Nolan Arenado 
7. Paul Goldschmidt 
8. J.T. Realmuto 
9. Jeff McNeil 

There are plenty of impact players still on the bench: Kyle Schwarber, Cedric Mullins, Bobby Witt Jr., Tim Anderson and catchers Will Smith/ Kyle Higashioka. 

WBC: USA Pitchers

The United States pitching staff is led by a veteran righty Adam Wainwright. The loss of Clayton Kershaw certainly hurts the club, but they still have plenty of talented arms. Their starting rotation could look something like this. 

• Adam Wainwright
• Lance Lynn
• Brady Singer
• Miles Mikolas 

The US could potentially start Kyle Freeland, Merrill Kelly and/or Nick Martinez as well. The bullpen has plenty of firepower with Devin Williams, David Bednar, Ryan Pressly, Adam Ottavino, Jason Adam, Daniel Bard, Kendall Graveman and Brooks Raley. 

USA WBC History

• 2006: 8th
• 2009: 4th
• 2013: 6th
• 2017: 1st 

Team USA Betting Odds  

via DraftKings Sportsbook

• United States to Win WBC: +275
• United States to Win Group – Pool C: -500  

Be sure to check out the rest of our World Baseball Classic team previews at FTNBets.