Fair Territory with Ken Rosenthal World Baseball Classic Preview: Every Contender, Dark Horses & More
Mar 5, 2026
A fast-paced preview of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, breaking down why the Top 4 teams are contenders. Quick looks at dark horse nations like Italy and Canada. Highlights of a young player to watch and the most anticipated Pool Play matchup. Notes on how international coverage and tournament rules differ from MLB.
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Monitor Italy And Canada For Upset Potential
- Watch Italy and Canada as realistic dark horses capable of pool upsets and advancing.
- Italy brings major leaguers like Michael Lorenzen and Aaron Nola, while Canada fields pitchers like Jameson Taillon and position talent such as the Naylor brothers.
Roman Anthony Poised For Breakout WBC Role
- Ken highlights Roman Anthony as a young USA player likely to play heavily and make an impact at age 21.
- Anthony will start in the outfield and is already regarded as a major prospect with big‑league expectations.
USA Mexico Pool Game Is The Must See Matchup
- USA vs Mexico is the pool play matchup to watch due to atmosphere and competitive history.
- The matchup will be in Houston with heavy Mexican fan presence and Mexico now has closer Andrés Muñoz to finish tight games.