WBC Knockout Rounds: Power Rankings and Preview

The World Baseball Classic is nearly 10 days old, and while there have been plenty of thrilling moments in pool play, the real fun is about to begin.

Eight teams have advanced to the quarterfinals, with only three games standing between any of them and taking home a title. Head-to-head, single elimination, everything is do or die. How can you not love the WBC?

Prior to the start of the World Baseball Classic, our staff ranked the top 20 teams in the tournament, trying to project which teams stood the best chance to advance. Of the top eight teams we ranked, seven advanced to the quarterfinals, with the lone exception being Mexico.

Mexico looked great to start pool play, before running into the double buzzsaw that was Team USA with Paul Skenes and a red-hot Team Italy. Korea was our ninth-ranked team going into the WBC, but had the fortune of playing in a more favorable pool to advance as the runner-up to Japan in Pool C.

While a Cinderella Story like Korea is unlikely to advance, every team has a puncher’s chance in this format, and Korea gets to take a swing at a juggernaut Dominican Republic team in the quarterfinals.

Prior to watching that clash tonight, let’s take a moment to preview the road ahead for each team remaining and rank which has the best chance to win it all.

World Baseball Classic Pool Recaps

Power Ranking the Eight Teams Left in the WBC

8. Puerto Rico

Record: 3-1

Road to the Finals: Quarterfinals vs. Italy; Semifinals vs. the winner of Venezuela and Japan

Puerto Rico is lacking a lot of star power, with Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, and Javy Baez all missing out on this year’s tournament. While they still managed to go 3-1 in pool play, Puerto Rico mustered only a .582 OPS across those four contests.

Set to square off against one of the more impressive teams so far in Italy, while staring down the barrel of a potential matchup against Japan if they advance, it would be a bit of a surprise if this was the year for Puerto Rico.

7. South Korea

Record: 2-2

Road to the Finals: Quarterfinals vs. Dominican Republic; Semifinals vs. the winner of U.S. vs. Canada

The lineup has a .793 OPS, and they were able to hold their own against Japan, which bodes well for their ability to play against any of the top teams. The issue is their pitching, as their 4.50 ERA so far is the worst mark left in the WBC.

The pitching is likely to get exposed by the juggernaut that is the lineup for the Dominican Republic.

6. Canada

Record: 3-1

Road to the Finals: Quarterfinals vs. United States; Semifinals vs. winner of Korea vs. Dominican Republic

Canada’s lineup has been inconsistent so far, but their pitching has really impressed. With a team full of MLB stars and role players alike, Canada has a chance to knock off anyone, and Team USA will be in their crosshairs first.

There has always been a rivalry between Canada and the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic, but a recent showdown between these countries in hockey during the Olympics should only ramp up the intensity for this matchup.

5. Venezuela

Record: 3-1

Road to the Finals: Quarterfinals vs. Japan; Semifinals vs. the winner of Puerto Rico vs. Italy

One of the more loaded rosters filled with MLB stars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Jackson Chourio, and William Contreras, Venezuela has the firepower to make a deep run.

Among the remaining teams, they rank fifth in ERA (2.75) and fifth in OPS (.809). Even ranked here, they can upset anyone, and their first test will come against the reigning champs, Team Japan.

4. Team USA

Record: 3-1

Road to the Finals: Quarterfinals vs. Canada; Semifinals vs. the winner of Korea vs. Dominican Republic

Coming into the tournament, Team USA was our No. 1-ranked team, as many called this the greatest roster ever put together. On paper, it still is, and if we were playing 162 games, Team USA would definitely be the best team out there. But early returns for this team have been underwhelming.

After getting embarrassed by Italy, Team USA was on the brink of elimination. Luckily for the U.S., Italy proved to be the best team in Pool B, clobbering Mexico to help the Americans advance.

With Tarik Skubal now unavailable for the rest of the tournament, other pitchers will have to step up for Team USA to win it all.

3. Italy

Record: 4-0

Road to the Finals: Quarterfinals vs. Puerto Rico; Semifinals vs. the winner of Venezuela vs. Japan

The feel-good story of the World Baseball Classic so far, Italy has some real momentum as we enter the knockout rounds. They already eliminated a very talented Mexico squad, and of course beat up on a more talented roster with Team USA. Now they arguably get an easier matchup in the quarterfinals, set to take on our last-ranked Puerto Rico.

2. Japan

Record: 4-0

Road to the Finals: Quarterfinals vs. Venezuela; Semifinals vs. the winner of Puerto Rico vs. Italy

The reigning champs cannot be discounted, as they are the only team that has multiple WBC titles, and so far they have been dominant with a 2.12 ERA and .987 OPS, both top three among the remaining teams.

1. Dominican Republic

Record: 4-0

Road to the Finals: Quarterfinals vs. Korea; Semifinals vs. the winner of United States vs. Canada

In the past, the Dominican Republic has put together underwhelming performances in the World Baseball Classic, but this just might be their year. They are leading the tournament in both OPS and ERA, and clearly having a blast on the field.

A lineup of superstars with Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Ketel Marte, Manny Machado, and Julio Rodriguez, this group can score runs in a hurry. They also have the benefit of one of the easier draws in the quarterfinals, set to square off against South Korea.

At this point, anything less than their second WBC title would be a disappointment for the Dominican Republic, which will be looking to win it again for the first time since 2013.