Team USA (3-0) enters Tuesday night’s World Baseball Classic matchup against Italy (2-0) in strong position to advance, but there’s still work to do.
A win over Italy would secure first place in Pool B and eliminate any lingering tiebreaker scenarios. A loss wouldn’t automatically eliminate the U.S., but it would introduce complications – particularly if Italy follows it up with a win over Mexico. Simply put, the Americans can remove all doubt with one more victory.
Italy, meanwhile, controls its own destiny. At 2-0, the Italians need just one win against either the United States or Mexico to reach the quarterfinals.
Beyond qualification, seeding matters. The winner of this matchup is positioned to avoid a tougher draw against the winner of Pool A in the knockout round. In a short tournament format, that distinction carries weight.
Italy vs. USA Game Info
- 📍 Where: Daikin Park, Houston, Texas
- 📅 Date: Tuesday, March 10
- ⏰ First Pitch: 9:00 PM ET
- 📺💻 TV/Streaming: FS1
Italy vs. USA Odds at Hard Rock Bet
Team USA enters this one as a heavy -1300 favorite at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook. The total is set at 11.5 runs, reflecting expectations of offense from two lineups that have already displayed power through the first few games of pool play.
Odds as of Tuesday afternoon. Subject to change.
Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | USA -1300, Italy +650 |
| Run Line | USA -5.5 (-110), Italy +5.5 (-110) |
| Total (Runs) | Over 11.5 (-120), Under 11.5 (-110) |
Italy vs. USA Player Props
A full slate of player props are available at Hard Rock Bet for tonight’s game. Players can access these markets by scrolling over to the Game Exclusives tab.
Strikeouts
- Nolan McLean 4+ Strikeouts (-300)
- Nolan McLean 5+ Strikeouts (-120)
- Nolan McLean 6+ Strikeouts (+200)
Home Runs
- Aaron Judge 1+ HR (+190)
- Kyle Schwarber 1+ HR (+230)
- Bryce Harper 1+ HR (+300)
- Alex Bregman 1+ HR (+300)
- Bobby Witt Jr. 1+ HR (+350)
- Roman Anthony 1+ HR (+375)
- Cal Raleigh 1+ HR (+250)
- Byron Buxton 1+ HR (+300)
- Vinnie Pasquantino 1+ HR (+600)
- Dominic Canzone 1+ HR (+600)
- Zach Dezenzo 1+ HR (+750)
Home Runs (Combos)
- Judge & Schwarber each 1+ HR (+750)
- Judge & Harper each 1+ HR (+1000)
- Schwarber & Harper each 1+ HR (+1000)
- Pasquantino & Canzone each 1+ HR (+3000)
Home Runs (Either/Or)
- Judge or Schwarber 1+ HR (-130)
- Judge or Harper 1+ HR (-110)
- Pasquantino or Canzone 1+ HR (+250)
Hits
- Alex Bregman 2+ Hits (+120)
- Bobby Witt Jr. 2+ Hits (+110)
- Bryce Harper 2+ Hits (+150)
- Cal Raleigh 2+ Hits (+200)
- Aaron Judge 2+ Hits (+150)
Team Breakdowns
Both teams enter unbeaten, but their paths – and pressure points – differ. The United States is protecting position at the top of the group, while Italy is looking to secure advancement and potentially seize control of Pool B outright.
🇺🇸 Team USA
The Americans are 3-0 in Pool B thus far, outscoring opponents 29-9 with a balanced combination of power, depth, and pitching. They opened with a 15-5 win over Brazil, followed with a controlled 9-1 victory against Great Britain, and then handled Mexico 5-3 in their most competitive test so far. Across those three games, the lineup has shown both patience and power, while the pitching staff has limited traffic and avoided big innings.
Aaron Judge has set the tone in the middle of the order, consistently reaching base and driving the offense. Bobby Witt Jr. has been nothing short of a wizard at shortstop, and Roman Anthony has delivered timely extra-base hits in key spots.
Nolan McLean is expected to make his first start of the tournament, and his ability to work efficiently through the first few innings will be important. With first place in Pool B on the line, Team USA’s priority is simple: control the game early, protect the bullpen, and avoid any scenario that leaves advancement to tiebreakers.
🇮🇹 Team Italy
Italy enters at 2-0 after convincing wins over Brazil (8-0) and Great Britain (7-4). The Italians have hit five home runs in two games, showing they don’t need extended rallies to score.
Dante Nori has already homered twice in the tournament, while Dominic Canzone, Andrew Fischer, and J.J. D’Orazio have all gone deep as well. The production has come from multiple spots in the order, giving Italy flexibility if the game tightens late.
Michael Lorenzen gets the start in the biggest test of Italy’s tournament so far. If he can navigate the top half of the American lineup without any early damage, Italy has enough offensive firepower to keep pace. A win would secure advancement and potentially first place in the pool – a significant positioning advantage heading into the knockout round.
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