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The 2017 World Baseball Classic is set to run from Monday, March 6 through Wednesday, March 22. This is the fourth edition of the WBC, and the USA is still looking for their first medal. I’ve got a good feeling that this will be the year they finally catch fire, as they are boasting a ridiculously stacked roster.
Japan won it all in 2006 and 2009 and the Dominican Republic brought home gold in 2013, but I’m thinking that 2017 is the USA’s time to shine. Now that we are all in full agreement that the US is going to whip everybody’s ass in the WBC, let’s breakdown the road they will need to take to hoist that coveted gold medal.
There are 16 nations playing in the 2017 WBC, and they have been evenly divided into four different groups. The USA was placed in Pool C, along with Canada, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. In this stage, it’s a round robin format where each team will play everybody once and the top two teams will advance.
All of the WBC games will be broadcast on the MLB Network, and here’s how the USA’s schedule will shake out in Pool C.
WBC 2017 Team USA Pool C Schedule
Friday, March 10 – Colombia vs. USA at 6:00 P.M. ET at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida
Saturday, March 11 – USA vs. Dominican Republic at 6:30 P.M. ET at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida
Sunday, March 12 – Canada vs. USA at 7:00 P.M. ET at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida
After the first round of pool play is completed, there is another round waiting for the teams fortunate enough to have advanced. The top two teams from Pool A and Pool B will head to Pool E, while the top two teams from Pool C and Pool D will go to Pool F. The format is the exact same for the second round of pool play, as each team will play everybody in their pool once and the top two teams will advance.
Via WBC’s official site, here’s how the USA’s schedule would look if they advance to Pool F at Petco Park in San Diego, California.
WBC 2017 Pool F Schedule
WBC
If the USA can finish in the top two teams in Pool F, they will advance to the championship round. The top two teams from Pool F would meet the top two teams from Pool E. With four teams left, the format would switch to single-elimination to determine the WBC champion.
Via WBC, here’s how the remaining games would play out at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
