Published on: March 17, 2026, 04:36h.
Updated on: March 17, 2026, 04:37h.
- World Baseball Classic championship showdown between Team USA and Venezuela kicks off tonight in Miami
- Aaron Judge is the most wagered player to hit a home run, and also to hit 2+ HRs
- Closer Mason Miller is cleared to play for Team USA
In exciting news for the World Baseball Classic championship game (8 p.m. EST, Fox): All-Star closer Mason Miller, who dominated with pitches exceeding 100 mph during Team USA’s semifinal victory over the Dominican Republic, is ready for tonight’s finals against Venezuela in Miami.
Miller’s Outstanding Performance
Miller closed out the final two innings with an impressive performance against the Dominican Republic, clocking in 35 pitches over 100 mph, and has accumulated two saves throughout the tournament.
Aaron Judge from Team USA has expressed that the emotional weight of the WBC surpasses that of the World Series, a sentiment echoed by the electric atmosphere in Miami during games. However, it’s noteworthy that Miller and many other players are still tied to their respective MLB teams and will return after today’s match.
Miller has recorded 10 strikeouts over four innings pitched. Tonight, 24-year-old rookie pitcher Nolan McLean from the New York Mets will take the mound for Team USA.
Tonight’s Betting Overview
As per BetMGM, the leading contenders for hitting a home run (by ticket counts) are Aaron Judge +220, Kyle Schwarber +220, Ronald Acuña Jr. +450, Bryce Harper +375, and Bobby Witt Jr. +500. The most favored players to hit 2+ home runs include Judge +2000, Acuña Jr. +6000, Schwarber +2200, Eugenio Suarez +8000, and Harper +4000.
Team USA is currently at -250 on the Money Line according to BetMGM, while Venezuela sits at +200 (41% of bets and 52% of handle on USA). The spread places Venezuela at +1.5 (+105), with Team USA at -1.5 (-125, attracting 71% of bets and 80% of handle). The over/under stands at 9 (+100 on the Over, -120 on the Under).
This matchup between Team USA and Venezuela carries significant political undertones, especially following the U.S. administration’s military action against President Nicolas Maduro in January. If Team USA triumphs, it would mark their first WBC championship since 2017, while Venezuela aims for its inaugural title in the sixth edition of an event that debuted in 2006.
Acuña Jr. Steers Venezuela
Per theScore, Team USA sits at -250 on the Money Line against Venezuela at +210, with the spread at Venezuela +1.5 (Even), Team USA -1.5 (-120). The over/under is set at 8.5 (-125 on the Over, +105 on the Under).
As of this afternoon, 65.3% of bets and 44.4% of handle were placed on the USA Money Line, while 34.7% of bets and 55.6% of handle favored Venezuela. Additionally, 60.8% of bets and 59.6% of handle were on the Under 8.5.
A mere 4.3% of bets and 4.9% of handle have supported Venezuela to win the WBC. Venezuela started with +1500 odds, improved to +1200 entering the tournament, placing them fourth overall, trailing the USA, Dominican Republic (+400 open/+350 start), and Japan (+325 open/+425 start).