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World Baseball Classic: Japan vs. South Korea odds, preview, predictions & betting tips


Teams Japan and South Korea lock horns at the Tokyo Dome at 5 a.m. ET on Saturday. This will be the second game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic for both teams, after they won their opening fixtures. Both teams are in Pool C, alongside Australia, Chinese Taipei and Czech Republic.

Let’s take a look at the odds, preview, prediction and best betting tips for the opening fixture of the World Baseball Classic.

World Baseball Classic: Japan vs South Korea Odds

Money Line: Japan (-1800), South Korea (+900)

Run Line: Japan -5.5 (-115), South Korea +5.5 (-105)

Total Runs: Over 10.5 (-120), Under 10.5 (+100)

Preview – Probable starting pitchers and lineups

Japan probable starting pitcher: Yusei Kikuchi

Los Angeles Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi gets the nod to start Japan’s second World Baseball Classic fixture. Having made his professional baseball debut in 2011, Kikuchi moved to the big leagues in 2019. Ever since, he has established himself as a reliable arm at the top level.

Kikuchi finished the 2025 season with a 7-11 record, 3.99 ERA and 174 strikeouts.

Yusei Kikuchi in action for team Japan - Source: Getty
Yusei Kikuchi in action for team Japan – Source: Getty

Japan predicted lineup

  1. OF Kensuke Kondoh
  2. DH Shohei Ohtani
  3. OF Seiya Suzuki
  4. 1B Munetaka Murakami
  5. OF Masataka Yoshida
  6. 3B Teruaki Sato
  7. 2B Shugo Maki
  8. SS Sosuke Genda
  9. C Seishiro Sakamoto

South Korea probable pitcher: Ko Young-pyo

Ko Young-pyo takes the mound for the South Koreans. Making his professional baseball debut with the KT Wiz of the KBO in 2015, Ko Young-pyo has spent his entire career so far with the Suwon-based outfit.

For his KBO career as a whole, he has a 70-62 record, 3.96 ERA and 967 strikeouts.

Ko Young-pyo in action for team South Korea - Source: Getty
Ko Young-pyo in action for team South Korea – Source: Getty

South Korea predicted lineup

  1. DH Kim Do-Yeong
  2. OF Jahmai Jones
  3. OF Lee Jung-hoo
  4. OF Ahn Hyun-min
  5. 1B Moon Bo-gyeong
  6. 3B Shay Whitcomb
  7. 2B Kim Hye-seong
  8. C Park Dong-won
  9. SS Kim Ju-won

Though South Korea have a well-rounded lineup and are no pushovers by any stretch of the imagination, the Japanese team boast one of the best rosters in the tournament, and are the bookmakers’ second favorites to win the World Baseball Classic, behind team USA.

To add, the Samurai will be playing in front of home support at the Tokyo Dome, making them clear favorites to win this fixture.

Prediction: Japan 8, South Korea 2

Betting tips

There is a sizeable gulf in quality on both sides of the ball between these teams, and team Japan should run out comfortable winners at the end of play.

Money Line: Japan (-1800)

Run Line: Japan -5.5 (-115)

Total Runs: Over 10.5 (-120)