Sports

World Baseball Classic live updates: Follow first game in Japan

Australia and Chinese Taipei open the 2026 World Baseball Classic at the Tokyo Dome at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, a late-night treat for fans of the game’s premier international tournament.

‘Growing up I always looked ahead and kind of had a vision of things I wanted to do in this game, and this was a big part of it,’ said Australian-born infielder Travis Bazzana, the first overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft. ‘Young me would be dreaming of and now it’s here. Just got to make the most of it.’

Chinese Taipei and Australia are joined in Pool C by Japan, South Korea and Czechia.

Follow for live updates:

How to watch Chinese Taipei vs Australia: TV channel, stream

  • Matchup: Chinese Taipei vs. Australia
  • Time: 10 p.m.
  • Location: Tokyo (Tokyo Dome)
  • TV: FS1
  • Streaming: FOX One App

Stream the World Baseball Classic on Fubo

Australia WBC starting pitcher vs. Chinese Taipei

Alex Wells will serve as Australia’s starting pitcher on Wednesday against Chinese Taipei. Wells previously played for the Baltimore Orioles in 2021 and 2022.

He started eight of the 13 games he played in, allowing 58 hits and 34 earned runs while striking out 32 in 46.1 innings pitched.

Australia WBC roster 2026

Pitchers

  • Kieren Hall (RHP) – Perth Heat
  • Ky Hampton (RHP) – Adelaide Giants
  • Josh Hendrickson (LHP) – Adelaide Giants
  • Sam Holland (RHP) – Brisbane Bandits
  • Jon Kennedy (LHP) – Brisbane Bandits
  • Connor MacDonald (RHP) – Brisbane Bandits
  • Cooper Morgan (LHP) – Adelaide Giants
  • Mitch Neunborn (RHP) – Philadelphia Phillies org
  • Jack O’Loughlin (LHP) – Adelaide Giants
  • Warwick Saupold (RHP) – Perth Heat
  • Blake Townsend (LHP) – Texas Rangers org
  • Todd Van Steensel (RHP) – Adelaide Giants
  • Alex Wells (LHP) – Sydney Blue Sox
  • Lachlan Wells (LHP) – LG Twins (KBO)
  • Coen Wynne (RHP) – Sydney Blue Sox

Catchers

  • Mitchell Edwards – Adelaide Giants
  • Alex Hall – Perth Heat
  • Robbie Perkins – Brisbane Bandits

Infielders

  • Travis Bazzana – Cleveland Guardians org
  • George Callil – Brisbane Bandits
  • Jarryd Dale – KIA Tigers (KBO)
  • Robbie Glendinning – Adelaide Giants
  • Curtis Mead – Chicago White Sox
  • Logan Wade – Brisbane Bandits
  • Rixon Wingrove – Brisbane Bandits

Outfielders

  • Ulrich Bojarski – Melbourne Aces
  • Chris Burke – Melbourne Aces
  • Max Durrington – Oakland Athletics org
  • Tim Kennelly – Perth Heat
  • Aaron Whitefield – Melbourne Aces

Chinese Taipei WBC roster 2026

  • Pitchers: Hsu Jo-hsi, Gu Lin Ruei-yang, Lin Yu-min, Lin Wei-en, Po-Yu Chen, Zhuang Chen Zhong-Ao, Sha Tzu-chen, Sun Yi-lei, Tseng Jyun-yue, Lin Kai-wei, Lin Shi-xiang, Chang Yi, Chen Kuan-yu, Hu Chih-wei, Cheng Hao-chun, and Zhang Jun-wei.
  • Catchers: Kungkuan Giljegiljaw, Lyle Lin (Lin Chia-cheng) and Jiang Shao-hong.
  • Infielders: Yu Chang, Tsung-Che Cheng, Lee Hao-yu, Chiang Kun-yu, Wu Nien-ting and Lin Tzu-wei.
  • Outfielders: Stuart Fairchild, Chen Chieh-hsien (Captain), Lin An-ko and Chen Chen-wei.

What WBC pool are Chinese Taipei and Australia in?

Chinese Taipei and Australia are two of the five teams playing in Pool C of the World Baseball Classic. The rest of the group includes Japan, Korea and Czechia.

World Baseball Classic Pool C schedule

  • March 5: Chinese Taipei vs. Australia
  • March 5: Czechia vs. South Korea
  • March 6: Australia vs. Czechia
  • March 6: Japan vs. Chinese Taipei
  • March 7: Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia
  • March 7: South Korea vs. Japan
  • March 8: Chinese Taipei vs. South Korea
  • March 8: Australia vs. Japan
  • March 9: South Korea vs. Australia
  • March 10: Czechia vs. Japan
This post appeared first on USA TODAY