2026 World Baseball Classic: Venezuela stuns defending champion Japan, advances to semifinals vs. Italy

Japan's World Baseball Classic title defense is over. Saturday night at loanDepot Park in Miami, Venezuela rallied from behind to eliminate Japan (VEN 8, JPN 5) and advance to the semifinals. Venezuela is one step away from Tuesday's Championship Game and Japan will head home following its worst World Baseball Classic finish ever.

Chicago Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki leaves Japan’s WBC quarterfinal after suffering an apparent knee injury

Chicago Cubs OF Seiya Suzuki left Japan’s World Baseball Classic quarterfinal against Venezuela on Saturday after suffering an apparent knee injury while he was caught stealing.

Samurai Japan’s identity crisis led to WBC disaster

Whatever the case, Samurai Japan has a major decision to make between now and then: It has to figure out what it wants to be. Because the Japanese received a definitive verdict on the state of their game in their 8–5 loss to Venezuela in the quarterfinals of the WBC. What they’re doing isn’t working.

WBC Daily: Japan's Reign Ends; Italy's Espresso-Fueled Run Continues

Catching up on all day's action from the World Baseball Classic.