Once again, Team USA did just enough to advance in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The same star-studded U.S. team that had to rely on Italy defeating Mexico on the final day of pool play to earn a spot in the quarterfinals thought it could sleepwalk to the semifinals.
They couldn’t.
Team USA got too comfortable with a 5–0 lead, and Canada stormed back with three runs to make it a game in the sixth inning. But relievers David Bednar, Garrett Whitlock and Mason Miller blanked Canada over the final three frames to end the upset threat and advance the U.S. to the World Baseball Classic semifinals with a 5–3 victory.
A win is a win. But if the United States is going win two more games and take home its first WBC title since 2017, things need to change. And fast. Here are three takeaways from Team USA’s 5–3 win over Canada:
Well, this is not how we thought the U.S. would get here
Yes, the United States is heading to the semifinals. But how they got there does matter.
Let’s run through their WBC schedule so far: The U.S. beat Brazil 15–5, but it was an 8–5 game heading into the ninth inning. They trailed Great Britain 1–0 through four innings, and Mexico had them on the ropes until the U.S. escaped with a 5–3 win. Then, there was the disaster against Italy. And Friday night, Team USA needed flamethrower Mason Miller to close out the game in a high-leverage spot against Canada, who countered by throwing journeyman Michael Soroka, 37-year-old Phillippe Aumont—who hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2015—and three minor leaguers, including one nicknamed “Tugboat.”
The big bats aren’t producing. Bobby Witt Jr., Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber—the top four hitters in manager Mark DeRosa’s lineup Friday night—combined to go 2-for-15 with two strikeouts. A roster that boasts three players who hit at least 50 homers last season has combined for just seven dingers in five games. Meanwhile, the U.S. pitching staff has served up 10 home runs—tied with Korea for the most given up in this WBC.
Clayton Kershaw, who announced his MLB retirement last fall, was added to the Team USA roster in hopes of a patriotic swan song on the mound. He didn’t get the chance to do so because every game was tighter than anticipated. Instead, Kershaw now is heading home without a single WBC appearance and getting replaced on the U.S. roster by Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman.
A tense moment in the seventh inning
It looked hairy for a minute there in the seventh inning.
After Canada scored three runs in the sixth to make it 5–3 and the U.S. went down quietly in the seventh, Bednar allowed back-to-back singles to Edouard Julien and Otto Lopez. Then U.S. catcher Cal Raleigh, who didn’t allow a single passed ball in 1,072 innings behind the dish for the Mariners last season, let one squirt by him.
Nobody out, and Canada had two runners in scoring position and the go-ahead run at the plate.
But Bednar locked in. The Yankees’ reliever got Josh Naylor to pop out and fanned Tyler O’Neill and Owen Caissie to get out of the jam.
HUGE STRIKEOUT
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 14, 2026
David Bednar strands the tying runs in scoring position #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/0hif9qG87k
The Dominican Republic is ready to pounce
Feast your eyes on the Dominican Republic’s star-studded lineup: Fernando Tatis Jr., Ketel Marte, Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado and Juan Soto. There are sluggers up and down manager Albert Pujols’s lineup.
Unlike the United States, the Dominican Republic has played up to its potential in the WBC. They lead the entire WBC in practically every offensive category: runs (51), hits (49), home runs (14), walks (39), batting average (.312) and OPS (1.090). The DR has won all five of its games by a combined score of 51-10, and it blew out Korea 10–0 in the quarterfinals Friday night.
The U.S. certainly is capable of winning this game and advancing to the WBC title. But they have to finally play like the “Dream Team” they thought they were.
Before the semifinals begin, catch up on Sports Illustrated’s live blogs from Friday night’s quarterfinal matchup:
Team USA 5, Canada 3: Here’s how it happened
More MLB on Sports Illustrated
- Clayton Kershaw’s WBC Stint With Team USA Ends With One Beer and No Appearances
- MLB's New ABS Challenge System Once Again Proves Umpire Wrong Over and Over Again
- Eight Non-MLB Players Who Stole the Show in World Baseball Classic Pool Play
- Mark DeRosa Fires Back at WBC Critics While Still Making Silly Mistake
This article was originally published on www.si.com as USA 5, Canada 3: How U.S. Survived Scare and Advanced to World Baseball Classic Semifinals.
