Italy Stuns USA in World Baseball Classic Upset, Shakes Up Tournament Odds
Team USA’s World Baseball Classic hopes hang in the balance after a stunning 8-6 loss to Italy on Tuesday night. The defeat, one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s 20-year history, has thrown the Americans’ path to the quarterfinals into serious doubt and dramatically reshaped the tournament’s betting landscape.
A Shocking Result
Entering the game, Team USA was heavily favored. The U.S. Entered the tournament as the odds-on favorite and was widely viewed as one of four legitimate contenders to win it all. Last night’s loss to Italy was a significant upset and has reshaped the outlook of the field,
said Johnny Avello, DraftKings director of sports operations.
Odds Shift Dramatically
The upset sent shockwaves through the sportsbooks. The Dominican Republic is now the favorite to win the tournament, with odds of +175 at BetMGM and +190 at DraftKings. Team USA’s odds have plummeted from -105 to +220 at DraftKings and +225 at BetMGM.
Japan, previously the second-favorite, now sits at +250, a slight increase from +300.
What’s Next for Team USA?
Team USA (3-1) now faces a nervous wait as they watch tonight’s Italy-Mexico game. Mexico is a significant favorite in that matchup. If Italy wins, they will finish pool play at 4-0 and Team USA will also advance. However, a Mexico victory complicates matters.
If Mexico wins, it would finish at 3-1 alongside Italy and the U.S. In that scenario, the tiebreaker will be runs allowed per out recorded. If the Italy-Mexico game goes nine innings and Mexico wins and scores five or more runs, the U.S. — the odds-on favorite entering the tournament — and Mexico would advance. Should Mexico win although scoring four or fewer, it would advance alongside Italy.
according to reports.
Betting Interest Remains High
Despite the setback, betting interest in Team USA remains strong. The sportsbook is cheering for the USA to advance as it would drive continued interest in the WBC,
stated John Ewing, BetMGM head of communications. Big stars attract betting action, so the deeper the Americans go in the tournament, the more people will bet on them.
Borgata sportsbook director Thomas Gable noted, The Dominican Republic would be the worst result for the house in our futures book, but Japan is still dangerous, and until Team USA is truly eliminated, you can’t count them out.
Key Stats from the Upset
- Final Score: Italy 8, USA 6
- Team USA Record: 3-1
- Italy Record: 3-0
- Mexico Record: 2-1
FAQ
What happens if Italy wins against Mexico?
If Italy wins, both Italy and Team USA will advance to the quarterfinals.
What happens if Mexico wins against Italy?
If Mexico wins, a tiebreaker involving runs allowed per out recorded will determine which two teams advance.
What are Team USA’s current odds to win the WBC?
Team USA’s odds to win the WBC have dropped to +220 at DraftKings and +225 at BetMGM.