Dominican Republic faces Israel in World Baseball Classic showdown

Undefeated Dominican squad looks to clinch quarterfinals berth against Israel

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The undefeated Dominican Republic baseball team, led by manager Albert Pujols, will face off against Israel in a key World Baseball Classic matchup on Monday at noon ET. The Dominican squad has steamrolled its way to lopsided wins in its first two games, while Israel evened its record at 1-1 with a shutout victory over Nicaragua. The game will be broadcast on FS1 and FOX Deportes.

Why it matters

The Dominican Republic can clinch a spot in the quarterfinals with a win, while Israel needs a victory to keep its hopes of advancing alive. The game features a clash between the tournament's dominant offensive team and an Israel squad looking to pull off an upset against one of the favorites to win the World Baseball Classic.

The details

The Dominican Republic has hit seven home runs in its first two games, outscoring its opponents 24-4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Junior Caminero, Austin Wells and Juan Soto have all gone deep for the D.R. so far. Israel, meanwhile, threw the first shutout in its WBC history with a 5-0 win over Nicaragua on Sunday. Brayan Bello is expected to start on the mound for the Dominican Republic, while Israel will counter with left-hander Ryan Prager.

  • The game is scheduled for Monday, March 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET.
  • The Dominican Republic has won its first two games of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

The players

Albert Pujols

The manager of the Dominican Republic baseball team, a Hall of Fame player who is leading his country's quest for a World Baseball Classic title.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

A star slugger for the Dominican Republic who has hit a home run in the team's first two games of the tournament.

Brad Ausmus

The manager of the Israel baseball team, who is looking to lead his squad to an upset victory over the heavily favored Dominican Republic.

Ryan Prager

The expected starting pitcher for Israel, looking to slow down the powerful Dominican Republic lineup.

Brayan Bello

The expected starting pitcher for the Dominican Republic, tasked with continuing his team's dominant pitching performance in the tournament.

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What they’re saying

“Our mission is to win this championship. That's our goal.”

— Albert Pujols, Manager, Dominican Republic (mlb.com)

“We know the talent of everyone; I just tell them to be who they are. If you see the lineup, we don't think about ourselves; we think about our teammates. When you see that kind of a lineup, it's very difficult not to win.”

— Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (mlb.com)

“The D.R. is one of the best teams in the tournament, no question. I think there's nobody that would dispute that. Up and down the lineup, they've got All-Star-caliber players. They've got very good pitching. Until they beat us in nine innings or however long it takes, we have a chance to win. We're going to go out there with that attitude.”

— Brad Ausmus, Manager, Israel (mlb.com)

What’s next

The winner of Monday's game between the Dominican Republic and Israel will take a major step towards clinching a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

The takeaway

The Dominican Republic's powerful lineup and dominant pitching staff make them the clear favorites in this matchup, but Israel's upset-minded attitude and determination to prove they can compete with the tournament's best team sets the stage for an intriguing clash between two contrasting squads.