Here are three things MLBTR readers should watch for in baseball today:
1. WBC play continues:
The 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) is officially held! In the first two games of the tournament, South Korea defeated the Czech Republic 11-4 and Australia beat Chinese Taipei 3-0. Highlights from that game include the Guardians’ top prospects and 2024 No. 1 overall pick. Travis Bazzana The Astros utilityman hits a deep home run to right field as part of a multi-hit day against the Australian team (video link). Shay Whitcomb The Korean team hitting two home runs (video).
Australia takes on the Czech Republic tonight at 10pm ET here. Former Phyllis Farmer Josh Hendrickson Australia takes the mound against the Czech Republic Thomas Ondra. While this is the only official match taking place today, Japan and Chinese Taipei are scheduled to face off in Tokyo tomorrow morning at 5 a.m. ET for those looking to catch some early morning action. dodgers star Yoshinobu Yamamoto Receives a ball from Japan and faces a right-handed pitcher from Taiwan. Cheng Haochunactually pitched briefly in the Dodgers’ system in 2021, but has spent the past few seasons with the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. Injuries limited Cheng to just 11 starts last year, but when healthy he posted a 1.49 ERA in 54 1/3 frames.
2. Astros expressing concerns about Peña’s injury:
Star Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena Released from yesterday’s WBC exhibition after ripping a hard ground ball off his fingers. Peña’s Dominican club retracted initial speculation about a fracture, saying he was undergoing X-rays and seeing a hand specialist, according to The Athletic’s Evan Drellich. The Astros provided some more details this morning, explaining that Peña took a hard shot to his right ring finger and broke his fingernail (via Brian McTaggart of MLB.com). He wanted to stay in the game even with blood on his hands, but he was sent for testing. There will be further updates this afternoon.
Peña’s injury scare, whether it occurs in a WBC game or a Grapefruit League game, is a reminder that Houston’s infield “stagnation” can be resolved with just one injury. If Peña demands any kind of absence, Carlos Correa He will move to shortstop and secure third base. Isaac Paredes. Jose Altuve and Christian Walker Then we deal with second and first base. Jordan Alvarez Manages DH positions on a regular basis.
3. Spring debuts of several players:
Thursday also sees a handful of notable pitchers make their spring 2026 debuts. Cardinals fans get their first official look at the right-hander dustin may When they host the Pirates. Mitch Keller In a game where the first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM ET. May became a free agent for the first time this winter, signing a one-year, $12 million deal with St. Louis in hopes of a healthy season in a new environment after injuries in Los Angeles and (briefly) Boston.
In the Cactus League, another former Dodgers mainstay will take the mound for a division rival. Walker BuehlerHis Padres debut is set for 3:10 PM ET when he and the Friars host the Mariners and the right-hander. Luis Castillo. Buehler hasn’t been the same since missing the 2023 season due to his second career UCL rebuild. Despite his memorable 2024 World Series performance, Buehler has posted a 5.10 ERA with sub-par strikeout and walk rates in 40 starts since returning in 2024. After back-to-back poor performances in 2024-25, he signed a minor league deal with San Diego this winter.
Another outing worth watching especially closely would be today’s Orioles-Rays tilt. Jack Eflin This is his first official game since undergoing back surgery (spinal discectomy) in August of last year. Eflin was a free agent at the end of the season, but re-signed with the O’s on a one-year, $10 million deal, hoping to bounce back from his disastrous 2025 performance (5.93 ERA in 71 1/3 innings). Eflin’s poor results were clearly influenced by his health (or lack thereof). As recently as 2023-24, he had a 3.54 ERA over 343 innings between Tampa Bay and Baltimore, with a sharp 23.1% strikeout rate and an elite 3.5% walk rate.
