Australia enters its second game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic on a high after a 3-0 shutout victory over Chinese Taipei. The team now faces Czechia, which suffered an 11-4 loss to Korea in its opener. The matchup at Tokyo Dome carries high stakes for both sides in Pool C.
Australia's strong start in the 2026 World Baseball Classic positions the team well for advancement from Pool C. On March 5, Australia defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0 at Tokyo Dome, with all runs coming from home runs by Robbie Perkins and Travis Bazzana, the latter the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. A three-man pitching effort secured the shutout, placing Australia tied with Korea atop the pool standings at 1-0.
Czechia, ranked 15th among participating nations, struggled in its debut, falling 11-4 to Korea. The loss featured four home runs allowed by Czech pitchers, including two from Shay Whitcomb and a first-inning grand slam by Bo Gyeong Moon. With just 14 hours of rest before facing Australia, Czechia views this game as its best chance for a win against Pool C opponents ranked higher, such as Japan (first), Chinese Taipei (second), and Korea (fourth).
The game is set for Thursday at 10 p.m. ET (Friday noon local time) at Tokyo Dome. Probable starters are Josh Hendrickson for Australia and Tomáš Ondra for Czechia. Hendrickson, a former 38th-round Phillies draft pick released in 2023, posted a 10-5 record with a 3.61 ERA last season in the American Association. Ondra, a command specialist, impressed in 2023 with a 0.81 ERA over 21 1/3 innings in European Championships, striking out 21 while walking two.
A win would bolster Australia's path to the quarterfinals in Miami, potentially setting up a decisive matchup against Korea on March 10. For Czechia, avoiding the qualifiers for the next WBC hinges on containing Australia's power, as seen in their previous encounters. In the 2023 Classic, Australia edged Czechia 8-3 after a 1-1 tie through six innings, with Alex Hall contributing a home run, triple, and four RBIs.
Viewers in the United States can watch on FS1, with a free English-language audio stream available. The game broadcasts on Netflix in Japan.
