World Baseball Classic Futures: Japan Jumps USA

• Japan now has +225 odds to win the WBC, the second shortest behind the Dominican Republic.
• The odds change likely occurred due to Shohei Ohtani hitting a pair of three-run homers in Japan’s World Baseball Classic exhibition game.
• Ohtani takes the mound against China on Thursday, presenting another opportunity for potential line movement.

MIAMI – Japan’s World Baseball Classic Odds have increased from +300 to +225 before playing their first official game against China on Thursday. Bettors took note of Shohei Ohtani’s impressive exhibition game performance in which he crushed two home runs.

Japan faced the Hanshin Tigers in an exhibition game to prepare for their upcoming World Baseball Classic run. The Hanshin Tigers are one of the best teams in Nippon Professional Baseball, finishing as a top three team in nine of the last 10 seasons.

Shohei Ohtani claimed he was feeling jet lag after flying from Spring Training, then proceeded to hit two towering home runs in his first game with Japan since 2016.

Japan won the game 8-1, with Shohei Ohtani responsible for six of the runs via the long ball.

Prior to any WBC game action, World Baseball Classic odds listed the Dominican Republic and United States as co-favorites with +225 odds. Japan had the third shortest odds at +300.

Now, Japan has passed the United States and represent +225 odds while the Americans have fallen to +250. The Dominican Republic has become the sole favorite with +200 odds on legal betting sites.

Based on the amount of line movement prior to any official games being played, the commencement of pool play could bring an even greater change to Japan’s World Baseball Classic Odds.

Japan’s +225 odds on baseball sportsbooks are subject to shorten once Shohei Ohtani takes the mound against China early Thursday morning.

A dominant pitching performance will confirm that Ohtani is prepared to carry Japan to earn their third World Baseball Classic title.