Italy, one of the three undefeated teams in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, is eager to maintain its winning streak as it heads into the semifinals later today.
The Italian team topped Pool B with a perfect 4-0 record in the initial round, achieving victories over Brazil, Mexico, the United States, and the United Kingdom. They managed to hit 12 home runs, which is just two shy of Mexico’s tournament record.
Today’s match is against Puerto Rico, which secured the second spot in Pool A behind Canada, who experienced a single loss during the group stage. Puerto Rico’s route to this point included impressive wins over Colombia, Panama, and Cuba. Currently, Puerto Rico boasts the best pitching stats in the tournament, with a 1.22 ERA over 37 innings.
- Matchup: Team Puerto Rico vs. Team Italy (Quarterfinals)
- Date: March 14th 3:00 PM ET
- Location: Daikin Park (Houston, Texas)
- Broadcast: FS1
- Streaming: DIRECTV (trial available)
Historically, these teams have faced each other twice in the WBC, with Puerto Rico coming out on top in 2013 and 2017.
The winner of this decisive quarterfinal will move forward to a semifinal match against either Japan or Venezuela on Monday.
Puerto Rico vs Italy WBC 2026 start time
The quarterfinal matchup is set to kick off today, March 14th, at 3:00 PM ET.
How to watch Puerto Rico vs Italy for free
If cable isn’t an option for you, there are live TV streaming services available. DIRECTV is one of my go-to recommendations for watching baseball, especially since they offer a free five-day trial that includes FS1 (as well as FOX for other WBC games). After the trial, rates start at $59.99 per month for more than 90 live channels.
Sling TV is also a budget-friendly option, with plans starting around $19.99 per month that include FS1 and FOX.
Puerto Rico vs Italy pitchers
Seth Lugo will take the mound for Puerto Rico, while Italy will have Sam Aldegheri pitching.
Main dates for World Baseball Classic 2026
- QF 3: Puerto Rico vs. Italy – March 14th at 3:00 PM ET (FS1)
- QF 4: Japan vs. Venezuela – March 14, 9:00 PM ET (FOX)
- SF 1: Dominican Republic vs. United States – March 15, 8:00 PM ET (FS1)
- SF 2: QF3 Winner vs. QF4 Winner – March 16th at 8 PM ET (FS1)
- Championship – March 17th at 8 PM ET (FOX)
