Two of the most successful squads in World Baseball Classic history meet in a showdown of unbeatens that vaults the winner into a quarterfinal appearance.
Puerto Rico and Cuba, two of just four teams that have survived group play in all five previous WBCs, meet in a Pool A showdown at Estadio Hiram Bithorn in San Juan with the winner assured of advancing out of group play.
The Puerto Ricans will once again have the home crowd on their side, an advantage that was palpable in their pulsating 3-2, 10-inning victory against Panama March 7. Puerto Rico erased one-run deficits in the ninth and 10th innings before Darell Hernaiz’s walk-off homer – the second in WBC history since Ozzie Albies beat him to it hours earlier.
Cuba and Puerto Rico are both 2-0, and both clubs have games remaining against 1-1 Canada. That means the loser of this game must beat Canada in its matchup; Puerto Rico plays the Canadians Tuesday, March 10 and Cuba faces them the next day.
Cuba is coming off a 7-4 victory over Colombia, keyed by a three-run, first-inning homer from first baseman Ariel Martinez. He has three hits in seven at-bats in the tourney.
Follow for live updates:
Where to watch Puerto Rico vs Cuba baseball game
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV channel: Fox Sports 1
Live stream: FoxSports.com // Fubo
Watch Puerto Rico vs Cuba live on Fubo
Start time set for Puerto Rico-Cuba: 8:20 ET
Stubborn rain has finally moved out of the area of Estadio Hiram Bithorn, at least enough for officials to declare a first pitch time for Cuba and Puerto Rico: 8:20 p.m. ET, or about an hour and 15 minutes after the originally scheduled first pitch.
At last, certainty.
Rain delays start of Puerto Rico-Cuba
This highly-anticipated Caribbean matchup will have to wait just a bit longer. Rain in San Juan has delayed the start of Puerto Rico and Cuba, although the teams are in the dugout and the tarp expected to be pulled soon.
Estadio Hiram Bithorn is, alas, the lone WBC venue that is not climate-controlled.
Puerto Rico, Cuba lineups, starting pitchers
Elmer Rodriguez, a 22-year-old right-hander in the New York Yankees organization, will start for Puerto Rico. Rodriguez reached Class AAA last season and has averaged 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings in his major league career. He’ll be opposed by Cuban lefty Julio Robaina, a 5-11 24-year-old and former Astros farmhand who pitched in independent ball in 2025.
The lineups for both teams:
Cuba lineup tonight against Puerto Rico:
CF Roel Santos
3B Yoan Moncada
1B Ariel Martínez
DH Alfredo Despaigne
SS Erisbuel Arruebuena
C Omar Hernández
RF Yoelkis Guibert
LF Leonel Moas
2B Yiddi Cappe
P: LHP Julio Robaina
Puerto Rico lineup tonight against Cuba:
2B Willi Castro
CF Heliot Ramos
3B Nolan Arenado
RF Carlos Cortes
SS Darell Hernaiz
LF Eddie Rosario
1B Emmanuel Rivera
DH MJ Melendez
C Martín Maldonado
SP: Elmer Rodriguez
Puerto Rico WBC roster
Pitchers: Raymond Burgos LHP, Fernando Cruz RHP, José De León RHP, Edwin Díaz RHP, José Espada RHP, Rico Garcia RHP, Jorge López RHP, Seth Lugo RHP, Jovani Morán LHP, Luis Quiñones RHP, Ángel Reyes RHP, Yacksel Ríos RHP, Eduardo Rivera LHP, Elmer Rodríguez RHP, Gabriel Rodríguez LHP, Ricardo Velez RHP
Catchers: Martín Maldonado, Christian Vázquez
Infielders: Nolan Arenado, Edwin Arroyo, Darell Hernáiz, Emmanuel Rivera, Luis Vázquez
Outfielders: Willi Castro, Carlos Cortes, Matthew Lugo, MJ Melendez, Heliot Ramos, Eddie Rosario, Bryan Torres
Cuba WBC roster
Pitchers: Frank Alvarez RHP, Emmanuel Chapman RHP, Josimar Cousin RHP, Naykel Cruz LHP, Daviel Hurtado LHP, Denny Larrondo RHP, Yoan López RHP, Raidel Martínez RHP, Randy Martinez LHP, Liván Moinelo LHP, Darien Núñez LHP, Julio Robaina LHP, Osiel Rodriguez RHP, Yariel Rodriguez RHP, Luis Romero Jr. RHP, Pedro Santos RHP
Catchers: Omar Hernandez, Andrys Pérez
Infielders: Erisbel Barbaro Arruebarruena, Yiddi Cappe, Ariel Martínez, Yoán Moncada, Malcom Nuñez, Alexei Ramírez, Alexander Vargas
Outfielders: Alfredo Despaigne, Yoelquis Guibert, Leonel Moa, Roel Santos, Yoel Yanqui