South Korea vs Czechia Odds, Predictions & Best Bets for WBC (March 5)

• South Korea is a heavy -1900 moneyline favorite over Czechia in Pool C play at the World Baseball Classic
• Hyeong-Jun So and Daniel Padysak have been announced as starting pitchers
• See my South Korea vs Czechia picks, plus the latest odds and how to watch the WBC Game on March 5

South Korea and Czechia will begin the World Baseball Classic early Thursday morning, with starting pitchers tabbed Hyeong-Jun So versus Daniel Padysak. Online sportsbooks are heavily favoring South Korea -1900 on the moneyline, with books tabbing them the second choice to win Group C, behind only Japan. Czechia is a massive +5000 longshot.

South Korea finished third in the inaugural 2006 WBC and runner-up in 2009, but has been eliminated in the group stage in each of the past three tournaments. Czechia, meanwhile, makes their second appearance, having lost in the first round in 2023.

Keep reading for my South Korea vs Czechia picks, plus the latest odds and how to watch the WBC game on March 5.

South Korea vs Czechia Picks

• South Korea runline

DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK

Offer

T&Cs

Sign Up Today & Receive Up to
$1,050 in Bonuses!

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new customer. Must register new account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to receive $300 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Token expires 2/1/26. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 1/25/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

LOCK IN PROMO

SIGNUP PROMO

SIGN UP
& GET $1,050

BONUS BETS + DEPOSIT BONUS

GET PROMO

Obviously laying down a moneyline bet of -1900 simply isn’t worth it, with zero value whatsoever. I definitely will wait for the runline to be posted, and either bet South Korea on that, or if that’s a bit too rich, go with the total runs being scored.

South Korea boasts seven MLB players on their roster, compared to none for Czechia. Though none of the players are household names, they’re solid contributors, which has South Korea ranked fourth in the world. By comparison, their counterparts are 15th.

In their first WBC in 2023, Czechia were the darlings, surprising everyone with a comeback victory in their very first game against China, then took an early lead against Japan in their next outing, though they lost the rest of the way. They aren’t expected to put up much of a fight in this one either, though they did win bronze in the 2025 European Baseball Championship.

Korea will simply outmatch them, needing to settle a score after being knocked out in the group stage the last three WBC’s. Jung Hoo Lee, who had 55 RBI last season with the San Francisco Giants, along with Hyun-Min Ahn, who bashed 22 home runs in 112 KBO games last season, will provide the offense.

Starting pitchers are Hyeong-Jun So, who was 10-7 with a 3.30 ERA last season for KT Wiz in the KBO, and Czechia counters with Daniel Padysak, who started the first game of the 2023 WBC, tossing four scoreless innings in Czechia’s upset of China.

The World Baseball Classic odds to win it all still have Korea as unlikely to grab the trophy at +6000, given that Japan is in their group, with Czechia an extreme longshot at +25000, tied for the third longest odds.

South Korea vs Czechia Odds

The market currently available for this matchup is the moneyline. Prediction market Kalshi is the only place currently to place a wager, and it’s heavily favoring South Korea.

They’re trading at 95 cents, which equals -1900 odds in traditional sports betting terms, and Czechia is 13 cents, or +670.

Odds as of 2:30pm ET March 4 at Kalshi. New customers can claim the Kalshi referral code and get a bonus to bet on the World Baseball Classic.

South Korea vs Czechia How to Watch

First pitch between South Korea vs Czechia is scheduled for 5 am ET / 2am PT from the Tokyo Dome, in Tokyo, Japan. FS1 will provide the broadcast coverage in America, while Sportsnet will handle Canadian duties.

The coverage will be highlighted by a star studded studio cast featuring Derek Jeter, David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez.