Both teams’ rosters are out on the field now. It looks like we’re having some pregame ceremonies, as befits a championship game.
Mike Trout is extremely happy to be playing in meaningful games.
Pregame programming: Okay, so instead of watching whatever Fox Sports 1 is doing, I am watching a “Castle” rerun BUT it is actually a “Castle” episode that is about Cuban baseball players so it is technically somewhat connected to international baseball. Plus, Joe Torre made a cameo appearance, so I feel like this is technically work-related.
Predictions
This will be a tricky game to predict beforehand. The United States has a more formidable offensive lineup, as we saw when it pulverized Cuban pitching on Sunday, but one has to think that this Japan team is going to put up a stronger effort. I do not think I will be complaining that there will be no “mercy rule” in play like I did last time around.
Ultimately, if the US offense finds the weak link in Japan’s bullpen, they could put up a crooked number that tilts their game in their favor. I’m saying the final will be something like USA 7-5 Japan.
Have thoughts of your own? Just send them here, either to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com or to @HunterFelt and we’ll post them here for all to see. If you happen to nail the results, that’s major bragging rights in your favor so keep that in mind.
Randy Arozarena
While Mexico has been eliminated from the WBC, it shouldn’t be ignored what a great tournament Randy Arozarena had while they were playing. This catch during yesterday’s Mexico-Japan game might be one of the coolest things you’ll ever see in baseball.
Japan starting lineup
1. Lars Nootbaar, CF
2. Kensuke Kondoh, RF
3. Shohei Ohtani, DH
4. Masataka Yoshida, LF
5. Munetaka Murakami, 3B
6. Kazuma Okamoto, 1B
7. Tetsuto Yamada, 2B
8. Sosuke Genda, SS
9. Yuhei Nakamura, C
Starting pitcher: Shota Imanaga
USA starting lineup
Unsurprisingly, the hot-hitting Trea Turner has been moved up the order for the US.
1. Mookie Betts, RF
2. Mike Trout, CF
3. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
4. Nolan Areando, 3B
5. Kyle Schwarber, DH
6. Trea Turner, SS
7. Cedric Mullins, LF
8. J.T. Realmuto, C
9. Tim Anderson, 2B
Starting pitcher: Merill Kelly
Preamble
So much for those who dismissed the World Baseball Classic as exhibition games, the 2023 WBC might end up being remembered as the tournament when it officially became baseball’s World Cup. Yesterday’s semi-final match between Japan and Mexico was a back-and-forth affair that ended with a dramatic walk-off victory courtesy of Japan’s Munetaka Murakami. It was as competitive and meaningful of a baseball game as you will ever see.
So now Japan will face a USA team that is taking the WBC seriously. If the mercy rule were still in effect in these knockout stages, the US would have made quick work of Cuba in their semi-final matchup on Sunday, demolishing them 14-2. Now, they will face a tougher opponent in this deep Japanese roster.
The main storyline from an MLB perspective is that baseball fans finally get to see the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani together playing in a big game. Ironically, they won’t be on the same team, as Trout is the captain on the US side and two-way phenomenon Ohtani is hoping to lead Team Japan to a championship. Still, it’s a tantalizing look at what could have been if the Angels organization were at all capable of putting together a competent team around its two stars.
Even if you haven’t been following the WBC until now, this is a perfect opportunity to jump aboard and see which of these two will capture global bragging rights: the country that invented the game or the one that adopted the sport and embraced it with the passion of a convert. You can follow along with us here, and perhaps even send us your thoughts, either via email (to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com) or via Twitter (to @HunterFelt). We’ll include them throughout today’s live blog.
It’s the USA vs Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic final featuring the United States v Japan at Miami’s LoanDepot Park. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 at 7:00 pm EST, but this blog will be back before then with starting lineups, predictions and other such stuff before then.
Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look back at Japan’s stunning come-from-behind win over Cuba on Monday night to book their spot in tonight’s final.
