WBC Game Thread: USA, Japan Face Off in Finals

Mike Trout vs. Shohei Ohtani.

That’s the billing of Tuesday night’s 2023 World Baseball Classic Final. The United States and Japan—two of the best teams throughout the whole tournament—face off for the WBC title.

Japan made the final after winning a thrilling game against Mexico. Down 3-0, new Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida launched a three-run home run to tie the game in the seventh inning. Mexico—off the strength of Randy Arozarena—went up 5-3 by the next frame, and Japan pulled a run closer in the bottom of the eighth. The stage was set for Shohei Ohtani, leading off the bottom of the ninth. He doubled, Yoshida walked, then Munetaka Murakami—one of Japan’s best young hitter—roped a double to left field scoring the tying and winning run.

The United States, on the other hand, had Monday off after besting Cuba 14-2 on Sunday. USA has won five of their six games, and Japan hasn’t lost a game yet. The U.S. could win its second WBC, and Japan is looking to win its third

Yu Darvish will start for Japan, and there’s a chance Ohtani could come in for relief. (CORRECTION: Shota Imananga is starting. Darvish may still pitch.) Ohtani told Ken Rosenthal Monday night he would be “prepared.” Merrill Kelly will start for USA, and the team should have its full relieving corps ready to go after having an off day on Monday.

The game starts at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.

USA Lineup

1. Mookie Betts – RF
2. Mike Trout – CF
3. Paul Goldschmidt – 1B
4. Nolan Arenado – 3B
5. Kyle Schwarber – DH
6. Trea Turner – SS
7. J.T. Realmuto – C
8. Cedric Mullins – LF
9. Tim Anderson – 2B

Japan 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. Tetsuo Yamada – 2B
8. Sosuke Genda – SS
9. Yuhei Nakamura – C

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