There are two games on the table Tuesday morning: a consolation match of sorts between China and Brazil for third place in Pool A, and a battle between Chinese Taipei and South Korea that could complicate things in Pool B.
2013 World Baseball Classic schedule: Tuesday, March 5
Round 1 for Pools A + B is coming to an end, with just one matchup remaining after today’s pair of games.
Koji Watanabe
Here’s a rundown of the day’s games:
Mexico vs. Italy: Thursday, 1:00 p.m. local, 3:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Phoenix, Arizona
TV: MLB Network (U.S.), ESPN Deportes (U.S.)
The penultimate late-night/early-morning game of the tournament, China and Brazil will duke it out for a claim at not being the worst team in Pool A. Both teams enter the match winless, and neither can advance in the tournament, but it should be exciting to watch nonetheless as Brazil takes one final shot at notching their first ever WBC victory.
Starting Pitchers: TBD
Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. local, 6:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
TV: MLB Network (U.S.), ESPN Deportes (U.S.)
The South Korean squad has their work cut out for them against Chinese Taipei if they want to stick around for Round 2. Having split their first two games in pool play -- including a 5-0 loss to the Netherlands -- Korea must put a hurting on undefeated Chinese Taipei if they want a chance at winning a tiebreaker. Korea has scored six and allowed five runs in two games, while Taipei has scored 12 and allowed four, so Korea must win by a score of at least 8-1 to advance. If they end up tied in run difference (or Team’s Quality Balance), things only get more complicated.
Starting Pitchers: RHP Edinson Volquez v. RHP Anibal Sanchez
Cuba vs. Netherlands: Friday, 12:00 p.m. local; Thursday, 10:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
TV: MLB Network (U.S.), ESPN Deportes (U.S.)
The penultimate late-night/early-morning game of the tournament, China and Brazil will duke it out for a claim at not being the worst team in Pool A. Both teams enter the match winless, and neither can advance in the tournament, but it should be exciting to watch nonetheless as Brazil takes one final shot at notching their first ever WBC victory.
Starting Pitchers: TBD
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