A pair of highly anticipated debuts are on tap Friday at the World Baseball Classic, with the United States playing their first game in Pool C. In Pool D, we have a powerful matchup between Venezuela and Puerto Rico.
World Baseball Classic 2017 schedule: Game times, TV coverage, and how to live stream
The United States team plays its first game, followed by Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico.
Team USA will play Colombia in their opener in Pool C at 6 p.m. ET at Marlins Park in Miami, and will send Tampa Bay Rays ace Chris Archer to the mound. USA has advanced to the second round in all three previous World Baseball Classics, though they only made the championship round in 2009, losing in the semifinals to eventual champions Japan.
The nightcap on Friday night is a marquee matchup in Pool D, with Venezuela and Puerto Rico battling at 9 p.m. in Jalisco, Mexico.
The lineup for Venezuela is imposing, featuring Miguel Cabrera, Jose Altuve, Carlos Gonzalez, and Victor Martinez, a quartet who combined for 114 home runs in 2016, plus major league regulars Ender Inciarte, Salvador Perez, and Martin Prado.
But Puerto Rico has plenty of firepower, as well, with young stars Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor, and Javier Baez buoyed by veterans Carlos Beltran and Yadier Molina.
MLB Network will televise all three Friday games live, and online streaming is available through MLB Network with television provider authentication. ESPN Deportes will televise the two Friday night games in Spanish, available online via Watch ESPN. The morning game between China and Japan will be broadcast in Spanish by ESPN Deportes+.
Friday WBC schedule
(All times Eastern)
5 a.m. - China vs. Japan
TV: MLB Network, ESPN Deportes+
6 p.m. - Colombia vs. United States
TV: MLB Network, ESPN Deportes
9 p.m. - Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico
TV: MLB Network, ESPN Deportes
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