The two undefeated teams of Pool F will meet Friday night at Petco Park in San Diego, with the United States and Puerto Rico meeting to get one step closer to the semifinals of the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
USA vs. Puerto Rico, WBC 2017 live stream: Game time, TV schedule, and how to watch online
The 10 p.m. ET game will be televised by MLB Network, with Matt Vasgersian on play-by-play alongside analyst John Smoltz, with reporters Jon Morosi working the dugouts during the broadcast.
Puerto Rico is 4-0 so far in the WBC, including 1-0 in Pool F, a 3-1 win over the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night in the opener of this second-round round robin. Team USA is 3-1, and won its Pool F opener on Wednesday night, a 4-2 comeback win over Venezuela.
Puerto Rico has scored 32 runs in four games so far in the tournament, thanks to a powerful lineup anchored by Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor, and Carlos Beltran. Correa, Lindor, and Yadier Molina each have two home runs so far in the WBC.
Marcus Stroman, who struck out four in 4⅔ scoreless innings against the Dominican Republic in the first round last Saturday, starts on Friday night for the United States.
“It’s unbelievable lineups I’m getting to face,” Stroman told reporters on Wednesday. “They’re all-stars from one through nine. So you definitely have to be on top of your game to get these guys out.”
Starting pitching has carried Team USA to date, with Chris Archer, Stroman, Danny Duffy and Drew Smyly combining for 17⅓ frames with only one unearned run allowed on eight hits, with 22 strikeouts and no walks.
The top two teams from Pool F advance to the semifinals, on Monday and Tuesday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, joining Japan and Netherlands in the tournament’s final four.
ESPN Deportes will televise Friday night’s matchup in Spanish, a broadcast that will be streamed online via WatchESPN.
USA vs. Puerto Rico info
When: 10 p.m. ET
Where: Petco Park, San Diego
What: World Baseball Classic second round, Pool F
TV: MLB Network, ESPN Deportes (Spanish)
Online: MLB Network, MLB.tv (subscription), WatchESPN (Spanish)
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