USA baseball’s quest to repeat as World Baseball Classic champion continues on Monday when the Americans take on Canada in their third game of Pool C play.
USA (1-1) vs Canada (1-0)
How to Watch:
- Date: Monday, March 13th
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- Channel: FS1
Projected Lineups:
United States
- RF Mookie Betts (Dodgers)
- CF Mike Trout (Angels)
- 1B Paul Goldschmidt (Cardinals)
- 3B Nolan Arenado (Cardinals)
- DH Kyle Schwarber (Phillies)
- SS Trea Turner (Phillies)
- LF Kyle Tucker (Astros)
- C J.T. Realmuto (Phillies)
- 2B Jeff McNeil (Mets)
SP: Lance Lynn (White Sox
Canada
- 2B Eduoard Julien (Twins prospect)
- 1B Freddie Freeman (Dodgers)
- CF Tyler O’Neill (Cardinals)
- DH Jared Young (Cubs prospect)
- SS Otto Lopez (Blue Jays prospect)
- 3B Abraham Toro (Brewers)
- C Bo Naylor (Guardians)
- RF Owen Caissie (Padres prospect)
- LF Jacob Robson (Tigers prospect)
SP: Mitch Bratt
Matchup Preview:
The United States entered the World Baseball Classic as the defending champions and one of the favorites to take home the title this year, but you wouldn’t know it from its first game. The USA looked lifeless at times on Saturday night, defeating Great Britain 6-2 before getting trounced by Mexico 11-5 on Sunday night in a game that wasn’t as close as the score suggests.
While a win is certainly not a bad way to start the tournament, Great Britain had failed to qualify for every other World Baseball Classic, so it wasn’t the dominant performance many expected with a lineup filled with some of MLB’s biggest stars.
The game started with Dodgers outfielder Trayce Thompson homering for Great Britain off of USA starter Adam Wainwright in the first inning. Great Britain starter Vance Worley, who hasn’t pitched in the major leagues in five years, held the USA offense scoreless for the first two frames.
However, the Americans were able to scratch across a run in the third and then Kyle Schwarber gave them breathing room with a three-run homer to put the USA up 5-1. They would then coast to the finish line for a victory and then showed even less energy on Sunday night against Mexico.
Starter Nick Martinez allowed three runs on five hits over 2.2 innings before Brady Singer allowed another four runs in his two innings of work, giving Mexico a 7-1 lead through five innings.
Washington Nationals’ first baseman Joey Meneses did most of the damage for Mexico, hitting a home run off of both Martinez and Singer and finishing the night 3-for-or-5 with five RBI and three runs scored. Brewers’ first baseman Rowdy Tellez and Ray’s outfielder Randy Arozarena were also both 3-for-5 while chipping in two RBI each. Mexico had 15 hits on the night to just eight for the USA.
Canada won their first game was Sunday afternoon, clobbering the same Great Britain team 18-8.
While the Canadians will be the underdog against the USA, they also have their fair share of Major League Baseball talent, led by Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman and Cardinals outfielder Tyler O’Neill. It’s an offense that was much more impressive against Great Britain than the USA was, with O’Neill having multiple hits while Twins’ prospect Eduoard Julien and Padres prospect Owen Caissie both went yard.
The Canadian rotation is led by Guardians righty Cal Quantrill, who was rocked in their World Baseball Classic opener against Great Britain for three runs on two hits and four walks in just 0.2 innings.
The USA started Padres righty Nick Martinez against Mexico on Sunday, which means they will throw White Sox former ace Lance Lynn against Canada, who is is tentatively scheduled to start lefty Mitch Bratt, who’s a 19-year-old prospect for the Texas Rangers. Bratt played in Single-A in 2022, throwing 80 2/3 innings with a 2.45 ERA and 90 strikeouts last season. The former 5th-round pick is ranked as the 17th prospect in the Rangers’ system, according to MLB.com.
Prediction:
Lance Lynn is the third starter on the USA team, but he might be their best pitcher. Comparing him to a 19-year-old who hasn’t even reached Double-A, it seems like a major advantage for America in a game they desperately need to win if they hope to advance outside of pool play at the World Baseball Classic.
