The final expected by many in the 2023 World Baseball Classic will be played this Wednesday night, in Miami, when the United States vs Japan, the two greatest powers in the world of the ball, face each other for the title.
The Americans arrive at the clash after crushing Cuba in the semifinal and seek to revalidate their crown achieved in 2017. For their part, the Japanese are on track to get their third championship after leaving Mexico lying on the ground.
This will be the third time the two nations meet in the tournament. In 2009 Japan won the semifinal 9-4, while in 2017 the United States took revenge after defeating them also in the semifinal by a score of 2-1.
Without further ado, in JefeBet we bring you the best preview of the stellar and decisive match for the crown of the World Classic between the United States vs Japan.
Forecast, predictions and bets for the semifinal game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic between United States vs Japan on March 21, 2023.
Where will the United States vs Japan be played in the 2023 World Baseball Classic?
The game between the United States vs. Japan for the final of the 2023 World Baseball Classic will be played at LoanDepot Park in Miami.
Where will the United States vs Japan be played in the 2023 World Baseball Classic?
The game between the United States vs Japan for the final of the 2023 World Baseball Classic will be played on Wednesday, March 21 at 7:00 PM E.T.
Betting on the United States
WBC record 2023: 5-1.
Best position: Champion (2017).
Runline: (-1.5, +134).
Moneyline: (-122).
Over/Under: 9.5.
For the second consecutive time, the United States reaches the final of the World Baseball Classic and they do so in a convincing way leaving behind that defeat against Mexico in the second game of the group stage.
The team led by Mark De Rosa crushed Cuba in the semifinal and showed why its lineup is considered one of the best of all time by scoring 23 runs in the last two games.
The spark plug of this attack has been the shortstop of the Phillies, Trea Turner, who was not enough to sentence with a Grand Slam in the game against Venezuela but against Cuba he fired two more home runs, to reach four in the championship and add 10 RBIs with an average of .368.
Collectively, the United States reached 10 complete-game hits in addition to getting 49 runs in six games for an average of eight per engagement. A figure that is not surprising considering that six batters with at least 15 at-bats in the tournament average above .300.
However, when we move to pitch we realize why the offense has been so fundamental for the USA. Collectively, the American wings have a 4.33 ERA and the opponents hit for a .265 average with a WHIP of 1.27.
For his part, the experienced Merrill Kelly is the one selected by De Rosa to start the decisive commitment this Wednesday. The right-hander had a very good 2022 season with the Diamondbacks and was in charge of opening the game against Colombia in which he worked three innings of four hits, two clean runs, two walks and a strikeout.
It is worth remembering that the United States was consecrated in the 2017 edition after defeating the Puerto Rico team in the final with a score of 8-0.
Probable pitcher: Merrill Kelly (0-0, 6.00 ERA)
Betting on Japan
WBC Record 2023: 6-0.
Best position: Champion (2016, 2009).
Runline: (+1.5, -164).
Moneyline: (+100).
Over/Under: 9.5.
With a ninth episode of legend in its semifinal against Mexico, the team of Japan arrives undefeated this Wednesday to its third final of the World Baseball Classic.
Coming from behind twice on the scoreboard, the Japanese sentenced the clash with a two-run double by slugger, Muneta Murakami, who took the ball deep into the center field against star closer Giovanny Gallegos.
This comeback tells us about the great talent that strategist Hideki Kuriyama has in his team and who is capable of playing one-on-one with countries with starting players in the Majors, something that has been criticized throughout the tournament after facing teams without so much talent in the Major Leagues.
With six runs scored in the semifinal, Japan’s batting remains a leader in the category with a total of 53 runs throughout the championship, nobody has more doubles (16) than them and they are also first in OBP (.571) thanks to having more tickets (56) than strikeouts (51) received.
As for figures in the batter’s box we certainly have to talk about Shohei Ohtani, who averages .450 (20-9) with an OPS of 1.421 and who started the party in the ninth act for the Asian comeback.
Next to him, we must mention Masataka Yoshida, the new outfielder of the Red Sox, who in the seventh episode connected a three-run home run to even the score and implant a new mark of RBIs in the World Classic with 13.
Moving on to pitching, the Mexican offense is the one that has done the most damage in this tournament with the five lines scored. Collectively, Japan continues to lead the ERA with a 2.33 ERA and has allowed just seven walks for 72 strikeouts. Opponents barely hit .181 and the WHIP was set at 0.78.
For his part, strategist Kuriyama opted for left-hander Shota Imanaga, instead of the experienced Yu Darvish, to start the final against the United States. In four innings as a reliever, Imanaga has a 2.25 ERA with three hits and five strikeouts with no walks awarded.
It is worth remembering that Japan took the first two editions of the World Baseball Classic beating Cuba 6-10 in the 2006 final, while in 2009 they defeated South Korea 5-3.
Probable pitcher: Shota Imanaga (0-0, 2.25 ERA).
BossBet Prediction
Two of the best offenses of the World Classic face each other in the grand final this Wednesday and of course, we can not expect anything other than a battle of bats from part and part.
Japan’s pitching has been dominant throughout the tournament, but we already saw how a higher-caliber lineup like Mexico’s hurt him.
For its part, the U.S. pitching staff has been erratic and it is doubtful what Merrill Kelly can do against a lineup as dangerous as Japan’s.
The Japanese will arrive emboldened after the historic comeback against Mexico, while the Americans have not tired of batting in the two phases of the playoffs.
Prediction: Over (USA 5 – JAP 6).
