The 2023 World Baseball Classic is nearing the championship game, and one team has already stamped its ticket there. On Sunday (March 19) night, the United States beat Cuba, which left team Mexico as the only Latin American country still in the tournament. The 14-2 (ouch) victory over Cuba stamped the United States’ team ticket to the Championship game. With that, Mexico takes on Japan Monday night to decide the other team playing the U.S. for the championship.
Mexico’s journey to the semifinals has been improbable and memorable. They lost their first game against Colombia but have not looked back or lost ever since then. They beat the U.S. in their first meeting, shocking everyone. In the quarterfinals, most pundits and baseball experts picked team Puerto Rico and its superior roster to win. Still, Mexico again surprised everyone by besting Puerto Rico and getting to the semifinals.
That’s not to say that Mexico doesn’t have a fight on its hands when facing Japan.
Japan has run over every opponent they faced in the World Baseball Classic, and the unhittable Roki Sasaki has been pegged to start the game against Mexico on Monday (March 20) night. Even so, fans of Team Mexico have seen their team face off against tough opponents and feel like they have a chance with Patrick Sandoval set to pitch versus Japan.
Mexico plays Japan tonight (March 20) at 7 pm ET. The winner of Mexico versus Japan takes on the U.S. for the championship game on Tuesday (March 21) at 7 pm ET. To watch, check out FOX, FS1, FS2 and the FOX Sports app.