Team USA’s defense at the 2017 World Baseball Classic Championship began on Sunday with a 6-2 win over Great Britain. Considering the talent gap between the two teams, the end result was much closer than expected. The USA take on Mexico in a highly anticipated game on Sunday night. Here’s how you can watch USA vs Mexico.
The US started Saturday with Cardinals star Adam Wainwright against Britain and Sunday with Padres righty Nick Martinez against Mexico. On Monday, the United States will start against Canada with White Sox workhorse Lance Lynn. according to USA Today.
“You represent your country, so there really isn’t much greater you can do as an athlete than win a World Series.” Lynn told MLB.com earlier this month about her participation in the WBC. “If you represent your country, that’s pretty high.”
The US piggybacked Rockies left Kyle Freeland with Wainwright against Britain. Starters Merrill Kelly (Diamondbacks), Miles Mikolas (Cardinals) and Brady Singer (Royals) are also on the list. The first round consists of four games and the USA finish the pool game against Colombia on Wednesday. Kelly, Mikolas, or Singer could start this game with the others eventually available for relief.
Canada are tentatively scheduled to start left Mitch Bratt, a 19-year-old Rangers contender who played in the Single-A in 2022, against the United States on Monday, according to Sportsnet. Bratt was a fifth-round draft pick in MLB in 2021. He pitched 80 2/3 innings last season with a 2.45 ERA and 90 strikeouts. MLB.com ranks him #17 on the Rangers system.
Canada will certainly be underdogs against the USA, but they are not lacking in talent. Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman and Cardinals outfielder Tyler O’Neill form the base of the lineup, and their ace is Guardians righty Cal Quantrill. Quantrill starts Sunday’s Canada’s WBC opener against Great Britain.
The first round of the WBC consists of four pools with five teams. Each team plays every other team in their pool once, and the teams with the top two scores advance to the Quarterfinals. Cuba and Italy have prevailed from the duel with five teams in Pool A. Japan has already secured a place in the Quarterfinals from Pool B.
The US and Canada are in Pool C with Colombia, the UK and Mexico. Colombia upset Mexico in 10 innings on Saturday.