The World Baseball Classic is underway. Games officially started on Wednesday, but today is the first full day of games in the event. This will also be the first official gameday for Team USA for this year’s WBC.
Team USA is part of Pool B playing in Houston. Group play opened earlier today with Mexico facing Great Britain, and Team Mexico took the win 8-2. Joey Ortiz was in the lineup for Mexico and went 1-for-3 with a double, walk, and RBI. Team Italy is the fifth team in the group, and opens with the day off.
In other group play, William Contreras was in Venezuela’s lineup and went 0-for-3 with a walk. Also, Jackson Chourio was out of the lineup for Venezuela after being hit in the hand with a pitch, but X-rays were negative and he was available off the bench.
Brice Turang is in the lineup for the first game for Team USA, batting ninth and playing second base. He’s the lone Brewer on the stacked Team USA. As for Team Brazil, no current Brewers are on the roster. Logan Webb of the Giants is starting for Team USA. For Team Brazil, Bo Takahashi — a former Diamondbacks and Reds prospect, now pitching in Japan — will start tonight.
Here’s the full Team USA schedule for Pool B:
- Today, March 6 @ 7 p.m. : vs. Brazil
- Saturday, March 7 @ 7 p.m.: vs. Great Britain
- Sunday, March 8: Off Day
- Monday, March 9 @ 7 p.m.: vs. Mexico
- Tuesday, March 10 @ 8 p.m.: vs. Italy
If Team USA advances (top two teams advance from each pool), the quarterfinals will be March 13 & 14. Semifinals are set for March 15 & 16 with the finals on March 17.
Here are the full lineups for tonight’s game. Team USA will be the road team and Team Brazil will be the home team. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. CT on FOX.
