The WBC final is set. Venezuela dumped the Cinderella Italian squad 4-2 on Monday night, setting up a fitting championship game.
With all the political buzz surrounding the two nations, the two best teams will play for the title of the top baseball country in the world.
Venezuela did not have an easy path to the WBC final. After finishing second in a tough Pool D, the Caribbean side had to face defending champion Japan in their quarterfinal match. Venezuela showed up to play, leaving the Asian team in the dust. The 8-5 victory set up an unlikely semi-final game against Italy.
Italy, meanwhile, had emerged as the tourney’s biggest surprise. Their solid 8-6 win over Puerto Rico put them on pace to down Venezuela and earn their ticket to the WBC final. But that wouldn’t be the case. Venezuela rallied to beat Italy and set up a collision course with the United States.
And boy, the game promises to be a classic for the ages.
With neither team being overly dominant, the battle should be tight. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see another low-scoring pitching fest on Tuesday night in Miami.
The winner will take home more than just a world title. They’ll take home national pride.
Pitching Key in WBC Final
Pitching will be key in the WBC final. The two semi-final contests were proof of that. The US got past the Dominican Republic on the heels of a fantastic performance from Paul Skenes. The NL Cy Young winner kept the US in the game long enough for the bullpen to finish the job.
Similarly, Venezuela held Italy to two runs. This was the Italian side that pounded Brazil 8-0 and Mexico 9-1. Italy emerged as an offensive powerhouse, but its bats fell silent in the most important game of the tourney.
That’s why pitching will be the difference in the WBC final. The team with the best staff should emerge as champions.
The US will send New York Mets hurler Nolan McLean to the mound. McLean took the loss in the US’s only defeat. He tossed three innings against Italy in their 8-6 loss. He pitched well enough, surrendering three runs on just two hits. But the Italians took the game.
Beyond that, the Americans’ pitching has been stellar. However, it’s worth noting that McLean could be on a short leash. If he gets into trouble early, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him get the hook before the game gets out of hand.
Venezuela, meanwhile, has not named its starter for Tuesday night’s WBC final.
Venezuela-US Matchup Is What Tournament Is All About
Like all major best-on-best sporting events, a final featuring the best players in their respective sports is what everything boils down to.
Whoever takes the WBC final will do so among the best in the game. This championship game won’t be about two teams backing into the final game. It will be about some of the sport’s biggest stars showing for the world to see.
The drama surrounding the event is just another layer of what promises to be the best WBC final yet.
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