On one side of the bracket, the United States got off to a rocky start. They were routed by Mexico in an 11-5 loss that was somehow even more one-sided than the score suggests. Since then, however, the United States has won its last three games, dominating Canada and edging out Colombia. Its last game, a semifinal 14-2 laugher over Cuba, showed that perhaps this vaunted lineup is finally living up to its expectations.
Japan, meanwhile, enters as the only undefeated team in this tournament. Samurai Japan went 4-0 in pool play, defeated Italy 9-3 in the quarterfinals, and eked out Mexico 6-5 in stunning walk-off fashion, courtesy of two-time Central League MVP Munetaka Murakami. Murakami, who struck out three times in the semifinal against Mexico, became the hero with a double to drive in Shohei Ohtani and pinch-runner Ukyo Shuto, giving Japan its first WBC final berth since 2009.
Ohtani and Japan will face off against his teammate Mike Trout and the United States, creating a matchup between two of the best players of this generation.MORE: Watch the World Baseball Classic final live on Fubo (free trial)
Merrill Kelly will be on the mound for the United States, and Shota Imanaga will start for Japan. Roki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, two of Japan’s best, are ineligible to pitch after throwing 50 pitches Monday, but veteran Yu Darvish is expected to be available. The big question, of course, is if Shohei Ohtani will take the bump.The Sporting News is tracking USA vs. Japan live, as Japan looks for its third WBC win and the United States seeks its second straight.
USA vs. Japan score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | F | |
| USA | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Japan | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
USA vs. Japan live updates, highlights from World Baseball Classic championship
(All times Eastern)
6:10 p.m. — Munetaka Murakami was a big talking point heading into the WBC. The back to back Central League MVP in NPB, who set a Japanese-born player record last year with 56 home runs, was struggling in the Classic. He’s batting .227 with an OPS of .743 through the semifinals. But no matter what the numbers are, his WBC is a success after his walkoff double against Giovanny Gallegos to propel Japan to the championship. He has five RBIs in this Classic, and if Turner’s grand slam isn’t the biggest hit of the WBC so far, Munetaka’s double against Mexico is.
JAPAN WALKS IT OFF! JAPAN WALKS IT OFF! 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/K5VBlpIyTC
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 21, 2023
6:05 p.m. — Japan’s lineup is much the same as the game against Mexico, with Lars Nootbaar, Kensuke Kondoh, and Shohei Ohtani making up the top three. The Red Sox offseason signing Masataka Yoshida is back in the cleanup spot, with Monday’s hero Munetaka Murakami batting fifth. Kazuma Okamoto, Tetsuto Yamada, bunting extraordinaire Sosuke Genda, and the outstanding hitting catcher Yuhei Nakamura make up the rest of the order.
🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵
Japan’s starting lineup for tonight’s WBC championship‼️ pic.twitter.com/MAf3G2kgP5
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 21, 2023
6 p.m. — Japan and the United States are the top two teams in the WBC by OPS so far. Japan is at .986 and USA is .969. USA also leads the WBC in home runs at 10, while Japan is tied with several teams in second at seven. Trea Turner has four home runs to this point, including one of the biggest of the Classic for any team: The eighth-inning grand slam that propelled Team USA to a win over Venezuela.
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5:50 p.m. — Here are the lineups for the WBC. The United States will stick with the top of the order that has gotten it here: Mookie Betts-Mike Trout-Paul Goldschmidt. Nolan Arenado is cleanup. Philly fans, get excited. 5-6-7 are Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and J.T. Realmuto. The order is rounded out by Cedric Mullins and Tim Anderson.
🗣️ U-S-A!@USABaseball‘s lineup for tonight’s WBC championship 🇺🇸⚾️ pic.twitter.com/dGZWReP1Da
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 21, 2023
5:40 p.m. — For the United States, Merrill Kelly is on the mound. Kelly, a Diamondbacks dealer, has three innings in one game in this WBC. He allowed four hits and two runs in a crucial game against Colombia. In MLB, Kelly threw 200 1/3 innings in 2022, logging a 3.37 ERA.
5:30 p.m. — Shota Imanaga is pitching for Japan. The Yokohama DeNa BayStars dealer has thrown four innings in two games, but this will be his first start of the WBC. Imanaga has allowed three hits and one run in those games. Last year in NPB, he threw 158 2/3 innings and posted a 2.04 ERA.
5:10 p.m. — Will we see these Angels teammates face off tonight? Shohei Ohtani is eligible to pitch. But he may or may not see the mound after pitching in the quarterfinals against Italy.
Reunited on the world’s biggest stage. #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/AHrsjfADzO
— MLBPA (@MLBPA) March 21, 2023
USA vs. Japan start time
- Start time: 7 p.m. ET | 4 p.m. PT
First pitch for the United States’ clash with Japan is set for 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT).
The 2023 World Baseball Classic championship game will be played at loanDepot Park in Miami, home of MLB’s Marlins.
How to watch USA vs. Japan in World Baseball Classic
- TV channel: FS1
- Live stream: FoxSports.com, Fubo
The 2023 World Baseball Classic championship between Team USA and Japan will be broadcast on FS1. Fans can also stream the game live on FoxSports.com or with Fubo, which offers a free trial.
