Projected Starters: USA (Tanner Roark 16-10, 2.83 ERA 2016 MLB) vs Japan (Tomoyuki Sugano)
The United States will face two-time World Baseball Classic Champion Japan tonight in Los Angeles in the semi-finals. The winner will advance to take on Puerto Rico, Wednesday night for the WBC title.
Japan is a perfect 6-0 in the tournament so far and have outscored their opponents 46-22. Japan is scheduled to start 27 year old handed pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, who is 2-0 with a 5.40 earned run average in this World Baseball Classic.
Japan has had the most successful history in the history of the WBC, with championships in 2006 and 2009, to go along with a semifinal appearance in 2013.
The United States began as a +123 underdog, but are now-108 favorites, although this could be based on America gambler bias swinging the line. But team USA is loaded, despite, the continued argument that I am personally tired of hearing about Mike Trout not playing. However, talent on paper has never been an issue for the United States teams that have fallen short in the past. The USA has never placed better than a 4th place finish in 2009.
I expect another great game tonight with the United States advancing to the finals for a rematch with Puerto Rico.
My prediction:
United States 5 Japan 4
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