NEWSLETTER
Two for the price of one, how ’bout that?
Tonight the Chicago Cubs are taking on the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark … at the same time Team USA is going for their first ever World Baseball Classic title.
Unfortunately, both games will be going on at the same time (hence one Pre-Gamin’ post) and Team USA will have to go through Javy Baez and an undefeated Team Puerto Rico first.
But let’s slow down and start with some thoughts on the Cubs’ game first.
Cubs’ prospect Ryan Williams takes the ball tonight for Chicago. After being named the Cubs’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2015, Williams made just nine starts for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs last season (shoulder injury). He was very recently a pitching prospect on the rise, and even though he’s on the older end of the spectrum (25), he’s still got a Major League future.
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Today’s Cubs’ game is being broadcast on CSN Chicago. The Cubs-based audio will be available at 670 The Score and MLB.com. For future reference, you can check which games will be televised here.
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Miguel Montero, C
- Addison Russell, SS
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Ian Happ, 2B (Ben Zobrist scratched due to stiff neck)
- Jeimer Candelario, 1B
- Matt Szczur, DH
- Jon Jay, CF
Starting Pitcher: Ryan Williams
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The other game tonight is a big one: The World Baseball Classic finale. It’ll be broadcast on MLB Network, and the audio will be available at MLB.com.
For the name on the front. Team USA. Puerto Rico. The world is watching. TONIGHT, 9pm ET/6pm PT, MLB Network. #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/ooQ90tBsoW
— MLB (@MLB) March 22, 2017
As I mentioned in the introduction, Team USA has never won the tournament before (they’ve never even made it this far), so this is legitimately very exciting. And if Team Puerto Rico continues to play with the intensity and excitement that’s helped them go undefeated this Spring, then it’s sure to be a wild matchup.
Marcus Stroman gets the nod tonight for Team USA, and he’s seen the most action on his team (9.1 IP). Opposite Stroman – and starting for Team Puerto Rico – is fellow Major Leaguer Seth Lugo. Lugo is also the most prolific starter for his team (11.0 IP) as well, and has been very successful so far: 5Ks, 1BB, 3 ERs (2.45 ERA). It’s winner take all, so strap in.
Team USA Lineup:
- Ian Kinsler, 2B
- Adam Jones, CF
- Christian Yelich, LF
- Nolan Arenado, 3B
- Eric Hosmer, 1B
- Andrew McCutchen, RF
- Brandon Crawford, SS
- Giancarlo Stanton, DH
- Jonathan Lucroy, C
Pitcher: Marcus Stroman
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Team Puerto Rico Lineup:
- Angel Pagan, LF
- Francisco Lindor, SS
- Carlos Correa, 3B
- Carlos Beltran, DH
- Yadier Molina, C
- Javy Baez, 2B
- Eddie Rosario, RF
- T.J. Rivera, 1B
- Enrique Hernandez, CF
Pitcher: Seth Lugo
Can I be rooting for Team USA, but also pro-Javy Baez? Because if not, I might just be #TeamJavy. Or maybe I’m just doing too much talking:
"There's just no way Javy Baez can keep up these feats of magnificence."
Javy: pic.twitter.com/gb5lW429MD
— Baseball is Fun (@flippingbats) March 21, 2017
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