The United States' starting lineup should create problems for everybody. They hold Mexico's fate in their hand today as they get ready to play their first game in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Who will be starting and on the mound for Team USA?
R.A. Dickey will have the honor of starting for the Americans. The 2012 N.L. Cy Young Award winner will take the mound and face the Mexican team that needs to win. Hopefully, for the U.S., his knuckleball is twisting and turning in the right direction.
As for the rest of Team USA, they have a lineup filled with veterans, youngsters, speed and power as they will look to dominate international pitching. Check out the starting lineup manager Joe Torre put together for this game.
1. Jimmy Rollins- SS
2. Brandon Phillips- 2B
3. Ryan Braun- LF
4. Joe Mauer- DH
5. David Wright- 3B
6. Eric Hosmer- 1B
7. Giancarlo Stanton- RF
8. Adam Jones- CF
9. J.P. Arencibia- C
As you can see, there's a little bit of everything up and down this Team U.S. lineup. There's speed at the top mixed in with power. There's a ton of contact up and down except for maybe Arencibia who sports the lowest average barely mainting above the Mendoza Line (.200).
You can ask any manager or team, they would love to have a guy like Stanton batting seventh in their lineup. Currently, maybe only the Atlanta Braves have a hitter as powerful as Stanton in their seventh hole with Dan Uggla after Brian McCann returns from the disabled list.
They would have closed off with great power had Mark Teixeira been around. Hosmer became his replacement recently and will have the opportunity to start.
The U.S. comes second in the rankings only behind Cuba. They are attempting to make a push for the championship this year having not made it to the final round in both of the last two World Baseball Classics.
Aside from Mexico, they will also face Italy and Canada in the next upcoming days.
Ryan Vogelson and Gio Gonzalez will like start those two games and Craig Kimbrel is expected to close things out. Other position players include Willie Bloomquist, Shane Victorino and Ben Zobrist.
You can click here for the entire schedule and Team USA roster at the 2013 WBC.