Team USA meets Canada at the World Baseball Classic as this game will be for all the marbles. USA wins and they get into the second round. Canada wins and they make it to the second round of the 2013 WBC. Who will win it? Well this one is up in the air.
It will be Texas Rangers' Derek Holland on the mound for Team USA. On the mound for Canada, Jameson Taillon, a 21-year-old righty out of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Both guys are young and have their share of talents. However, one has to give Holland the edge in this matchup.
Holland has pitched in baseball's largest stage in the past as his Rangers found themselves in the World Series a couple of times in recent years. Holland has pitched poorly while also having success. Today's must-win situation wouldn't unnerve the already experienced 26-year-old. His attitude is perfect for the game as he's able to have fun with teammates despite pitching in a very big game.
As for Canada, these guys are riled up following their brawl with Mexico. Things got really nasty as the Mexicans felt insulted by Chris Robinson's ninth inning bunt following some hard nose playing that seemed to have gotten under Mexico's skin. The brawl saw seven players get ejected, but saw zero suspensions from the remainder of the tournament.
Italy is already in. The U.S. defeated them 6-2 giving them their only loss of the first round, which is a big victory.
So the U.S. might feel very confident about their chances of advancing being that Italy beat Canada 14-4. Canada could be a little intidimated as the U.S. bats woke up yesterday.
Final Score Predictions: Look for Holland to dominate on the mound as an American crowd is sure to be heavily in attendance. With the crowd behind him and a powerful U.S. lineup ready to play great baseball, it's hard to vote against these Americans ready to make a statement in international competition. USA will win 8-3
Game is scheduled to be played at 4 p.m. ET.
