Nobody can lose if they want to stay alive in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Puerto Rico versus Japan highlights the matchup as they meet in the semifinals of the tournament. The winner advances to the championship. Don't miss the live action and check out the live stream at the bottom of the page. However, let's look at the starting lineups and pitching matchups for Puerto Rico vs. Japan.
For Japan, their amazing ace, Kenta Maeda. He shut down the competition when facing the Netherlands in their Pool 1 matchup. Opposing him and on the hill for Puerto Rico will be Mario Santiago who struggled in his last start against Team USA. Japan could use another brilliant start, while Puerto Rico can't afford for Santiago to give up a lot of runs early on in their game.
Here's Japan's starting lineup:
1. Toritani 2B
2. Ibata DH
3. Uchikawa RF
4. Abe C
5. Sakamoto SS
6. Itoi CF
7. Nakata LF
8. Ibana 1B
9. Matsuda 3B
For Puerto Rico, they feature almost the same guys as always.
1. Pagan CF
2. Falu 2B
3. Beltran DH
4. Molina C
5. Aviles SS
6. Rios RF
7. Rivera 1B
8. Gonzalez 3B
9. Feliciano LF
The game kicks off at 9 p.m. ET. The winner will await for an opponent as the Dominican Republic face the Netherlands in the semifinals on Monday.
However, the focus will be on winning today. The loser goes home and has to settle for fourth place. The Japanese are two-time champions, winning the first two World Baseball Classics and looking for more.
Find out if Japan's five-day hiatus from baseball will create a problem for them as Puerto Rico has been active all week long.
