Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on throughout the day today:
1. World Baseball Classic final:
The final match up of the World Baseball Classic is set! After their win over Team Italy last night, Venezuela is set to head to the finals of the WBC and face off against the United States. The game is scheduled for 8pm local time in Miami, with young right-hander Nolan McLean poised to take the mound opposite veteran lefty Eduardo Rodríguez. Both lineups are star-studded. Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Gunnar Henderson, Cal Raleigh, Alex Bregman, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Bobby Witt Jr. are among the many stars on the Team USA roster, while Venezuela is represented by Ronald Acuña Jr., Jackson Chourio, Willson Contreras, William Contreras, Luis Arráez, Wilyer Abreu, Eugenio Suárez, and Maikel Garcia (among others). One thing that could tilt the scales in Venezuela’s favor is uncertainty surrounding Team USA’s top relief arms. Maria Torres and Dennis Lin of The Athletic suggest that star closer Mason Miller may not be available for the game, while Jon Heyman of the New York Post indicates that Miller might be able to pitch but that right-hander David Bednar is likely to be unavailable.
2. Cubs, Suzuki awaiting MRI results:
The Cubs sent star outfielder Seiya Suzuki for an MRI yesterday upon his return to camp after he was removed from Samurai Japan’s final WBC game against Venezuela due to right knee discomfort. Results are expected to be known later today. Suzuki is one of the most important cogs in a deep Chicago lineup, and any missed time for the slugger would be a blow to the Cubs as they look to win the NL Central in a 162-game season for the first time since 2017. Non-roster veteran Michael Conforto and third baseman-turned utilityman Matt Shaw are the top options to replace Suzuki in the lineup should he require a trip to the shelf to start the season.
3. MLBTR chat today:
The World Baseball Classic is wrapping up, and Opening Day is just over the horizon. Free agency is nearing its conclusion (the yet-unsigned Lucas Giolito notwithstanding), and teams around baseball are gearing up for the 2026 campaign. If you’re wondering where your club stands, how their offseason went, or if there might be any other moves for your club to make, you ask MLBTR’s Steve Adams for his thoughts in a chat that’s scheduled for 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, follow along once it goes live, and read the transcript after it’s complete.
Would have likes alittle revenge vs USA 2 errr I mean Team Italy, but should be a fun game.
If Giolito is truly healthy, he should have pitched in the WBC to prove it. Something is up with him. I give the Red Sox credit for knowing when to offer QO’s (Pivetta) and when not to (Giolito, O’Neill).
It would have been a little wild to throw a QO on Giolito after he missed all of 2024 and then went on the injured list in September 2025 with a flexor strain to his pitching elbow.
Agree 100% they played it right with O’Neill.
And am glad they gave Pivetta a QO otherwise he wouldn’t have ended up signing the kind of deal he did. If he ends up opting out after ’26 the Padres will have paid him 2/21.5m. The QO made that possible.
I too was hoping Italy would have won last night from the very beginning of the WBC they were given a 1 percent chance to win the whole thing also would have enjoyed a rematch against the USA infact the USA should have lost to the Dominican Republic but they got lucky because the umpire called a strike when the ball was clearly outside too bad the batter was not given the chance to question it and then to listen to Stephen A Smith yesterday praise the umpire for a good call made me sick to my stomach I can’t stand that guy he’s a lousy actor on the soap opera General Hospital and he’s getting a million dollars for the next 5 years and he’s decided to maybe run for president in 2028 should he win I’m leaving this country ASAP sorry guys went off subject for a minute there
Sentences are a good thing my brother.
That was hysterical 🤣
Stephen Smith notwithstanding, that last pitch to Perdomo may have been a perfect example of a pitch that was in the strike zone as it crossed the front of the plate then dove low. Since ABS calls by a 2D plane in the middle of the plate, it was a ball by ABS but may actually have been a strike.
Old buc fan I didn’t see the game but watching all the replays I thought it was a ball but with 2 strikes against you anything close to the strike zone is too close to take I would have swung at it at the very least to try and foul it off
Periods and commas are your friends.
I’m just now seeing that Miller and Bednar may not be available. That’s a big deal. Considering they both got a day of rest, I’m not a fan of that. It would be different if it was back to back nights like Venezuela is doing.
They both have the MLB season to prepare for. The WBC isn’t the end-all, be-all. Simply a fun exhibition tournament with good baseball.
E. Rod gives up 6 in the first, USA never looks back in a route… USA, USA, USA ‼️
Roadtrip I think you mean rout but it doesn’t matter who wins because Italy lost last night and so the last Cinderella team is gone