The winner of Japan VS Mexico will face Team USA for the World Baseball Classic title on Tuesday. So, in this preview, we will be examining the strengths of these two countries and the possibility of one of them winning tonight’s matchup.
Mexico for one part has the power of Randy Arozarena and Julio Urías, but Joey Meneses and Rowdy Tellez stealing the WBC spotlight and getting labelled “Team of Destiny” seems to check out.
But, the most challenging match Mexico will play in this tournament will happen tonight in Miami which is the quarterfinal between them and present favourite Japan. There is no team with a higher OPS (.996) or a lower ERA (1.80).
MatchPlug discusses this semi-final while examining how bettors should bet. We also laid out some MLB Predictions Today to help you get started on your wagering.
Predictions and Betting Preview for Japan VS Mexico Pirates WBC Playoffs
- Venue: LoanDepot, Park, Miami
- When: Monday, March 20th, 2023
- Time: 16:00 GMT
- Teams to play: Japan and Mexico
- MLB Expert Picks: MONEYLINE 1.4
Odds as seen on 1XBet and BetMGM.
Betting On Team Japan
- 1XBet Spread: -1.5
- 1XBet Moneyline: 1.4
- 1XBet Over/Under: Over 8.5
- BetMGM Spread: 1.5
- BetMGM Moneyline: 1.40
- BetMGM Over/Under: Under 8.5
Shohei Ohtani may have appeared for the last time for Team Japan on the mound in the WBC. This is due to him being scheduled to play in the Los Angeles Opening Day starter on March 30th. Ohtani pitching in the semis or finals would be too close to this game, so he would be the starter for the quarterfinal instead.
Roki Sasaki will be starting for Team Japan in place of Ohtani. To put Sasaki’s past WBC starting in perspective; out of 66 pitches, 21 clocked at over 100 mph.
Masataka Yoshida hit a couple of hard-hit balls against Italy, Kensuke Kondoh has been shelling out extra-base hits and walks, while the star himself, Ohtani has been delivering greatness with an OBP of .625.
The fine mix of MLB talent and young stars from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league has made Team Japan patient enough to wait till they can destroy another unsuspecting team in the WBC.
Betting On Team Mexico
- 1XBet Spread: +1.5
- 1XBet Moneyline: 3.032
- 1XBet Over/Under: Under 8.5
- BetMGM Spread: +1.5
- BetMGM Moneyline: 3.00
- BetMGM Over/Under: Over 8.5
Team Mexico hasn’t been tested against the kind of destruction Japan will bring for them in this tournament, except that time they played against Colombia in the opening. Guillermo Zuniga reached 102 mph, going for two strong innings, striking out four and allowing only one hit. That was the only game Mexico lost in this competition (5-4).
Patrick Sandoval will begin the pitching for Mexico, he is a Los Angeles Angels left who depends on a sinker that placed top 20 in run value last season (-8), and he is a magician whose curveball spin ranked in the 87th percentile in the league last season. Sandoval is second in the Angels rotation for a good reason, behind Ohtani (this will make today’s game sensational).
But, even if Sandoval can muster three or four innings, Japan has shown that there’s nothing they can’t handle. Japan has a pool of talent in a great blend of other outstanding talents who are dangerous in the field, not to mention Shohei Ohtani who has sacked many other countries in the WBC.
MatchPlug Prediction
Backing the favourite which is Japan, would be the smart thing to do for Japan VS Mexico. One good reason for this is Yu Darvish a world-renowned pitcher on their squad, who emerged in the quarterfinals.
Japan wanted to ensure that Italy couldn’t make a serious comeback. They deployed Darvish who is one of the most dangerous hurlers in MLB this season. He was effective of course, allowing one earned run in two innings of work.
Mexico has done well in making it this far in the WBC. However, having Japan as the favourite doesn’t mean this country shouldn’t be given flowers. It only remains to be seen how they’ll fair against Japan.
