What’s at stake Tuesday night in the World Baseball Classic final between the United States and Japan at Miami’s LoanDepot Park?
Oh, just global baseball bragging rights for at least the next three years.
It’s the matchup that most baseball fans have been not-so-secretly hoping for throughout the tournament — and it’s finally here, for the WBC trophy. Now all that’s left to find out is whether the defending champs, Team USA, repeat — or Japan wins its third WBC title after eliminating Mexico in a dramatic semifinal.
We asked our team of baseball experts to make their picks, break down the two finalists and share their favorite highlight from what has been an earth-shaking WBC tournament so far.
The matchup
First pitch: 7 p.m.
Japan (6-0 in 2023 WBC) Starting pitcher: Shota Imanaga
USA (5-1 in 2023 WBC) Starting pitcher: TBD
What to expect from Team USA
Why the U.S. can win: Because that lineup is devastating, particularly when it goes back-to-back-to-back with Trea Turner, Betts and Mike Trout in the Nos. 9, 1 and 2 spots. That’s three of the most complete offensive players in the sport, capable of beating teams with their speed, power and on-base ability. And Turner, who has homered three times in his last two games, is especially hot right now. — Alden Gonzalez
What can stop it: For as deep and talented as Team USA’s position player group is, the pitching staff seems a bit vulnerable, particularly the first 21 outs, before Devin Williams and Ryan Pressly can factor into the game. Performance from the middle relievers — a group consisting of Adam Ottavino, David Bednar, Kendall Graveman and Daniel Bard, the latter of whom suffered noticeable command issues in his last appearance — will be critical. — Gonzalez
Player to watch: Trout. The all-world outfielder has been waiting for this moment seemingly his whole career. It hasn’t come with the Angels yet, so this is the next best thing — a chance to lead Team USA to a WBC title. And imagine this: He could get a chance to bat against Angels teammate Shohei Ohtani in the championship game. — Jesse Rogers
What to expect from Team Japan
Why Japan will win: Because this team is incredibly talented, from Shohei Ohtani to Masataka Yoshida to Munetaka Murakami — the three players who capped the ninth-inning rally against Mexico to advance to the finals — and all the way down the lineup. Because their team, called Samurai Japan, has a long history of excelling in international tournaments. Because they have the better starting pitcher, Yu Darvish. And because it’s tough to pick against a team that still hasn’t lost in the tournament. — Jeff Passan
What can stop it: Team USA’s lineup is really, really good, with All-Stars from top to bottom, something Cuba learned in its 14-2 semifinal loss. Beyond the power of Team USA, though, there’s a matter of the bullpen. Even though these are the best of the best in Japan, the quality of stuff they have seen on their route to the final is just different than what the American pitchers, particularly the relievers, have to offer. Japan wants to grab an early lead, because clawing from behind against rested American relievers will be tougher than it was against Mexico. — Passan
Player to watch: Ohtani.Who else could it be for Japan? In truth, this team has several stars who have had great moments during the WBC, but Ohtani will start at DH and still could be called upon to pitch late in the game. If all goes perfectly, Ohtani will help get Japan a lead and then pitch his country to a championship in relief.— Rogers
Best moment of the WBC so far … and will anything in the final top it?
Gonzalez: Trea Turner’s grand slam in the eighth inning of Team USA’s thrilling victory in the quarterfinals. The atmosphere inside LoanDepot Park was electric, the excitement among the U.S. players was palpable — and it was the exclamation point for one of the most intense, back-and-forth games in recent memory, in any setting. As to whether something will top it in the final? Yeah, maybe. This year’s tournament has continually exceeded expectations.
Passan: Mexico-Japan, for a spot in the WBC finals. It’s the bottom of the ninth. Mexico leads by a run. The best player in the world steps up and whacks a double. A star in Japan, who will soon be one in America, draws a walk. The best hitter in Japan hammers a game-winning double off the wall to score both, bringing a chaotic, madcap, gorgeous baseball game to an end. Ohtani, Masataka Yoshida and Munetaka Murakami will go down in baseball lore for making Japan 6, Mexico 5 a reality. It was just a reminder that the WBC brings the intensity of October, only in March.
Rogers: Randy Arozarena doing just about anything could qualify for the best moment — the catches, the celebrations, the vibes. But can it really be anything other than Turner’s slam to save Team USA’s season? Yes, Japan’s walk-off Monday to reach the finals came close, but Turner’s slam is the moment.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Alex Ovechkin didn’t score for Washington, staying at 889 career goals and six away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record.
But Ovechkin did initiate a memorable moment on the ice in Minnesota on Thursday night.
The three-time NHL MVP, who has been in the spotlight for months amid his pursuit of Gretzky’s career goal mark, hustled over toward the tunnel behind the bench after the horn sounded on Washington’s 4-2 loss to make sure all of the Capitals came back on the ice to shake hands with retiring Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Ovechkin was the first to greet Fleury at center ice as they shared a hug and a laugh.
Fleury, who’s in his 21st and assuredly final season in the league, was on the home bench all night while Filip Gustavsson manned the net.
Ovechkin mentioned to the team in the morning that it would be the last matchup against Fleury, who faced Ovechkin and the Capitals frequently over the first 13 seasons of his career with Pittsburgh. Ovechkin had 28 goals in 47 games against Fleury, his most against any goalie.
“He’s had so many battles with the Caps, with ‘O,'” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “Pretty classy to be able to send him off and just say how impressive a career he had.”
“Everyone knows he’s one of the best people of all time in the game, so the little respect we can show him at the end of the game I think goes a long way,” Strome said.
The Wild were impressed by the gesture, even if they weren’t surprised.
“Every team we go to, you see the signs. Everyone loves him, and everyone loves playing against him,” Gustavsson said. “I think no one really would say anything bad about him.”
At some point soon, the Wild probably will find themselves doing their own internal tribute.
“It’s awesome to see. It’s fun for him, and I am happy for him,” defenseman Jonas Brodin said. “He’s a great person and one of the best I have ever played with, so it’s pretty cool. It’s special to have that when you quit hockey someday, that you played with that guy, for sure.”
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The accomplishment was special. The result disappointing.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby sat slumped at his locker stall Thursday night focused more on his team’s latest lopsided loss than the personal milestone of breaking an NHL record he shared with Wayne Gretzky for point-per-game consistency.
“It’s tough when you play to win. And obviously it’s a special milestone,” Crosby said following a 7-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, inching the Penguins closer to missing the playoffs for a third straight season.
“But you know in a game like that, it’s not really the same. So, yeah, just a tough night. Yeah, tough night.”
With his parents in the Buffalo stands, Crosby provided the Penguins’ lone highlight by scoring 8:49 into the first period to cut the Sabres’ lead to 2-1. Set up in front by Rickard Rackell, Crosby used his right skate to kick the puck onto his stick and in one motion snapped a shot inside the right post.
It was his 26th goal and 80th point of the season in his 72nd game, after missing two with injury. With eight games left in Pittsburgh’s season, Crosby is assured of finishing his 20th NHL season averaging at least a point per outing.
The Penguins captain surpassed the mark first set by Gretzky, who finished all but his 20th and final NHL season in 1998-99 averaging a point a game.
“He’s a tremendous, special player and person,” teammate Bryan Rust said. “There’s a lot of people who can be good for one, two, five years. But to do it for that long, I think is incredibly special.”
What stands out beyond the consistency to coach Mike Sullivan is Crosby’s competitive drive.
“I’ve said it on so many occasions, just his passion for the game and his willingness to put the work in to continue to be at his best. It’s just remarkable,” Sullivan said.
This, after all, is a player who has upped his game since the 4 Nations tournament by combining for nine goals and 22 points in his past 17 outings in a bid to carry the Penguins back into playoff contention.
“I think when you’re in circumstances like this, you find out a lot about people,” Sullivan said. “And I think it exemplifies his leadership.”
Since being selected by Pittsburgh with the No. 1 pick in 2005 draft, Crosby has led the franchise to win three Stanley Cup championships. He’s a two-time NHL regular season MVP and twice won the league’s regular-season points race.
“I think you have to continue to get better and learn, even after thjs long, you’ve got to continue to evolve and adjust,” Crosby said of the keys to his consistency. “But I’ve been pretty lucky to play with some great players over that 20 years. And I think that’s a big part of it, too.”
Crosby’s feat comes as Washington’s Alex Ovechkin is five goals from breaking Gretzky’s NHL career record of 894 career goals.
It shouldn’t have been a surprise that Crosby scored against Buffalo. He has made a career of producing against the non-division rivals in leading all active players with 86 points (30 goals, 56 assists) in 61 career games against the Sabres.
Loss aside, the consolation for Crosby was having his parents on hand to share yet another memorable moment in a career that included him scoring the gold-medal clinching goal in a 3-2 overtime win over the U.S. at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
“They’ve been to a lot of games over the years and they’ve sacrificed so much and been so, so supportive,” Crosby said. “To have them here for a moment like this is really special. And it’s the least I could do.”
The fine, announced Thursday by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, is the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
The incident occurred at 13:58 of the second period, with Callahan assessed a double minor penalty for high sticking. Callahan and Harkins were assessed penalties for fighting at the 4:12 mark of the third period.
Callahan, 25, has played 14 games and has zero points, a minus-4 rating, 11 blocks and five hits in averaging 13:32 of ice time. He earned his first penalty minutes of the season Wednesday.
