The United States will play its first World Baseball Classic semi-final game in eight years on Tuesday night as they look to defeat Japan and advance to the Championship Game and play Puerto Rico. Tonight’s contest will be played at Dodger Stadium and televised on MLB Network at 9:00 PM.
The United States will send Washington Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark to the mound instead of Tampa Bay Rays ace Chris Archer. He will be opposed by right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano for Japan.
Japan is the only team to make it to the semifinals in all four World Baseball Classics. The were crowned WBC Champions in two of the first three tournaments.
This is only the second time since the inception of the WBC that the United States has reached the final four. The last time was in 2009, when they lost to Japan who went on to win the tournament. So this is a grudge match of sorts.
Team USA Lineup
- Ian Kinsler, 2B
- Adam Jones, CF
- Christian Yelich, LF
- Nolan Arenado, 3B
- Eric Hosmer, 1B
- Andrew McCutchen, RF
- Buster Posey, C
- Giancarlo Stanton, DH
- Brandon Crawford, SS
Team Japan Lineup
- Tetsuto Yamada, DH
- Ryosuke Kikuchi, 2B
- Norichika Aoki, CF
- Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh, LF
- Sho Nakata, 1B
- Hayato Sakamoto, SS
- Seiya Suzuki, RF
- Noburhiro Matsuda, 3B
- Seiji Kobayashi, C
