Via MLB/Team USA

We’re getting into crunch time in the World Baseball Classic and we have a mouthwatering game to look forward to on Saturday. Team USA will take on Team Venezuela with a place in the semifinals at stake.

While the WBC has come under fire this week in light of the Edwin Díaz injury news, the tournament has still delivered plenty of thrilling moments and that will only continue the deeper we get in.

Saturday’s marquee showdown will feature some important Mets connections, too. Pete Alonso will be hoping to help Team USA continue their march to hopefully defending their crowd. Meanwhile, Eduardo Escobar will be looking to help Venezuela remain unbeaten and move a step closer to ultimate glory. Escobar hit a home run in Venezuela’s victory over Israel on Wednesday.

Team USA finished second in Pool C (3-1) after losing to Mexico but beating Great Britain, Canada and Columbia. Team Venezuela, on the other hand, went a perfect 4-0 in what was a juggernaut of a Pool D, beating the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua and Israel.

Before we look ahead to Saturday’s contest a little more, however, there was some WBC action on Friday as Mexico met Puerto Rico in quarterfinal 4.

Puerto Rico 4-5 Mexico

In what was one of the best and most electrifying games yet of the World Baseball Classic, it was Mexico who came out on top in an absolute thriller.

It was Puerto Rico, though, who came out swinging. Showing no impact in the wake of the devastating injury to Díaz just days before, Javier Báez and Eddie Rosario hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning. However, Mexico got back into the game thanks to Isaac Paredes, who hit an absolute 412 feet moonshot off former Met Marcus Stroman.

Francisco Lindor and the rest of the Puerto Rico lineup was stifled by excellent pitching, while Mexico continued to get clutch hits at the plate. Paredes hit a game-tying, two run single to left field, before Luis Urías followed that up with a go-ahead single to put his country in the driving seat. Randy Arozarena then made a superb leaping catch at the warning track to rob Emmanuel Rivera in the eighth inning.

While Lindor and Puerto Rico will now head home, Mexico will begin preparing to take on a powerhouse Japan team in the semifinals on Monday.

USA vs. Venezuela, 7:00 P.M. EST

This is a matchup between two heavyweights with a lot of talent. Team USA boasts a lot of star power up and down their lineup and they have been powered by Mike Trout. The Angels superstar has been thriving on the big stage, going 3-for-4 and driving in all of Team USA’s runs during their win over Columbia on Wednesday. Trout is slashing .417/588/.833 in his first four WBC games.

Venezuela are unbeaten heading into Saturday’s quarterfinal, and they have been playing really impressive baseball from the very start of the tournament. They too have a lot of talent in their ranks, including veteran catcher Salvador Perez who was named the Pool D MVP after going 5-for-10 at the plate in his first three games. Perez drove in five runs and hit a homer and three doubles while slashing .500/.545/.1.100 during that stretch.

Neither Alonso nor Escobar are in the lineup for their respective countries.

Chicago White Sox righty Lance Lynn will get the start for Team USA, while Texas Rangers lefty Martín Pérez will go for Team Venezuela.

The winner of Saturday’s quarterfinal will go on to meet Cuba in the first semifinal on Sunday night.

Saturday’s quarterfinal between Team USA and Team Venezuela will be broadcast live on FOX.