Can Czech upstarts upset Japan? (Sat., 5 a.m. ET on FS1)

A pair of undefeated golf equipment will meet in a Pool B showdown on Saturday morning when the Czech Republic takes on Japan on the Tokyo Dome.

Here’s what you might want to learn about Saturday’s matchup:

How you’ll be able to watch: The sport between the Czech Republic and Japan will air dwell at 5 a.m. ET on FS1. Games can be found on FOX, FS1, FS2, Tubi or FOX Deportes, and each sport might be streamed on-line within the FOX Sports App. For worldwide viewing choices, click on right here.

How you’ll be able to hear: Live audio protection of all video games will probably be carried on Sirius XM, TuneIn, MLB.com and within the MLB App.

What’s at stake: The 20 groups have been positioned in 4 swimming pools of 5 groups for the primary spherical of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, with every crew taking part in the others in its pool as soon as every and the groups with the 2 finest data in every pool on the finish of this spherical advancing to the knockout stage. Japan is 2-0 coming into this matchup, whereas the Czech Republic is 1-0. They are competing in Pool B together with Australia, China and Korea.

Matchup historical past: This is the primary assembly between the Czech Republic and Japan within the World Baseball Classic.

Matej Mensik, OF, Czech Republic: The 30-year-old Mensik placed on a present within the opening sport, going 2-for-3 with a house run and a double. He additionally labored a pair of walks to assist lead the membership to a victory.

Shohei Ohtani, DH, Japan: To be honest, the Japanese crew has loads of gamers price maintaining a tally of, however how do you not go together with Ohtani? The two-way sensation received’t pitch on this one, however all he’s completed on the plate via two video games is go 4-for-7 with two doubles, three RBIs, three runs and 4 walks. That’s a .571/.727/.857 slash line, good for a 1.584 OPS.