It’s Puerto Rico vs. Mexico in quarterfinals clash (7 p.m. ET, FS1)
Puerto Rico seems to proceed its pursuit to the World Baseball Classic championship spherical for a 3rd straight event because it faces Mexico within the 2023 quarterfinals on Friday.
Mexico, the Pool C winner, would be the dwelling staff for the winner-take-all matchup in opposition to Puerto Rico, the Pool D runner-up, at loanDepot park in Miami.
Puerto Rico is coming off an emotional win over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday by which they clinched a spot within the quarterfinals, solely to lose star nearer Edwin Díaz when he suffered a torn patellar tendon in his proper knee through the postgame celebration. Mexico took Pool C over the United States because of their head-to-head victory vs. Team USA, and the staff will ship ace Julio Urías to the mound for the quarterfinal recreation.
Japan awaits the Puerto Rico-Mexico winner within the WBC semifinals.
Here’s what you have to find out about Friday’s matchup:
When and the place: 7 p.m. ET on Friday at loanDepot park in Miami.
How you possibly can watch: The Puerto Rico-Mexico quarterfinal will likely be reside on FS1 and might be streamed on-line within the FOX Sports App. For worldwide viewing choices, click on right here.
How you possibly can hear: Live audio protection of all video games will likely be carried on Sirius XM, TuneIn, MLB.com and within the MLB App.
What’s at stake: A berth within the WBC ’23 semifinals and a showdown with Samurai Japan. Every recreation on the World Baseball Classic is now single elimination, so it is win or go dwelling. Puerto Rico made it to the finals vs. Team USA within the 2017 World Baseball Classic, ending because the event runner-up. This is Mexico’s first time advancing previous the primary spherical for the reason that 2009 Classic — they usually’ve by no means made it to the championship spherical.
Matchup historical past: Puerto Rico and Mexico have solely confronted off as soon as within the World Baseball Classic, in 2017. Puerto Rico defeated Mexico, 9-4, in pool play. Francisco Lindor homered twice within the win, and Javier Báez went deep as effectively. Both are again on Team Puerto Rico in 2023.
Randy Arozarena, LF, Mexico: Arozarena is having a monster event. He posted a .500/.632/1.071 slash line with a 1.703 OPS throughout pool play, going 7-for-14 with a house run, 5 doubles and 9 RBIs.
Francisco Lindor, SS, Puerto Rico: Lindor led the way in which for Puerto Rico in pool play, batting .467 (7-for-15) with a triple. He was a difference-maker within the win over the Dominican Republic, and he has the WBC monitor document vs. Mexico with the pair of homers he hit within the 2017 matchup.
