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Big World Baseball Classic game alert: Panama vs. Cuba

By Beau Adams

TAICHUNG, TAIWAN - MARCH 09: Yadir Drake #33 of Team Cuba hits a single at the bottom of the 3rd inning during the World Baseball Classic Pool A game between Italy and Cuba at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium on March 09, 2023 in Taichung, Taiwan. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images)
TAICHUNG, TAIWAN - MARCH 09: Yadir Drake #33 of Team Cuba hits a single at the bottom of the 3rd inning during the World Baseball Classic Pool A game between Italy and Cuba at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium on March 09, 2023 in Taichung, Taiwan. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images) /
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Panama takes on Cuba on Friday afternoon/Thursday night in a big matchup in Pool A of the World Baseball Classic. The Panama vs. Cuba game is slated for March 10 at 12:30 pm (local time) in Chinese Taipei/11:30 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, March 9. It’s a crucial and pivotal game for both teams and the outcome of Pool A.

The Netherlands are Pool A favorites now after taking a 2-0 lead in the pool after defeating Panama, dropping them to 1-1. Cuba starts 0-2 going into the game tonight, so the matchup will will likely determine the second team advancing to the quarterfinals.

Cuba was favored to advance in the pool, but an upset at the hands of the Panamanian team could eliminate them. Cuba lost to Mike Piazza’s Italy team earlier today. However, Panama has been playing very well and blew out Chinese Taipei before a sold-out crowd in Taichung, only to lose a close game to Xander Bogaerts-led Netherlands team.

What to watch for in World Baseball Classic key game between Cuba and Panama

Former New York Yankees prospect Jahdiel Santamaria has been lighting it up for Panama so far in the WBC, with a pair of RBI and two doubles against Chinese Taipei. Santamaria will be key in a must-watch Panama vs. Cuba WBC game.

Andy Otero will take the mound against Ronald Bolanos for Cuba. Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera and Dodgers outfielder Jose Ramos will be two of the more intriguing MLB prospects in the Panama lineup. At the same time, Cuba boasts a stacked lineup of White Sox stars Luis Robert Jr.and Yoán Moncada, Chicago Cubs left-hander Roenis Elias, and the former New York Met Yoenis Céspedes at designated hitter.

Luis Robert commented on his excitement for playing in this year’s WBC. “The year of the last Classic, I was going to go, but I couldn’t because I made the decision to leave Cuba,” Robert recently said. “So, for me, it’s a dream.”

Many notable Cuban MLB stars were omitted from the National team — players like Aroldis Chapman, Yuli Gurriel, José Abreu, and Jorge Soler were not invited or chose not to participate.

Panama vs. Cuba will be a World Baseball Classic classic

Cuba is favored to win, but if Panama can upset the Cuban team, they will have an easy path to the next round. One thing for sure … the crowd in Taichung for the Panama vs. Cuba game will be loud and electric and fans will see some world class baseball.

Next. Catch up on past WBC games here. dark

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