Looking ahead in the World Baseball Classic
Friday’s outcomes put Japan in a commanding position in Group B. With 2-0 record, the Japanese team needs only one more win in their two remaining games (against Australia and the Czech Republic) to ensure advancement.
Korea is in the exact opposite position. Having been beaten by both Japan and Australia, the Koreans join China as winless at 0-2 and must hope that potential future victories against the Czech Republic and China will be enough to give them continued life. But even that would require Australia (which holds the tie-breaker) to go winless in its three remaining games with Japan, the Czech Republic and China.
In Group A, Netherlands, which was idle Friday, is now the only undefeated team. Chinese Taipei’s victory over Italy left both those teams at 1-1, a half-game ahead of Cuba and Panama, both1 -2.
Two upstart teams, Australia and Italy, face opportunities to enhance their status in games to be played Saturday morning in Asia, Friday night in the United States.
The Australians, who won their tournament opener against Korea, play winless China with a chance to move to 2-0 in the Tokyo Group.
At the same time in Chinese Taipei, Italy (which upset Cuba) plays the disappointing Panamanians, in what is likely to be a wrap-up of Panama’s WBC 2023 experience. Even with a victory, Panama would only be 2-2 and in dire peril of failing to advance.
The two “late” games in Asia will send the Czechs against Japan and undefeated Netherlands against Taipei. A win in Taichung versus the hosts and Netherlands guarantees itself advancement to the tournament’s second round.