Team USA can win its second straight World Baseball Classic title when it squares off against two-time champion Japan in the 2023 WBC championship game on Tuesday at loanDepot park in Miami. In the most recent WBC six years ago, the Americans beat Puerto Rico to earn their only WBC title. Meanwhile Japan won the title the first two times the event was held, in 2006 and '09. (The Dominican Republic won the only other WBC championship, in '13.) The Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly is scheduled to start for Team USA, while lefty Shota Imanaga is expected to take the mound for Japan.
First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The United States is listed as a -155 money-line favorite (risk $155 to win $100) in the latest USA vs. Japan odds from Caesars Sportsbook with Japan a +130 underdog. The over/under for total runs is 10. Before making any Japan vs. USA picks or WBC predictions, be sure to check out what SportsLine expert Matt Severance has to say.
Severance is a well-connected writer and handicapper who has worked in the industry since 2005. He has crushed with his baseball picks for SportsLine, going 780-528-8 since 2020, which translates to a 59.6 winning percentage and a profit of $6,541 for $100 bettors.
Now, Severance has set his sights on USA vs. Japan. You can head to SportsLine to see his picks. Here are several betting lines and trends for Japan vs. USA:
- USA vs. Japan money line: USA -155, Japan +130
- USA vs. Japan over/under: 10 runs
- USA vs. Japan run line: USA -1.5 (+110)
- USA: Trea Turner has set an American record with four homers in the WBC.
- JPN: The team is averaging 8.8 runs per game.
- USA vs. Japan picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why USA can win
The deep American lineup is on a roll. Over the last two games, Team USA has scored 23 runs on 29 hits with a .439 batting average. The Phillies' Trea Turner is particularly hot, going 4-for-8 with eight RBI and three runs scored. He already has set the American record for most home runs in a WBC, with four.
In addition, all of Team USA's top relievers will be available on Tuesday. Starters Adam Wainwright and Miles Mikolas covered a combined eight innings in the blowout win on Sunday, giving the team's high leverage relievers, such as closer Ryan Pressly of the Astros, plenty of rest.
Why Japan can win
Masataka Yoshida is driving in runs by the bunches. A 29-year-old outfielder who signed a $105 million contract with the Red Sox in the offseason, Yoshida has driven in 13 runs so far in the tournament, which is a WBC record. On Monday he hit a game-tying, three-run homer against Mexico to start the team's late-inning heroics.
Led by Yoshida and former American League MVP Shohei Ohtani, who's hitting .450 batting during the WBC, the lineup has produced throughout the tournament. Japan has outscored teams, 53-16, during the WBC, and the 53 runs are the most in the field. The team is a perfect 6-0 in the tournament. Ohtani could also make an appearance as a pitcher out of the bullpen.
How to make USA vs. Japan WBC picks
Severance has thoroughly studied USA vs. Japan and the World Baseball Classic championship game and is leaning Under the total. But he has discovered a crucial x-factor that makes one side a must-back. He's sharing it only at SportsLine.
So who wins Japan vs. USA? And what critical factor makes one side a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the USA vs. Japan spread you need to jump on Tuesday, all from the expert who is up more than $6,500 on his baseball picks since 2020.
