Team USA is exactly where everybody thought they would be — despite a few potentially costly hiccups.
Tuesday night will determine who is at the top of international baseball in the World Baseball Classic championship, and only Venezuela stands in the way of the U.S. after they defeated upstart Italy, 4-2, on Monday for a spot in the final.
Much of Team USA’s hopes rest on the shoulders of top Mets prospect Nolan McLean, who is set to start on the mound for the Stars and Stripes in the grand finale.
The righty had a rocky start against Italy in his last outing prior to the quarterfinal round. Across three innings, he allowed two hits and three earned runs while tallying four strikeouts. He gave up a game-leading home run to White Sox catcher Kyle Teel for an early 1-0 advantage for Italy. Later, after a hit by pitch, White Sox prospect Sam Antonacci launched a home run that put the U.S. in its largest deficit of the tournament.