The Los Angeles Dodgers previously undetermined exhibition matchup with a 2017 World Baseball Classic participant has been filled by Team Japan. First pitch on Sunday, March 19, is set for 1:05 p.m. PT at Camelback Ranch.
Japan defeated Australia, China and Cuba to advance out of Pool B and into the second round. Japan then went undefeated, with wins over Cuba, Israel and Netherlands to reach the championship round at Dodger Stadium.
They await the runner-up from Pool F — comprised of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, United States and Venezuela — for a matchup in a semifinal game on Tuesday, March 21, at 6 p.m. PT. Should Japan reach the final, that will be played the following evening. Netherlands has also secured a spot in the semifinal, and will face the winner of Pool F.
Team Japan is the only country to reach the semifinal round each year the WBC has been played, also doing so in 2006, ’09 and ’13. Japan won the WBC in ’06 and ’09. Japan has outscored their opponents, 46-22, through their six WBC games this year.
That’s despite being without right-handed pitcher and slugger Shohei Otani, who was removed from Japan’s roster prior to the WBC beginning because of a lingering right ankle injury.
Meanwhile, Kenta Maeda came to an agreement with the Dodgers to forgo the international tournament so that he could focus on putting together a strong sophomore campaign in the Majors. Maeda was not included on Japan’s preliminary roster that was released in January.
