HOUSTON — It is time for the sport we have all been ready for in Pool B of the World Baseball Traditional: USA-Mexico.
The 2 baseball heavyweight nations are set to face off on Monday night time at Daikin Park (8 p.m. ET, FOX) in what may be probably the most hyped recreation in all of pool play on the 2026 Traditional.
Group USA and Mexico are each undefeated by way of their first two video games. They’re each coming off deep runs within the 2023 World Baseball Traditional — the U.S. to the finals, Mexico to the semifinals. And so they’re WBC rivals.
“The U.S. has had their arms full with [Mexico] on this match the final couple of installments of it,” supervisor Mark DeRosa mentioned. “I definitely have not forgotten about it.”
There might be a ton of stars on each side. There’s Aaron Choose, Kyle Schwarber and Paul Skenes main the way in which for the US, because the reigning Nationwide League Cy Younger winner makes his first begin of the match. And there is Randy Arozarena, Alejandro Kirk, Jarren Duran and Jonathan Aranda for Mexico, who led the way in which in a historic offensive outburst in opposition to Brazil on Saturday night time.
And the ambiance in Houston ought to be electrical, as each the U.S. and Mexico have turned out large crowds for his or her video games.
“Tomorrow’s stadium, I can guess you all that it will be a full home,” mentioned Mexico supervisor Benji Gil. “It will be packed due to the U.S., and due to Mexico, and since Mexico is going through an important crew.”
The winner of the sport might be in sturdy place to win Pool B and e-book a visit to the WBC quarterfinals in Miami. The loser should bounce again to beat Italy of their remaining recreation to have an opportunity to advance.
“It is grow to be a rivalry when perhaps it ought to by no means have been a rivalry,” Gil mentioned. “Perhaps their rival ought to be Japan, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico. However it’s grow to be a rivalry as a result of we have had success.”
Right here’s what you have to know concerning the USA-Mexico showdown:
How one can watch: U.S. vs. Mexico might be broadcast nationally on FOX.
How one can hear: There’s a free English-language audio stream out there for each recreation.
Group outcomes: The U.S. and Mexico have each taken down Nice Britain and Brazil to start out 2-0 in Pool B. Group USA opened in opposition to Brazil with a 15-5 win on Friday behind a house run from their captain Choose in his first WBC at-bat, then beat Nice Britain 9-1 on Saturday with Tarik Skubal on the mound and Schwarber offering the fireworks on the plate.
Mexico beat Nice Britain, 8-2, of their Traditional opener on Friday, when Aranda hit the tiebreaking homer within the eighth inning, and adopted that with a 16-0 win over Brazil on Sunday — the third-largest margin of victory in any recreation in WBC historical past.
Possible beginning pitchers: RHP Manny Barreda (Mexico) vs. RHP Paul Skenes (USA)
What’s at stake: Whichever crew wins this recreation might be 3-0 with one recreation remaining in pool play. That will not clinch a spot within the quarterfinals, as a result of there’s nonetheless the opportunity of a three-way tie the place Group USA, Mexico and Italy all end 3-1. However it should put the winner in charge of Pool B and make that crew the favourite to complete in first place.
Shedding would not be the top of the world for both the U.S. or Mexico, as they’d nonetheless have a 2-1 report and be capable of advance with a win over Italy of their pool play finale. (The U.S. performs Italy on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, and Mexico performs Italy on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET on Tubi.) However the stress can be extraordinarily excessive beneath the specter of an early match exit. And Italy can be a superb crew that is 2-0 within the match.
Matchup historical past: These two groups go approach again within the World Baseball Traditional — and Mexico holds the sting within the rivalry. The U.S. and Mexico have met 4 instances in WBC play coming into Monday, and Mexico is 3-1 in these 4 video games.
In 2023, Mexico dominated the U.S., 11-5, in pool play behind a two-homer recreation by Joey Meneses and a three-hit effort by Arozarena, though each groups went on to advance. In 2013, Mexico received their matchup, 5-2, with Adrián González homering for the large blow. And within the first Traditional in 2006, Mexico beat Group USA, 2-1, within the remaining recreation of the second spherical, costing the U.S. a spot within the match semifinals regardless of a lineup led by Derek Jeter, Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones and Alex Rodriguez.
The US’ solely win over Mexico within the World Baseball Traditional got here in pool play in 2006, once they received, 2-0, getting a dominant outing from Jake Peavy and clutch dwelling runs from Chipper and Derrek Lee.
