Japan’s national baseball team advances to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals with a perfect 3-0 record in Pool C, preparing for a showdown against Venezuela on March 15.
Suarez Leads Venezuela’s Charge
Philadelphia Phillies reliever Benes Suarez headlines Venezuela’s rotation for the matchup. The left-handed specialist delivers fastballs reaching 160 km/h and impressed in recent outings. He blanked the Dominican Republic over 12 pitches in Pool B and dominated in the Netherlands on March 7 and Nicaragua on March 10, securing three innings without a run across three starts.
Suarez earned three saves in eight appearances during spring training, positioning him as a key asset. In the Nicaragua game, he retired all three outfielders faced. Venezuela manager Omar Lopez confirmed Suarez’s start against Japan, praising his reliability.
Japan’s Pitching Depth Shines
Japan’s staff features Hiroya Miyagi (25) and Sota Imanaga (26), who encountered Suarez during team activities in London on March 12. The duo anticipates a competitive battle, drawing from their Orix Buffaloes partnership alongside Andres Machado.
Machado (33), who pitched in the Olympics for the Associated Press wire team, joins Venezuela’s bullpen. He posted a 2.03 ERA over 23.1 innings (5 wins, 3 losses) in 53 games last year and a 2.28 ERA in 28.1 innings (3 wins, 6 losses) across 58 appearances the prior season. Machado signed a two-year extension worth 28 million yen (about 2.8 million USD) after earning 12.6 million yen initially.
Japan’s closer Genya Wakatsuki (31) bolsters the back end, having supported the team in major tournament semifinals and finals. He overpowered the Dominican Republic as a barricade despite the matchup.
Star Power and Recent Form
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (28, LA Dodgers) takes the mound for Japan on March 15. The ace notched two consecutive wins in 2023 and continues to elevate Pool B competition.
Venezuela adds depth with setup man Suarez, who signed a five-year, 1.3 million USD deal with Boston. Earlier, in LA Dodgers spring training, he struck out Otto ni Shohei (32) three times, earning the ‘Ohtani killer’ moniker from Japanese media.
Machado also appeared in two relief roles during the Netherlands game (2 innings, 3 outs, 1 save). Japan’s lineup remains formidable, blending experience and power for the high-stakes quarterfinal.
