The World Baseball Classic 2023 is still waiting to meet its last two qualifiers who will come out of the qualifiers currently being played in Panama where there are only four teams left: Argentina, Nicaragua, Brazil and the locals.
Brazil and Panama are the stars of the key that will begin this Tuesday and will decide the penultimate classified for the tournament. This meeting could have a flavor of revenge for the Central Americans since both faced each other in the qualifying round of the edition of 2013 and the The place was taken by the Brazilians after achieving two victories by 2-3 and 0-1.
Panama relies on their local status
Panama comes to this game after beating Argentina by 0-11, also has home-field advantage, with former New York Mets shortstop Rubén Tejada as the leader and only active Panamanian in that tie of 2012.
In this sense, the Panamanian coach, Luis Ortiz, stated that he had full confidence in his players and affirmed that they have what it takes to win and keep the World Cup ticket.
“This team is special. We are prepared to play this game tomorrow”, said the Panamanian pilot. “We are expected to play good baseball. The Brazilian team is good, we have good players. Tomorrow when the game starts, we will decide what will happen“, he added.
Brazil affirms that experience is its advantage
For its part, the Brazilian ninth has Leonardo Reginatto as its main offensive weapon and the World Series champion with the Kansas City Royals, Paulo Orlando, both survivors of the 2012 who qualified for the World Classic after precisely defeating Panama.
Reginatto just spoke this Monday before the media and pointed out that Brazil has more experience and more developed players than a few years ago. “There are a lot of guys that have come through Major League organizations. I think we have more experience and that helps us play better baseball.”
For the first game of this bracket, the Panamanian team will send lefty Ariel Jurado to the mound, who stressed that he was not confident. “You must not underestimate the rival, I have been preparing myself for this.”
For his part, the manager of Brazil, Steve Finley, has designated as his starter the right-hander Ariel Rienzo, who was also present in the classification for the World Classic of 2013.
It should be noted that the loser of this match will have one more opportunity to qualify facing the winner of the series between Argentina and Nicaragua.
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