Team USA: Mason Miller for the WBC final? Not decided
Mason Miller did his job on Sunday night. The Padres’ closer slammed the door with the last three outs to send Team USA into the World Baseball Classic final after a pressure cooker of a game against the Dominican Republic. The real question now: will he be on the mound Tuesday if manager Mark DeRosa needs him to seal the title? For now, nobody knows.
From spring training in Arizona, Padres manager Craig Stammen kept things cool on Monday. “It’s not ruled out, and it’s not decided,” he said. “Like any pitcher, we review after his outing, see how he feels and figure out when he can go again. He’s exactly in that situation.”
A proper headache for the U.S. bullpen
Arms will be working overtime. Right-hander Nolan McLean of the Mets will start for the Americans. The 24-year-old joined the group late after dealing with dizziness but says he’s at 100%. Don’t expect him to go deep: he’s likely capped at roughly 60–65 pitches.
After him, the bullpen must hold firm. Miller already threw 22 pitches on Sunday to finish the semi. If he climbs the hill Tuesday, it would be his third appearance in five days. That’s starting to take a toll on the arm.
MLB clubs still call the shots
That’s the rub with this tournament. “They’re managing the national team right now, but they’re not managing the player across his entire Major League season,” Stammen pointed out. It’s an awkward spot for DeRosa and pitching coach Andy Pettitte — they’re walking on eggshells. National staffs talk constantly with clubs to avoid any damage, but the pressure is brutal.
To make matters worse for Team USA, they could also be missing David Bednar for the same reasons. The Yankees reliever threw 18 pitches on Sunday, bringing him to 79 over his last four outings. Miller sits at 73. Pitching management is going to be extremely tight right up to the final out.
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