On Day 3 of the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Tucson, Arizona, one team will punch their ticket to the 2026 World Baseball Classic. China and Brazil get it started.
China has started 0-2 and been outscored 20-3 in 2 games, including 18-1 since the fourth inning of game one vs. Germany. They will turn to left handed starter Wang Xiang. He had a 1.40 ERA in four appearances with nine strikeouts at the 2024 U-23 Baseball World Cup.
China will look to get more from right fielder Samuel Benjamin. The only hitter to play in independent ball or higher in 2024, he has yet to reach base and has really struggled in the field. As the only source of power in the lineup, China desperately needs him to break out against Brazil.
China must win against Brazil to have any hopes of a return to the WBC. If they win, Germany-Colombia is officially a play-in game tonight for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Brazil will counter with Mariners prospect Pedro Da Costa Lemos. He reached Single-A in 2024 and had 88 strikeouts in 89 2/3 innings for Modesto.
Offensively, Brazil had their breakout yesterday against Germany. They put together 9 hits and 9 runs with 6 extra base hits. Leonardo Reginatto, as expected, led the offense. He had 2 RBIs and leads Brazil in all offensive categories in the tournament. Lucas Ramírez continues to perform well. He had 2 hits and a sparkling defensive play in RF. Him and Reginatto will have to continue perform well with the bottom third of Brazil’s lineup struggling to perform so far in the qualifier.
A Brazil win would guarantee them at minimum a spot in Thursday’s final game.
Prediction: 7-2 Brazil.
Photo: Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium (Photo: Getty Images)
