MLB World Classic: Mexico vs. Japan predictions & odds for Monday, 3/20

M Live
 
MLB World Classic: Mexico vs. Japan predictions & odds for Monday, 3/20

Pickswise provides exclusive sports betting content to MLive.com, including picks, analysis, tools, games and sportsbook offers to help bettors get in on the action. Please wager responsibly.

We’re just one day away from the World Baseball Classic championship game, but before we can get to the finale of the tournament, Mexico and Japan face off in the final semi-finals game. The winner of this game will face the United States in tomorrow’s matchup, so the path to winning the tournament will only get harder for whoever wins this matchup.

Our expert made his Mexico vs. Japan World Baseball Classic predictions at BetMGM Sportsbook, which offers new users first-bet insurance worth up to $1,000. No BetMGM promo code is needed to get this offer, so for an account at BetMGM.

Join BetMGM Sportsbook to fade or follow any of our experts’ Mexico vs. Japan World Baseball Classic predictions using first-bet insurance worth up to $1,000.

Throughout the World Baseball Classic, Japan has dominated. Through five games, they are unbeaten, and their lineup has exceeded expectations. Their offense, which is being driven by Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida, is first in on-base percentage and OPS and has been easily outscoring opponents.

To get to this stage, Japan easily defeated Italy in the quarterfinals after sweeping through pool play. Their smallest win margin through five games was six runs. Monday night’s game will be a battle between Rōki Sasaki of Japan and Patrick Sandoval of Mexico.

The pitching matchup is stellar, and the star power that these two lineups have should create some fireworks in Miami. Let’s get into our Mexico vs. Japan World Baseball Classic predictions, which our experts made after activating their new BetMGM Sportsbook account.

Rōki Sasaki, Japan’s third starter, will take the field for this semifinal contest. Nevertheless, Sasaki is not your typical third starter. He has earned the title “the Monster of the Reiwa Era” and holds the record for the fastest pitch ever thrown in a high school game in Japan at 163 KPH (101.3 MPH). In his lone World Baseball Classic start against the Czech Republic, Sasaki displayed his lively fastball during his dominant outing.

Sasaki pitched 3.2 innings and gave up two hits, zero runs and eight strikeouts. The pitch count was against him because he exited the game after only 3.2 innings, but he now has 80 pitches to deal with in the semifinals.

He will be countered by Patrick Sandoval, the ace of the Los Angeles Angels. While the pitching matchup may appear to be even, the offensive mismatch is too great for Mexico to overcome. Therefore, the best bet from our experts’ Mexico vs. Japan World Baseball Classic predictions is on Japan -1.5 (-135 at BetMGM).

To bet on Japan -1.5 with first-bet insurance, BetMGM is the sportsbook for you. Right now, new users can get first-bet insurance up to $1,000 by signing up for a new account before the first pitch.

That means if your first bet were to lose, BetMGM would give you 100% of your bet back, up to $1,000, in the form of bonus bets. Click here to join BetMGM so you can tail our Mexico vs. Japan World Baseball Classic predictions and get first-bet insurance up to $1,000. Remember, no BetMGM promo code is required to get this excellent offer.

Become a BetMGM member to earn first-bet insurance worth up to $1,000 so that you can fade or follow any of our experts’ Mexico vs. Japan World Baseball Classic predictions

Japan is the visiting team and also the favorite to win the game. At BetMGM Sportsbook, their -1.5 run line has -135 odds, while Mexico +1.5 carries a +120 price. This means that a $135 bet on Japan -1.5 wins $100 if they win by two or more runs.

If you think Mexico can keep the game close, a $100 bet on Mexico’s run line of +1.5 would profit $120 if they lose by one run or win outright. Whether you’re tailing or fading our Mexico vs. Japan World Baseball Classic predictions, to sign up for a new account to do it BetMGM.

This is the final semi-final game and the second to last game of the entire tournament. After tonight, the winner of the game will move on to face the United States in the championship game on Tuesday.

Monday, March 20

  • Mexico vs. Japan - 7 PM ET

Tuesday, March 21

  • United States vs. Mexico/Japan - 7 PM ET

To bet on our Mexico vs. Japan World Baseball Classic predictions or a different game in the World Baseball Classic, make sure to do it at BetMGM Sportsbook. No promo code is needed to get the excellent offer of first-bet insurance up to $1,000.

If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net