The quarter-finals of the 37th Baseball World Cup is set to begin on Friday in Taiwan with four teams focused on ending Cuba’s record-setting nine straight tournament championships.

Team USA (6-1) displayed their offensive prowess in a crucial win over Taiwan this past Wednesday and will be the team to beat if the fireworks continue against Korea (4-3) on Friday. However, the pitching-rich Koreans will test the Americans mettle.

In perhaps the best game of the day – the tournament host must dispose of a confident and hungry Dutch squad that is unlike any other European team. Taiwan (5-2) has the home-field advantage but the Dutch have enough hitting to silence the hometown faithful with a few early scores.

The defending champions from Cuba (6-1) will meet a heavy-hitting Mexico squad as their prize for capturing the top seed in Group B.  Mexico (4-3) will need as many lives as a cat to pull off an upset of this magnitude but Cuba should be wary of the streaking Mexicans.

Australia, the #2 seed in Group B, will meet Japan (Group A #3) in an interesting Friday matchup. The Aussies (6-1) have had a couple of narrow wins and Japan (5-2) would love nothing more to get the Australians locked in a low-scoring duel.

Photo courtesy of IBAF

Tags: World Cup