PHOENIX, Mar. 15 \u2014 Canada and Mexico square off on the final day of pool play in the World Baseball Classic<\/a> Wednesday. Both teams have identical 2\u20131 records, so this game is win-or-go-home.<\/p>\n The big news from the pregame session with Canada manager Ernie Whitt<\/a><\/strong> regarded first baseman Freddie Freeman<\/a><\/strong>. In Tuesday’s game against Colombia, Freeman left the game with hamstring discomfort. Whitt disclosed that he\u2019s out of the tournament \u201cfor now.\u201d This decision came from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Freeman\u2019s major league club. Whitt said the Dodgers medical staff was evaluating Freeman further.<\/p>\n It will make Canada\u2019s efforts to defeat Mexico more challenging, but Mexico still expects a difficult game. First baseman Rowdy Tellez<\/a><\/strong> said it will \u201cdefinitely play a factor,\u201d adding the list of Freeman\u2019s credentials. But Tellez reminded everyone present, \u201cThere’s another eight guys in that lineup. They’re going to fill his spot with somebody.\u201d<\/p>\n Tellez said the mindset for Team Mexico is simply that they need to win. \u201cIt is a big game,\u201d he said. \u201cIt’s either win or go home. (We need to) try to go in there and not play with that kind of pressure but have that mentality.\u201d<\/p>\n Team Canada feels the same way, according to Whitt. \u201cWe know what we have to do. My only concern is we have one more run at the end of the ninth. That’s the bottom line for us \u2014 win or go home; win and advance. It’s right in front of us. It’s in our controls.\u201d<\/p>\n And any thoughts of Canada having some sort of advantage over Mexico due to sports transference \u2014 Canada mercy ruled Great Britain, but Mexico edged them by a run \u2014 do not exist. \u201cThat’s why you play the game,\u201d he said. \u201cThey’re a good ball club over there. Mexico is a good ball club. Let’s tip our hats to Great Britain, too. They were a scrappy team. Their defense was a little shaky, but they had speed. They put pressure on the defense. And you’ve got to give Great Britain some credit for coming out. They were in every ball game. We mercied them, but, again, they jumped out to a 3-0 lead on us, and it was back and forth, back and forth. We know what\u2019s at hand. Mexico\u2019s good. We\u2019re good. We\u2019ll see what happens. That\u2019s why you play the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Mexico starting pitcher Jose Urquidy<\/a><\/strong> has pitched in three World Series \u2014 2019, 2021, and 2022, all with the Houston Astros. That experience factored into Mexico manager Benji Gil<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s decision to start him. \u201c(We felt) he would be a great option to throw in a game of this magnitude because he’s done it a (few) different times. So I think it sets up well. His character, his poise is kind of the poise you need for this type of game. It’s a postseason-type, win-at-all-costs type of game. And I think — not that the other guys aren’t capable — but then we have the perfect guy going for us today.\u201d<\/p>\n First pitch of Canada\u2013Mexico is at 12:08 pm Arizona Time\/3:08 pm Eastern Time.<\/p>\n The main photo is a composite of the following images:Canada, Mexico Have Same Mindset<\/h3>\n
Big-game Pitcher<\/h3>\n
Main Photo:<\/h4>\n
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>