As the World Baseball Classic rolls on, managers of each competing team are having to work around a few different parameters.
These are imposed by MLB teams who are doing their best to preserve their players for the start of the season.
For example, pitchers are allowed to throw 65 pitches in a first-round game.
However, Team Canada, who will match up against Team USA on Monday, are going to have to work around that.
Texas Rangers top prospect Mitch Bratt will be taking the mound for Canada, and will be pulled before he reaches the 65-pitch limit, according to Ernie Whitt, Team Canada’s manager.
MLB insider Bob Nightengale shared the news.
It’s not just Team USA, but virtually all WBC managers are under instructions from affiliated teams:
Texas #Rangers Pitching prospect Mitch Bratt is starting tonight for Team Canada vs USA, but will be pulled before the WBC-allotted 65 pitches, Canada manager Ernie Whitt says.—Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 13, 2023
It’s understandable as to why MLB teams want to preserve their players.
But it is interesting to see just how these rules will affect each team and player taking part in the World Baseball Classic this spring.
If Bratt is going to be pulled before he reaches 65 pitches, one would imagine that he may not be in the game for very long against Team USA.
This means that Team Canada may have to dig into their bullpen earlier than usual for Monday’s game.
This could pose a problem for them, as it is not ideal to have to burn through a certain number of pitchers on the roster just for one game.
For Bratt to go deeper into the game, he’ll need to pitch efficiently and keep his pitch count down against a very powerful Team USA lineup.
He’ll have to face stars such as Mike Trout, Trea Turner, Mookie Betts, Nolan Arenado, and Paul Goldschmidt.
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