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The Daily Sweat: USA goes for second straight World Baseball Classic title vs. Japan

Mexico had a great run in the World Baseball Classic, but we probably ended up with the two correct teams in Tuesday's final.

The United States, going for its second WBC title in a row after winning in 2017, will face Japan. Japan, which rallied to beat Mexico in Monday's semifinal after trailing late, has won two of the four WBC titles.

The odds like USA. The Americans are -125 favorites at BetMGM. The game will be in Miami.

Team USA had a loss in pool play but has looked good since. USA won 9-7 over Venezuela in the quarterfinal round and beat Cuba 14-2 in the semifinals. Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner has been on fire in this tournament, with four homers and a .368 batting average.

Japan was in trouble Monday. They trailed 3-0 early but came back and scored two on Munetaka Murakami's walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth to win 6-5.

According to MLB.com, the projected pitchers are Merrill Kelly for Team USA and lefty Shōta Imanaga for Japan. Ohtani could still end up facing Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout, but it would be in a relief appearance.

MLB Opening Day is a little more than a week away, but the WBC has been a pretty good warm-up for the season. It concludes with what should be a great championship game.

Shohei Ohtani rounds third on a three-run home run hit by Japan teammate Masataka Yoshida against Mexico in Monday's WBC semifinal. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Here's the first look at the sports betting slate for Tuesday:

Celtics-Kings highlights NBA

Before the season, nobody would've been too excited for a Boston Celtics at Sacramento Kings game, but the Kings have been one of the NBA's biggest surprises this season, and the Celtics have been one of the NBA's best teams again.

Sacramento is just a game out of the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, with a 43-28 record, but it is a 4.5-point underdog Tuesday. Boston has slipped to the No. 2 seed in the East after losing five of its past nine.

There are five other games in the NBA, including the Cleveland Cavaliers as 2.5-point road favorites against the Brooklyn Nets.

Big night in the NHL

There are 13 games in the NHL on Tuesday. The best one is probably the Carolina Hurricanes at the New York Rangers in a showdown of two of the Eastern Conference's best teams. The odds are -110 on both sides.

What's the best bet?

I'll go with the Kings. It's always hard to go against the Celtics, but they have been slumping a bit, and the Kings are legit. Sacramento is a strong home favorite, and 4.5 points seems to be too many.

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