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By Shaun McAvoy
Contributing Sports Writer
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Team USA may have to close out the World Baseball Classic without one of the bullpen's top hurlers.
Team USA clinched its spot in the WBC finals with a tight 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic on Sunday and will face off against Venezuela for a chance to win its second-ever WBC championship, but could be missing San Diego Padres All-Star closer Mason Miller.
Miller has been amazing for Team USA during the tournament, striking out 10 batters without allowing a single run or hit across four appearances. The young fireballer has been electric, throwing 35 pitches over 100 mph in only four innings pitched. Still, with the MLB season just around the corner, his usage needs to be monitored.
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The Athletic's Maria Torres and Dennis Lin reported that Miller's availability for the WBC final remains uncertain and will depend on how the 27-year-old fireballer feels ahead of the game.
"If the United States needs to shut the door on its first World Baseball Classic championship since 2017, Mason Miller may not be in the mix to close out a victory," Torres and Lin reported Monday. "San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen said Monday he has been in touch with his team’s All-Star closer about his usage in the tournament, and that a decision will be made on his availability for Tuesday’s WBC finale depending on how he feels ahead of the game.
"Stammen acknowledged that taking that decision out of USA manager Mark DeRosa’s hands could cause blowback, but he also noted that player management is difficult for all teams in the WBC."
The New York Post's Jon Heyman later reported that Miller likely will be unavailable for the WBC final on Tuesday.
Team USA's bullpen has been dominant in high-leverage situations, but may not be able to lean on Miller to close out the championship as he did in the past two rounds. Hopefully for Team USA, Miller's skills aren't needed with Nolan McLean set to start the WBC final for Team USA.
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