first pitch: 6:00 p.m., PT
television: ESPN
matchup: TBD (neither team is revealing who will start, but it’s expected to be Daisuke Matsuzaka vs Vicyohandri Odelin or Ormari Romero)

So, it comes to this. A finale featuring exactly two players from the North American major leagues. Gone are the favored Americans and Dominicans, the surprising Koreans, and 11 other national teams.

Now it’s time to crown a champion. Tonight it’s koto vs rumba, sake vs mojitos, plantains vs sushi. With temperatures in the mid-50s and no thought of rain, this should be a good one.