The weight they carry is different. Jorge López has the possibility of practically taking Puerto Rico to the second round of the tournament while Miguel González will start a do-or-die game for Mexico. However, the pressure is the same for both.
This is a profile of tonight's starters:
Jorge López: At 24 years old, the right-handed pitcher will take the mound carrying a little experience in Major League Baseball. López only has two games in MLB, both in the 2015 season with the Milwaukee Brewers. Both appearances were as a starter and he finished with a record of 1-1. In total, he pitched 10 innings, allowing 14 hits, six runs, giving five walks, and striking out 10 opponents. The previous season, he played in AA and AAA levels for the Brewers, accumulating a record of 3-11 with a 5.78 ERA. In 124.2 innings, he allowed 87 runs.
Miguel González: At 32 years old, the right-handed pitcher will be in his first game with Mexico in a World Classic. Miguel has five years in the Major Leagues, four with the Baltimore Orioles and one with the Chicago White Sox. In this span, he has a record of 44-41 with a 3.80 ERA, accumulating 715.1 innings of experience, with 322 runs allowed. El Mariachi worked in 24 games last season, 23 of them as a starter, and finished with a record of 5-8.