Two games are scheduled on Friday, 30 July, Day 3 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic baseball tournament.
Dominican Republic - Mexico (Group A)
The Dominican Republic are going with 31-year old right-handed veteran Angel Sanchez as the starting pitcher. Sanchez currently plays for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Mexico will start 27-year old Teddy Stankiewicz. The righthander plays for Tijuana in the Mexican Baseball League (LMB).
- Dominican Republic secured their place at the 2020 Olympic Games by winning the final qualifying event in Puebla, Mexico, in June.
- Mexico are one of two teams making their Olympic debut in baseball, alongside Israel.
- Excluding baseball's debut at the Olympic Games in 1992, the best result by a team making its Olympic debut was fourth by Nicaragua in 1996 and Canada in 2004.
- Mexico defeated Dominican Republic in the group stage of the Premier12 in 2015 and 2019. The Mexicans won 9-6 in 2015 to secure their place in the play-offs and 6-1 in 2019.
- Mexico recorded a 3-2 victory versus Dominican Republic in the group stage of the 2011 Pan American Games.
- Dominican Republic started off their Olympic Games with a 4-3 defeat against hosts Japan. They gave up a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning.
- Charlie Valerio (2) and Gustavo Núñez batted in the runs for Dominican Republic against Japan. Erick Mejia crossed the plate twice, Juan Francisco once.
Israel - United States (Group B)
The United States have named righthander Joe Ryan as the starter for their Olympic opener. Ryan, born in 1996, plays at the Triple-A level for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). Israel will hand the ball to 30-year old right-hander Joey Wagman, who spent the 2021 season with the Tempo Prague in the Czech ExtraLiga.
- Israel and United States have never met in a major baseball tournament (Olympic Games, World Cup, Premier12, World Baseball Classic).
- United States won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in 2000, defeating Cuba 4-0 in the final at the Sydney Baseball Stadium.
- As well as a gold in 2000, United States claimed Olympic bronze medals in 1996 and 2008. They finished fourth in 1992 and failed to qualify in 2004.
- USA's hitting/first base coach Ernie Young was a playing member of the United States squad that won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in 2000.
- United States started with a win in three of their four participations at the Olympic Games. The exception was 2008 when they lost their opening game 8-7 against Korea.
- Israel lost their Olympic Games opener against Republic of Korea: 6-5 (10 innings).
- Against Republic of Korea, all five Israel runs came off home runs.
- Ian Kinsler hit a home run in the top of the third inning (2 RBI), before Ryan Lavarnway went the yard twice: in the top of the sixth (2 RBI) and in the top of the ninth (solo).
