Matsuzaka not to start against the US?

It doesn't look like he'll get a chance to face the United States at all, in Round 2  or even the semis if both teams make it there.

This saddens me, I wanted to see him face the US. He pitched on Thursday against the Rangers. He pitched 4 innings but it is highly unlikely for him to come back on 2 days rest.

I'd would have also like to have seen Koji Uehara pitch against the Americans. He pitched 5 innings on Wednesday against the Mariners, which would put him on 3 days rest if he were to face the US.

That leaves Toshiya Sugiuchi (18-4 2.11 218/196.2 K/IP) or Shunsuke Watanabe (15-4 2.17 101/187 K/IP) to start. Sugiuchi is a lefty with 3 solid pitches and Watanabe is the submariner. Both guys pitched against Korea last Sunday. Sugiuchi 2 perfect innings and Watanabe got the start with 3.1 IP 1 ER.

However, the way the schedule works out if Japan were to make it through Round 2 and used Koji Uehara and Daisuke Matsuzaka against Korea and Mexico, they both would be unavailable for the semifinal match against the US, and they will be facing Jake Peavy in both games. Watanabe may be able to hold the US down for one game, but whoever starts against the US will more than likely face them twice.

If Japan could pull off the miracle and beat the US in the semis, Uehara and Matsuzaka would be eligible to pitch against the Dominican or Venezuela (who has everything perfectly lined up for them).
Update [2006-3-11 0:25:11 by Ienpw]: Oh started Watanabe tonight in the exhibition game. It looks like it will be Uehara on short rest.