Japan's squad for the World Baseball Classic will play the Chiba Lotte Marines and the Yomiuri Giants to warm up for the first round of the tournament against its Asian rivals, baseball officials said Friday.
Sadaharu Oh's team is scheduled to meet a team made up of non-WBC members from the 12 clubs in Japanese baseball at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka on Feb. 24 and 25 before taking on the Marines at the same venue the following day and the Giants at Tokyo Dome on March 1.
Japan will face China, Taiwan and South Korea in the WBC first round at Tokyo Dome on March 3-5.
Japan's roster for the inaugural WBC is almost set, as just one roster spot remains.
Oh is still awaiting a response from New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui, who hasn't decided whether to play in the WBC.