USA Baseball: Keys to Beating Mexico's Gallardo in Friday Matchup

Team USA begins the 2013 World Baseball Classic with a Friday matchup against Mexico, who will put Yovani Gallardo on the mound to face the Americans.

R.A. Dickey gets the start in the WBC opener for the USA, looking to get off to a strong start in the international tournament.

Mexico is coming off a surprising 6-5 loss in the opening round to Italy on Thursday. They will be looking to avenge the shocking loss and trying to avoid elimination so early in the festivities.

The United States squad must come fully prepared to play and should expect a gutsy performance out of Team Mexico as the club cannot afford another loss.

Dickey is the biggest factor in this game, being the ace of this American team. He can start things off right for the Americans by pitching just as he did in 2012 with the New York Mets.

Last season, Dickey was astonishing, winning the National League Cy Young Award. He went 20-6 with 230 strikeouts and a 2.73 ERA.

It will be interesting to see how the 38-year-old knuckleballer fairs in international play. It will be important for for him to outlast his counterpart, Gallardo.

With the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012, Gallardo finished off the season very well. After starting the season with an 8-8 record and an ERA of 4.07, the right-hander got his act together.

He ended the season with a record of 16-9 while bringing his ERA down to 3.66 and striking out 204 batters. Gallardo got the win in eight of his final 12 outings last season.

Team USA has no easy task in facing Gallardo. Joe Torre's squad will want to get into their opposing pitcher's head early on Friday night.

This American team has the firepower to get the best of Mexico and Gallardo. Joe Mauer, Ryan Braun and David Wright have the power to put some runs on the board early.

If the USA lineup can get it going early on offense and force Mexico to shut down their talented starter, the team has a very strong chance of winning.

It will be intriguing to see how the American team responds to the loss of slugger Mark Teixeira, who injured his right wrist earlier in the week.

With Teixeira due to miss up to 10 weeks, Team USA will need other players to step up. This contest with Mexico will be the first test.

Eric Hosmer of the Kansas City Royals was added to the team following the injury and serves as the squad's lone first baseman.

The young left-hander will need to play his heart out for Team USA. This gives the youngster a chance for the baseball world to remember his name.