Lars Nootvar helped Japan win the WBC = World Baseball Classic in baseball. He returned from injury against the Pirates on the 15th and started the game on the 16th.

In his fourth and fifth at-bats, he went 2-for-1 with two RBIs, three foreballs and one strikeout. Seiya Suzuki of the Cubs threw a no-hitter for the first time in three games after returning from injury. The game was won by the Cubs, 4-1.