Field Level Media
17 Mar 2026, 12:10 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images)
MIAMI -- Team USA is on the cusp of fulfilling the high expectations attached to its star-studded roster as it takes on a motivated Team Venezuela for the World Baseball Classic championship game Tuesday night.
Venezuela will play in its first-ever WBC final after a spirited 4-2 comeback win on Monday in the semifinals, ending Italy's Cinderella run. The United States advanced on Sunday after rallying for a 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic.
The U.S., 3-2 all-time against Venezuela in the WBC, will send right-hander Nolan McLean, a rookie starter for the New York Mets, to the mound in the final. Venezuela will counter with Arizona Diamondbacks veteran left-handed starter Eduardo Rodriguez.
Team USA is seeking its second-ever WBC title as it makes its third consecutive appearance in the final. The U.S. is looking for redemption after coming up short in the 2023 final against Japan.
'I think you're crazy if you don't want to do this, honestly,' McLean said on Monday. 'Just getting the opportunity to put that 'USA' on your chest and go out there and compete with honestly the best players in the world, I think it's an unbelievable experience for me.'
Venezuela continued to play inspired baseball on Monday night against Italy, scoring three runs in the seventh inning to rally from a 2-1 deficit.
The Venezuelan players and coaches talked about the importance of bringing joy to their families and their nation if they can secure one more triumph.
'This is what I dreamed of. What could I do to put my little grain in the sand to try and make my country happy?' Venezuela manager Omar Lopez said after the latest win. 'It's a dream I tried to preach to everyone on this team -- to be in this position and have a chance to do this.'
Rodriguez, who is hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 once the major league season gets underway, pitched 2 2/3 innings in Venezuela's only loss of the tournament, against the Dominican Republic on March 11. The 32-year-old struck out five while allowing three runs on three hits, including two home runs, and one walk.
McLean, 24, also made his lone start in his team's lone loss of the Classic, giving up three runs on two hits, including two homers, over three innings against Italy. McLean struck out four and walked two in that outing on March 10.
Maikel Garcia has been one of the top hitters in a resilient Venezuelan lineup. The Kansas City Royals third baseman has gone 10-for-23 (.435) with two doubles, a homer and six RBIs.
'Maikel is a super baseball player,' Lopez said. 'He knows how to manage everything that happens in the game. He's like a manager. There can be 70,000 people cheering and it doesn't faze him.'
On Monday, the U.S. was still answering questions regarding the final strike call from the Sunday semifinal. Mason Miller struck out the Dominican Republic's Geraldo Perdomo to end the game on a ball that many felt was below the strike zone.
'You know, watching that ball back on replay, I can understand why Dominicans are upset about it,' USA manager Mark DeRosa said. 'I love the class and I have a ton of respect for the way that (Dominican manager) Albert Pujols handled the postgame.'
Miller got the save in each of the USA's two knockout-round victories, but his availability for the final was uncertain pending the approval of his major league team, the San Diego Padres.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Mexico Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Mexico Star.
More InformationLONDON, U.K.: Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD said on March 13 that it will launch a new premium EV in Europe next month capable...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Michael Bloomberg has again been named the biggest donor in the United States, topping the Chronicle of Philanthropy's...
(Photo credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images) MIAMI -- Team USA is on the cusp of fulfilling the high expectations attached to its star-studded...
New Delhi [India], March 17 (ANI): The trailer for the upcoming documentary 'BTS: The Return' is out now, giving fans a look at the...
Tiruchirappalli (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 17 (ANI): More than 100 families of visually impaired persons residing in Gandhi Nagar...
ZHENGZHOU, March 17 (Xinhua) -- When a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) scholar steps into his courtyard, he might find that a Qing Dynasty...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The fee for Americans to formally renounce their U.S. citizenship has now been slashed by about 80 percent from US$2,350...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: A fast-growing drone manufacturer partly owned by President Donald Trump's two eldest sons is seeking Pentagon...
SALEM, Oregon: A spectacular waterfall in Oregon beloved by generations was recently put up for sale on Redfin. Abiqua Falls, known...
NORFOLK, Virginia: The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) students at Virginia's Old Dominion University on March 13 subdued and...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: While opinion polls on the U.S. military action against Iran show Americans clearly divided along party lines, most...
VILLA RICA, Georgia: A 12-year-old girl died days after being taken to a hospital following a fistfight at a bus stop in her Georgia...
