Italy continues its unlikely run at the World Baseball Classic and will next take on Venezuela in Monday’s semifinal game. The Venezuelans are having their own storybook run after eliminating Shohei Ohtani and defending WBC champions Japan in the quarterfinals.
Next up is a spot in the final.
The game will be Monday, March 16 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1.
How to Watch the 2026 World Baseball Classic
FOX is your exclusive home to the WBC with games spread across the FOX family of networks.
The Italy vs. Venezuela semifinal is on FS1 on Monday (8 p.m. ET). The Championship Game will be on FOX on Tuesday, March 17 (8 p.m. ET).
All games will be available for streaming on the FOX Sports app and FOX One. Catch the action on the following streaming options:
- FOXSports.com and FOX Sports app
- FOX One
Italy vs. Venezuela Lineups, Pitchers
Michael Lorenzen will begin for Italy and Keider Montero for Venezuela.
A 34-year-old right-hander, Lorenzen pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings within the group stage 8-6 upset of the United States on Tuesday.
“I confronted him many occasions,’ mentioned Italy supervisor Francisco Cervelli, a former huge league catcher. “That is the proper man.”
Lorenzen, an All-Star in 2023, was 7-11 with a 4.64 ERA in 26 begins and one reduction appearances for Kansas Metropolis final yr, then turned a free agent and signed an $8 million, one-year contract with Colorado.
If Italy wins, Aaron Nola could be lined as much as begin Tuesday evening’s closing towards the U.S. or the Dominican Republic.
Montero, a 25-year-old right-hander, pitched three scoreless innings of reduction on Monday in a 4-0 first-round win over Nicaragua.
He made his huge league debut on Could 29, 2024, and was 5-3 with a 4.37 ERA in 12 begins and eight reduction appearances final yr for Detroit throughout a season wherein he was optioned to Triple-A Toledo six occasions. Monero was 4-4 with a 5.91 ERA in eight begins and two reduction appearances for the Mud Hens.
Montero had three postseason appearances final yr and obtained a save within the AL Division Collection opener, an 11-inning win over Cleveland.
WBC Schedule
Semifinals
Monday, March 16
- Italy vs. Venezuela (8 p.m., LoanDepot Park in Miami on FS1)
Closing
Tuesday, March 17
- SF 1 winner vs. SF2 winner (8 p.m., LoanDepot Park in Miami on FOX)
