World Baseball Classic Semifinal Lineup Changes
In a strategic decision for the World Baseball Classic semifinal, Manager Mark DeRosa has chosen Gunnar Henderson to fill the third base position instead of Alex Bregman. This lineup adjustment comes ahead of the match against the Dominican Republic on Sunday and is particularly influenced by the opposing pitcher, Luis Severino.
Performance Insights
Henderson, who has demonstrated impressive performance against Severino—batting 7 for 9 with a home run, a double, and four RBIs—has earned this starting role. Conversely, Bregman, with a regular season record of 5 for 21 against Severino, will be sidelined after struggling with just two hits in 11 at-bats throughout the tournament.
“It’s about playing the hot hand, right? Gunnar’s got some solid numbers against Severino,”
DeRosa commented ahead of the critical matchup.
He also reassured Bregman about this choice, discussing the strategy with him on Saturday and confirming that Bregman was understanding of the decision. Additionally, Will Smith will take the catcher position, moving ahead of Cal Raleigh, who has yet to secure a hit in nine appearances during this WBC.
Upcoming Game Expectations
The upcoming game is set to be electrifying, with the Dominican team boasting a perfect 5-0 record in the tournament and an extraordinary offensive performance, averaging .312 with 14 home runs—tying the World Baseball Classic record established in 2009.
Manager Albert Pujols highlighted the excitement of facing arguably the best pitcher in Major League Baseball, Paul Skenes, noting the anticipated clash between top-tier power hitters and an elite pitcher.
Looking ahead, if the Dominican Republic secures a spot in the finals, ace Sandy Alcantara will take the mound regardless of the opponent, whether it’s Italy or Venezuela, according to Pujols.
“I trust Sandy completely, and if we get the chance to play on Tuesday, he will be our starter,”
Pujols affirmed.
The spotlight will also be on the matchup between Italy and Venezuela, which will occur the night before the anticipated semifinal. With high stakes and star talent, the game promises to deliver excitement as Team USA prepares to face off against the formidable Dominican lineup.
