Italy and Venezuela Name Starters for World Baseball Classic Semifinal

Michael Lorenzen to take the mound for Italy, Keider Montero for Venezuela in high-stakes matchup

Mar. 15, 2026 at 8:57pm

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The World Baseball Classic semifinal between Italy and Venezuela on Monday night will feature starting pitchers Michael Lorenzen for Italy and Keider Montero for Venezuela. Lorenzen, a 34-year-old right-hander, pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings in Italy's group stage upset of the United States. Montero, a 25-year-old righty, had three scoreless relief innings in Venezuela's first-round win over Nicaragua.

Why it matters

This semifinal matchup is historic, as Italy is making its first-ever appearance in the WBC semifinals, while Venezuela is looking to reach the finals for the first time since 2009. The pitching matchup features two rising stars who will be looking to lead their countries to the championship game.

The details

Lorenzen, an All-Star in 2023, was 7-11 with a 4.64 ERA for the Kansas City Royals last year before signing an $8 million, one-year deal with the Colorado Rockies. Montero made his MLB debut in 2024 and was 5-3 with a 4.37 ERA for the Detroit Tigers in 2025, with three postseason appearances including a save in the ALDS.

  • Lorenzen pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings in Italy's group stage upset of the United States on Tuesday.
  • Montero pitched three scoreless innings of relief on Monday in Venezuela's 4-0 first-round win over Nicaragua.

The players

Michael Lorenzen

A 34-year-old right-handed pitcher who will start for Italy in the WBC semifinal.

Keider Montero

A 25-year-old right-handed pitcher who will start for Venezuela in the WBC semifinal.

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What they’re saying

“I faced him many times. This is the perfect guy.”

— Francisco Cervelli, Italy manager

What’s next

If Italy wins, Aaron Nola would be lined up to start Tuesday night's final against the U.S. or the Dominican Republic.

The takeaway

This semifinal matchup features two rising pitching stars looking to lead their countries to the World Baseball Classic championship game for the first time. The outcome could come down to which starter can best shut down the opposing lineup and give their team the edge in this high-stakes showdown.