Italy Faces Venezuela in World Baseball Classic Semifinal

On the Italian night between Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17, at 1:00 AM CET, Italy’s baseball team will compete against Venezuela in Miami for a place in the final of the World Baseball Classic. The Azzurri, undefeated and having already defeated the United States, are aiming for a historic feat.

Azzurri’s Path to the Semifinals

Coach Francisco Cervelli, after Italy’s quarter-final victory over Puerto Rico, is focused on securing a spot in the final. Their potential opponent would be the United States, whom they already defeated in the group stage. The USA advanced to the final after defeating the Dominican Republic 2-1 in the other semi-final.

Team Resilience and Strategy

Cervelli emphasized the team’s character and adaptability, stating, “This Italy has shown it has character, especially in the last two games. If for some reason someone can’t do their job, whoever takes over gets it done. So Jacob arrived, then DeLucia, between the seventh and eighth innings…entered Weissert and put out the fire. In baseball there are moments like these: it can be your night, or it can’t. You can win by a wide margin, or you can win with difficulty; the important thing is to win.”

Historic Achievement

Italy’s journey to the semi-finals is a landmark achievement. Cervelli expressed his pride, saying, “Imagine experiencing all this for the first time and reaching the semi-finals. It’s incredible. It’s fantastic. This is one of the most beautiful chapters of my life. It’s something extraordinary. This group is phenomenal. Now we are in the semi-finals and we will face the best ever.”

Undefeated Run and Opponent Analysis

Italy enters the semi-final undefeated, with four wins in the group stage and one in the knockout stage. Venezuela also boasts a strong record, having defeated the Dominican Republic in the knockout round and securing four successes overall.

Pitching Matchup and Roster Changes

Aaron Nola is slated to be Italy’s starting pitcher, also considered a potential starter for a possible final against the United States. There are two changes to the lineup compared to the quarter-final win against Puerto Rico: Joe Jacques will replace Dylan DeLucia, who is ineligible due to pitch count rules, and Brayan Rocchio will take the place of the injured Miles Mastrobuoni.

Where to Watch

The Italy-Venezuela semi-final at the World Baseball Classic will be broadcast free-to-air on Rai Due and streamed on Rai Play. It will also be available on Sky Sport Uno, Sky Sport Max, and streamed on Sky Go and Now.