03/15/26 11:58:00
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03/15 11:56 CDT Michael Lorenzen to start for Italy, Keider Montero for
Venezuela in World Baseball Classic semi
Michael Lorenzen to start for Italy, Keider Montero for Venezuela in World
Baseball Classic semi
By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer
MIAMI (AP) --- Michael Lorenzen will start for Italy and Keider Montero for
Venezuela when the teams meet Monday night in a World Baseball Classic
semifinal.
A 34-year-old right-hander, Lorenzen pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings in the
group stage 8-6 upset of the United States on Tuesday.
"I faced him many times," said Italy manager Francisco Cervelli, a former big
league catcher. "This is the perfect guy."
Italy is in the semifinals for the first time of a tournament that started in
2006. Venezuela lost its only semifinal appearance, 10-2 to South Korea in 2009.
Lorenzen, an All-Star in 2023, was 7-11 with a 4.64 ERA in 26 starts and one
relief appearances for Kansas City last year, then became a free agent and
signed an $8 million, one-year contract with Colorado.
If Italy wins, Aaron Nola would be lined up to start Tuesday night's final
against the U.S. or the Dominican Republic.
Montero, a 25-year-old right-hander, pitched three scoreless innings of relief
on Monday in a 4-0 first-round win over Nicaragua.
He made his big league debut on May 29, 2024, and was 5-3 with a 4.37 ERA in 12
starts and eight relief appearances last year for Detroit during a season in
which he was optioned to Triple-A Toledo six times. Monero was 4-4 with a 5.91
ERA in eight starts and two relief appearances for the Mud Hens.
Montero had three postseason appearances last year and got a save in the AL
Division Series opener, an 11-inning win over Cleveland.
Italy made a pair of roster moves ahead of the semifinal: Left-hander Joe
Jacques replaced Dylan DeLucia, who threw 58 pitches in Saturday's quarterfinal
win over Puerto Rico and under pitch-count rules is ineligible to take the
mound on Monday. Infielder Brayan Rocchio took the roster spot of Miles
Mastrobuoni, who got hurt in the game against the U.S.
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