Australia boasts strong arms on WBC '17 roster

The Australian roster for the fourth World Baseball Classic was unveiled Wednesday night, and it has a number of pitchers with experience in professional baseball at the Major and Minor League levels.
That should come in handy in Pool B, which also includes Japan, Cuba and China. Australia's first game is March 8 against Japan in Tokyo.
The Aussies are only 1-8 in World Baseball Classic action, going 0-3 in 2013. Still, they showed improvement in that tournament, allowing 14 runs in three games, compared to giving up 28 in 2009.
:: 2017 World Baseball Classic ::
Australia boasts 11 pitchers who are with MLB teams, highlighted by A's right-hander Liam Hendriks. The roster also includes former Major Leaguers such as Peter Moylan and Ryan Rowland-Smith.
Each team has the option of using the designated pitcher pool (DPP), which works like this: A team can use up to 10 designated pitchers but can't have more than two on its active roster at a time. Those "active" DPs can be replaced at the beginning of each of the next two rounds, but only by another DP. Once a DP has been replaced, he cannot return to the active roster for a subsequent round. Using Team USA as an example, Danny Duffy and Tanner Roark are the active DPs for the first round of pool play, so they can be replaced on the roster before the second round or the championship round, but only by one of the team's other DPs. And if a DP joins for the second round, he can be replaced for the championship round, but only by another DP.

The World Baseball Classic runs from March 6-22. In the U.S., games will air live exclusively in English on MLB Network and on an authenticated basis via MLBNetwork.com/watch, while ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN will provide the exclusive Spanish-language coverage. MLB.TV Premium subscribers in the U.S. will have access to watch every tournament game live on any of the streaming service's 400-plus supported devices. Internationally, the tournament will be distributed across all forms of television, internet, mobile and radio in territories excluding the U.S., Puerto Rico and Japan. Get tickets for games at Marlins Park, Tokyo Dome, Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Estadio Charros de Jalisco in Mexico, Petco Park, as well as the Championship Round at Dodger Stadium, while complete coverage -- including schedules, video, stats and gear -- is available at WorldBaseballClassic.com.
:: 2017 World Baseball Classic teams ::
Pitchers
Tim Atherton
Tom Bailey
Travis Blackley, Tigers
Justin Erasmus
Joshua Guyer
Hendriks*, A's
Samuel Holland, Angels
Jon Kennedy, Braves
Steven Kent, Braves
Daniel McGrath, Red Sox
Moylan
Chris Oxspring
Rowland-Smith
Dushan Ruzic
Warwick Saupold, Tigers*
Ryan Searle
Samuel Street, Pirates*
Josh Tols
Todd Van Steensetl, Twins
Alexander Wells, Orioles
Lachlan Wells, Twins
Matt Williams
* Active designated pitchers pool
** Designated pitchers pool
Catchers
Allan De San Miguel, Royals
Michell Nilsson
Robert Perkins, Rockies
Infielders
James Beresford
Brad Harman
Luke Hughes
Logan Wade
Mike Walker
Stefan Welch
Outfielders
Michell Dening
David Kandilas
Timothy Kennelly
Trent Oeltjen
Aaron Whitefield, Twins