Day after dramatic walk-off, Netherlands faces tall task vs. stacked D.R. (noon ET, FOX)
MIAMI -- Team Netherlands was facing a harsh reality Saturday, only one out away from falling to 0-2 in pool play at loanDepot park. Ozzie Albies’ walk-off home run turned its outlook around, giving manager Andruw Jones and his team new life as they prepare to face the Dominican Republic on Sunday afternoon.
“We recognize the quality of the Dominican players,” Jones said. “They all play in the Majors and they are favored, but we are going to play ball. The players we have are not scared, they are not afraid, and they just have to do their job.”
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Right-hander Arij Fransen, who pitched in the Reds’ system from 2021-2025, will start for the Netherlands in what is expected to be a bullpen game. He will have a major challenge ahead of him, facing a D.R. lineup that erupted for 12 runs against Nicaragua in the opener -- one manager Albert Pujols called the best group the Dominican team has ever had at the WBC.
For Netherlands shortstop Xander Bogaerts, he will be facing two of his Padres teammates in Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., and while he called them “two of the best players in the Majors,” he’s hoping his friends have an off day against his country’s club.
“I want them to be cold tomorrow,” Bogaerts said. “I wish that would be the case.”
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Here’s what you need to know about the matchup:
When and where: Sunday, noon ET, loanDepot park
How you can watch: FOX/FOX Deportes
How you can listen: There is a free English-language audio stream available for every game.
Probable starting pitchers: RHP Arij Fransen (Netherlands) vs. RHP Luis Severino (Dominican Republic)
What’s at stake: The Dominican Republic is feeling good following its big win Friday over Nicaragua and a day of rest on Saturday. The Pool D favorites will try to move to 2-0 as they look to advance to the second round. For the Netherlands, the D.R. game could play a big role in its ability to advance, having split its first two games of the Classic.
Matchup history: The Netherlands has won two of the three meetings between the teams in the WBC, beating the Dominican Republic twice in 2009 and losing in 2013. This will be the first game between the two in 13 years.