Venezuela finds right pitching formula in semis, but final test looms large

MIAMI – When Venezuela starter Keider Montero walked consecutive lefty batters in the second inning against Italy, manager Omar López knew he was going to have his work cut out for him in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic on Monday night.

“That,” he said, “was a red flag to me.”

By the end of the inning, Montero was out of the game, having only recorded four outs. And for the rest of the night, López was working the bullpen phone to get from four to 27.

López, it turned out, made all the right moves in a 4-2 win over Italy. All the opposing runs were charged to Montero, and a trail that wound its way from Ricardo Sánchez to Luinder Avila to Angel Zerpa to Eduard Bazardo to Andrés Machado and finally to closer Daniel Palencia proved a winning formula.

It was also an exhausting formula that leaves Venezuela in a sub-optimal setup for Tuesday night’s final against Team USA. But that doesn’t mean López and Co. can’t piece it together yet again.

Venezuela will give the starting nod to Eduardo Rodriguez -- an accomplished arm, though one that has struggled over the last two seasons. In large part because of a declining strikeout rate, E-Rod has an ERA over 5 since joining the Diamondbacks prior to 2024, and in this tournament he was roughed up by that deep Dominican Republic lineup for three runs with two homers in only 2 2/3 innings.

His assignment against Team USA won’t be any easier. And if López senses any red flags in his starter again, navigating the Americans’ order without the benefit of a rested bullpen (a benefit Team USA takes into this game) will be pretty darn difficult.

Interestingly, though, López made at least one decision Monday with an eye on Tuesday. Even though his team was trailing early and Sánchez was having success against Italy (1 2/3 scoreless innings with a walk and no hits), he pulled Sánchez after he faced six batters.

The reason for that was the WBC limits that prevent a reliever from pitching on zero days’ rest if he throws at least 30 pitches in a given outing.

“We brought in Avila,” said López, “and I said to Johan [pitching coach Johan Santana], ‘Ricardo was pitching very well, but he has 23 pitches. If he goes to 30, he won't be able to pitch tomorrow, and I want him available for tomorrow."

It’s a bold move in an elimination setting to manage for tomorrow before you’ve won today. But it worked out for López. And it’s notable that, of all his relievers used to defeat Italy, only Avila reached the 30-pitch mark that takes him out of the running to pitch in the final.

So while López would prefer to have a rested relief unit, at least he’s not restricted much by the rulebook (the preference of the players’ individual teams is often another story, though). The list of relievers that weren’t used at all Monday includes Jhonathan Díaz, Anthony Molina, Emmanuel De Jesus, Jose Alvarez, José Buttó and Antonio Senzatela, though De Jesus did pitch 2 2/3 innings against Japan on Saturday.

Quality relief work has been a hallmark of Venezuela’s deepest run ever in this tournament.

“We count on these players,” he said.

He will likely be counting on them again, though a vintage start from E-Rod – with no red flags -- would sure be welcomed under the circumstances.