DR's Alcantara set for Classic rematch vs. Venezuela

JUPITER, Fla. – Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara will start against Venezuela when the Dominican Republic faces its rival in World Baseball Classic, DR manager Albert Pujols unveiled on Tuesday.

The game, which will conclude Pool D action, will take place at 8 p.m. ET on March 11 at loanDepot park and will air on FS1.

“I saw [it] in the media, because he said it on a podcast in the DR,” Alcantara told MLB.com on Wednesday. “I'm very excited to pitch that day. It's a great opportunity for me. It doesn't matter which game I'm going to pitch, I just want to be out there and do my best.”

Alcantara, who won the 2022 National League Cy Young Award, also faced Venezuela in the 2023 World Baseball Classic to open the Dominican Republic’s slate of games at the Marlins’ home ballpark. He got chased in the fourth inning after allowing three runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts in a 5-1 loss. The Dominican Republic would not advance out of pool play in one of the tournament's biggest surprises.

As a result, the primary storyline for this Classic matchup will be whether Alcantara can redeem himself. He will make one more Grapefruit League start this weekend before joining DR’s camp. Alcantara guessed he would pitch anywhere from three innings to 60-65 pitches in the pool play game.

“It's good, versus Venezuela, a lot of energy at that game and a lot of emotion,” Marlins catcher and DR teammate Agustín Ramírez said. “I waited for that moment. [There will be] a lot of people. Talking about it three days ago with Eury [Pérez], the last WBC in 2023, he told me a little bit about the game. It's really good, and a lot of energy.”

Bragging rights will be on the line within the Marlins’ clubhouse, which features nine 40-man roster players competing for six federations. NL Gold Glove-winning utility player Javier Sanoja is a member of Venezuela’s squad.

“I think it's a beautiful match,” Sanoja said via interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. “That's the beauty of this game, that it always gives you the opportunity to go and try it again. I wish him the best, but I wish that we can also win the game.”

This time around, the 30-year-old Alcantara is coming off a down season in his return from Tommy John surgery. He posted a 5.36 ERA -- second-highest among qualifying Major League starters -- but finished strong down the stretch (2.68 ERA over final eight starts). Alcantara already has been named Miami's Opening Day starter for a franchise-record sixth time.

Count Marlins manager Clayton McCullough among those eager to see what happens between the two rivals.

“I love that,” McCullough said. “That's great for Sandy. The WBC already adds a level of excitement, and I'm sure the chance for him to pitch against Venezuela adds a little bit more spice to the tournament and his outings. So someone like Sandy, who's gone through so many Spring Trainings -- and this one being different than last year, because it's not coming back from something [like Tommy John surgery] -- it's getting ready for the season.

“For him to have that start against Venezuela, that certainly is going to be an electric atmosphere at loanDepot, and to go do that representing the DR, I think it's really cool. No one on that team [is] more deserving."