Aaron Nola threw five scoreless innings against Team Mexico during pool play. Kenneth Richmond / Getty Images
March 16, 2026Updated 2:34 pm EDT
The Athletic has live coverage of Venezuela vs. Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinals.
MIAMI — Following Team USA’s narrow semifinal victory over the Dominican Republic, Team Italy did an about-face and decided to start Aaron Nola in its own World Baseball Classic semifinal game Monday night at loanDepot Park.
The move would set up Michael Lorenzen to pitch against the United States in Tuesday’s final, if Italy defeats Venezuela on Monday.
Nola will go up against Venezuela starter Keider Montero, who went three innings and struck out three Nicaraguan batters while sitting around 98 mph with his fastball in pool play.
Nola pitched five scoreless innings against Mexico, a game in which Vinnie Pasquantino hit three homers on the way to a 9-1 win last Wednesday.
Whichever team wins Monday will advance to its first WBC final. Of the two, only Venezuela had previously reached the semifinals, which it did in 2009.
Mar 17, 2026
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