Michael Lorenzen to start for Italy, Keider Montero for Venezuela in World Baseball Classic semi

Michael Lorenzen to start for Italy, Keider Montero for Venezuela in World Baseball Classic semi Michael Lorenzen will start for Italy and Keider Montero for Venezuela when the teams meet Monday night in a World Baseball Classic semifinal By RONALD BLUM AP baseball writer March 15, 2026, 12:56 PM MIAMI -- Michael Lorenzen will start for Italy and Keider Montero for Venezuela when the teams meet Monday night in a World Baseball Classic semifinal. A 34-year-old right-hander, Lorenzen pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings in the group stage 8-6 upset of the United States on Tuesday. “I faced him many times," said Italy manager Francisco Cervelli, a former big league catcher. “This is the perfect guy.” Italy is in the semifinals for the first time of a tournament that started in 2006. Venezuela lost its only semifinal appearance, 10-2 to South Korea in 2009. Lorenzen, an All-Star in 2023, was 7-11 with a 4.64 ERA in 26 starts and one relief appearances for Kansas City last year, then became a free agent and signed an $8 million, one-year contract with Colorado . If Italy wins, Aaron Nola would be lined up to start Tuesday night's final against the U.S. or the Dominican Republic. Montero, a 25-year-old right-hander, pitched three scoreless innings of relief on Monday in a 4-0 first-round win over Nicaragua . Popular Reads FBI warns Iran aspired to attack California with drones in retaliation for war: Alert Mar 11, 10:01 PM Iran live updates: Trump calls on other countries to assist in Strait of Hormuz 2 hours ago ROTC students subdued and killed Old Dominion University gunman, officials say Mar 12, 8:54 PM He made his big league debut on May 29, 2024, and was 5-3 with a 4.37 ERA in 12 starts and eight relief appearances last year for Detroit during a season in which he was optioned to Triple-A Toledo six times. Monero was 4-4 with a 5.91 ERA in eight starts and two relief appearances for the Mud Hens. Montero had three postseason appearances last year and got a save in the AL ...