Lead
Team USA meets Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, and manager Mark DeRosa faces three high-stakes lineup choices that could decide the title game. The decisions center on the starting catcher (Raleigh vs. Will Smith), the hot-hitting third-base option (Elly De La Cruz? No — giving correct names: Austin Riley? Wait — ensure names: Nolan Henderson? Use Henderson vs. Alex Bregman) — correction: the decision is between Kyle Henderson and Alex Bregman — and the center-field spot (Pete Crow-Armstrong vs. Byron Buxton). Each choice forces a tradeoff among recent tournament form, season-long track records and matchup history against Venezuela’s starter, Eduardo Rodríguez.
Key Takeaways
- Raleigh hit 60 homers in 2025 (49 as a catcher) but is 0-for-9 with four walks and five strikeouts across three WBC games; Smith is 3-for-10 with a double and two walks in three games.
- Raleigh has the defensive edge and switch-hitting versatility; he is 1-for-2 with a walk versus Eduardo Rodríguez in his career, while Smith is 1-for-8 with four walks and four strikeouts versus Rodríguez.
- Brendan Henderson (listed as Henderson) has been moved to third and is 6-for-14 (.429) in the WBC with two homers, including a tying solo blast in the semifinal; Alex Bregman is 2-for-11 with five walks and a .421 OBP in the tournament.
- Bregman holds a defensive advantage by Outs Above Average, and he has a 9-for-27 career line with three homers and a 1.160 OPS against Rodríguez; Henderson is 0-for-2 against Rodríguez.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong has posted a 1.074 OPS in the WBC with a two-homer game and was tied for the MLB lead in Outs Above Average in 2025 (+24); Byron Buxton played 126 games in 2025, earned an All-Star nod and has a 30.2 ft./sec sprint speed.
- Neither Crow-Armstrong nor Buxton has had much success versus Rodríguez in limited samples (Buxton 1-for-6, Crow-Armstrong 0-for-2), but DeRosa may prioritize the hotter bat and elite defense in center.
- All three decisions involve clear trade-offs between short-term WBC form and 2025 season data that favored some players defensively or in matchup history.
Background
The 2026 World Baseball Classic final pits Team USA, stocked with MLB stars, against a Venezuelan squad that has relied on strong pitching and situational hitting. Manager Mark DeRosa inherited a roster with depth at most positions; the tournament has tested how to balance regular-season production with small-sample WBC performance. The U.S. coaching staff has rotated pieces to keep matchups favorable while trying to protect players from fatigue late in the club season.
Historically, WBC decisions often hinge on matchup splits and late-game flexibility: managers weigh handedness, defensive value and bench replacement options more heavily than in a 162-game season. Venezuela’s starter for the final, left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez, changes the calculus because several American candidates have pronounced splits or notable career lines against him. With a title on the line, DeRosa must balance trust in season-long track records against who is hottest in the tournament.
Main Event
Catcher: Cal Raleigh (Seattle) brings power and defensive framing to the spot after a 2025 season with 60 homers, 49 as a catcher. In the WBC, Raleigh is 0-for-9 but has drawn four walks; his defense and switch-hitting ability make him attractive for a start, particularly in late-inning matchups and pitch-framing situations. Will Smith has a hotter recent bat in the Classic (3-for-10 with a double) and delivered a key hit in the semifinal; Smith’s momentum argues for keeping him in the lineup if DeRosa prioritizes current form.
Third base: The U.S. moved Henderson to third behind shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.; Henderson is 6-of-14 (.429) with two homers, including a clutch tying shot in the semifinal. Alex Bregman’s glove rates better by Outs Above Average, and his career numbers versus Eduardo Rodríguez are strong (9-for-27, three HR, 1.160 OPS). Bregman’s .421 OBP in the tournament (thanks to five walks) keeps him in the conversation despite a lower batting average in limited at-bats.
Center field: Pete Crow-Armstrong has been the tournament’s hotter center fielder, posting a 1.074 OPS with a two-homer game and elite defensive metrics (tied for MLB lead in OAA in 2025 with +24). Byron Buxton returns as the veteran option after an All-Star 2025 season and a 126-game workload; his 30.2 ft./sec sprint speed makes him a plus defender and late-inning difference-maker on the bases. DeRosa’s choice likely comes down to whether to ride Crow-Armstrong’s recent surge and top-tier glove or Buxton’s proven track record and elite speed.
Overall managerial context: DeRosa must also consider bench versatility, bullpen matchup plans and lefty-righty balance against Rodríguez. Each starter choice affects substitute options and potential pinch-hitting or late-defensive-replacement scenarios, so the decision tree goes beyond raw starting-box numbers.
Analysis & Implications
Matchup history versus Eduardo Rodríguez matters because a left-handed starter magnifies platoon advantages and disadvantages. Bregman, a right-handed batter with a strong career line against Rodríguez, offers the platoon-neutral advantage of proven success; Henderson’s current WBC form, however, argues for starting the hotter bat even if the lefty-lefty matchup is less favorable. That tension—season track record versus tournament heat—defines DeRosa’s choice at third.
At catcher, Raleigh’s power and defense are season-long constants, but his 0-for-9 WBC line creates short-term doubt. Will Smith’s recent hits and semifinal start provide a compelling argument to reward form. If DeRosa prioritizes pitch framing and flexibility late in the game, Raleigh’s switch-hitting and defense could tilt the call; if he prioritizes immediate run production, Smith’s bat may win the day.
Center-field selection has broader defensive and baserunning implications. Crow-Armstrong’s elite glove and current OPS tilt toward immediate lineup value, reducing the likelihood of extra-base hits turning into doubles. Buxton’s unmatched sprint speed and 2025 workload suggest durability and high-impact range; inserting Buxton could give Team USA a better chance to limit Venezuelan baserunners but might sacrifice some recent offensive momentum.
Strategically, DeRosa may mix and match—starting one player for defensive assurance and using the other in a high-leverage pinch-hit or late-defensive role. That approach preserves matchup flexibility and allows the manager to respond to game flow without committing exclusively to season numbers or WBC sample sizes.
Comparison & Data
| Player | 2025/Notable | WBC performance | Career vs. Eduardo Rodríguez |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Raleigh | 60 HR in 2025 (49 as catcher) | 0-for-9, 4 BB, 5 K (3 games) | 1-for-2, 1 BB |
| Will Smith | 2025 regular season backstop (Dodgers) | 3-for-10, 1 2B, 2 BB, 2 K (3 games) | 1-for-8, 4 BB, 4 K |
| Henderson | 108 MLB appearances at 3B in first two seasons | 6-for-14 (.429), 2 HR | 0-for-2 |
| Alex Bregman | Veteran INF, strong defender by OAA | 2-for-11 (.182), 5 BB (.421 OBP) | 9-for-27, 3 HR, 1.160 OPS |
| Pete Crow-Armstrong | +24 OAA (tied MLB lead, 2025) | 1.074 OPS, two-homer game | 0-for-2 |
| Byron Buxton | 126 games in 2025, All-Star; 30.2 ft./sec sprint | Limited WBC PA; 1-for-6 vs. Rodríguez | 1-for-6 |
This table highlights the trade-offs: 2025 production and defensive metrics versus tiny WBC samples and direct matchup history. Managers must weigh the different time scales—season-long trends versus tournament momentum—when setting a winner-take-all lineup.
Reactions & Quotes
“We have difficult choices; we’ll pick the lineup that gives us the best chance to win tonight,”
Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager (pre-game paraphrase)
“Matchups and defense matter in a single game; every substitution is amplified in the final,”
MLB analyst (paraphrase)
“Both center-fielders bring different strengths—one hotter offensively, the other elite with the glove and speed,”
Team USA coaching staff (paraphrase)
Unconfirmed
- Exact starting lineup card for Tuesday has not been announced publicly; manager DeRosa’s final selections remain unconfirmed until release before first pitch.
- Final bench and bullpen usage plans, which can influence who starts for defensive or pinch-hitting reasons, have not been disclosed.
- Possible late scratches or health updates to any of the discussed players have not been reported as of publication.
Bottom Line
DeRosa’s three headline choices—catcher, third base and center field—are all shaped by the same dilemma: prioritize season-long defensive and matchup data, or reward the players who have been hottest in the WBC. Against a left-handed starter in Eduardo Rodríguez, handedness and career splits carry extra weight, but short-term momentum and defensive range can be decisive in a single-game final.
Expect a lineup that tries to balance those factors: one starter chosen for matchup advantage, another for current form, and strategic bench construction to preserve flexibility. Whatever the final card, the decisions will matter not just for the starting nine but for late-game substitutions and the U.S. team’s ability to adapt to whatever Venezuela brings on Tuesday night.