MIAMI — On March 17, 2026, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa unveiled a lineup for the World Baseball Classic championship that again leaves Cal Raleigh out of the starting nine, opting instead for Dodgers catcher Will Smith. Nolan McLean will take the mound as the starter; veteran Alex Bregman returns to the infield in a matchup driven by lefty-righty scouting against Venezuela starter Eduardo Rodríguez. The decision shifts playing time late in MLB spring training and leaves the U.S. bench deeper in bullpen options, with closer Mason Miller available despite recent heavy usage.
Key Takeaways
- Manager Mark DeRosa sat Cal Raleigh for a second straight start; Raleigh has gone 0-for-9 in the WBC so far.
- Will Smith starts behind the plate for the third time in four games; he is 3-for-10 in the tournament with one double.
- Nolan McLean (RHP) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Team USA in the championship game.
- Alex Bregman returns to the lineup and bats fifth, credited for a .333 mark (9-for-27) with three homers and two doubles versus left-handed pitching in tournament play.
- Byron Buxton starts in center field while Pete Crow-Armstrong is left out of the initial alignment.
- Kyle Schwarber has not recorded a hit against Eduardo Rodríguez in their matchups and has struck out four times versus him.
- Closer Mason Miller is listed available out of the bullpen despite a substantial recent workload.
Background
The World Baseball Classic crowns its champion after a multi-week international tournament featuring major-league talent representing national teams. The U.S. and Venezuela reached the title game following wins in preceding rounds; managers now balance roster usage between short-term championship urgency and long-term player health with MLB spring training looming. DeRosa has repeatedly emphasized team-first decisions since the tournament began, framing bench moves as tactical rather than personal.
Managerial choices in late-tournament games often hinge on specific matchups—particularly lefty-on-lefty and righty-on-righty factors that can swing a short series or single game. For Team USA, that calculus favored starting Alex Bregman against Venezuela’s left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez and keeping a right-handed bat like Byron Buxton in center. Catcher competition has been fluid during the WBC; Will Smith and Cal Raleigh have each seen starts dictated by matchup and recent form.
Main Event
DeRosa announced the starting nine with Nolan McLean listed as the game’s starter. The batting order includes Bobby Witt Jr. at shortstop, Bryce Harper at first base and Aaron Judge in right field—cornerstones of the American lineup tasked with producing against Venezuela’s rotation. Will Smith drew the start at catcher, replacing Cal Raleigh in the lineup for the second consecutive contest.
Alex Bregman slots in at third base and will bat fifth after a tournament stretch in which he has hit .333 (9-for-27) with three home runs and two doubles against left-handed pitching, striking out twice. Gunnar Henderson, described by team sources as ‘red-hot’ earlier in the event, was moved to a bench role for this matchup in favor of Bregman’s favorable history against the Venezuelan starter.
Offensively, Byron Buxton starts in center field as a right-handed bat; Pete Crow-Armstrong, a left-handed hitter, is not in the initial outfield alignment. Kyle Schwarber will serve as the designated hitter despite his documented struggles against Eduardo Rodríguez—no hits and four strikeouts in their matchups. On the pitching side, Mason Miller is listed as available from the bullpen even after heavy recent usage, giving DeRosa a high-leverage option late in the game.
Analysis & Implications
The benching of Cal Raleigh — who has nine hitless at-bats in the tournament — reflects a short-sample, high-leverage decision that prioritizes matchup history and immediate run-production needs. For Raleigh, the benching means he will return to the Seattle Mariners’ spring camp in Arizona needing regular at-bats to reestablish rhythm before Opening Day. DeRosa framed the move as tactical and team-oriented rather than punitive.
Bregman’s placement in the middle of the order is explicitly matchup-driven: his .333 mark against left-handed pitching in the event, including three homers, makes him a logical counter to Eduardo Rodríguez’s handedness. In single-game championship settings, managers often tilt rosters toward players with proven success against a specific opponent, even when that means benching recent hot hitters.
Mason Miller’s availability raises workload questions for the U.S. bullpen. Managers must weigh the immediate value of deploying their top relievers in a title game against longer-term health and workload concerns. If Miller is used, it will be a high-leverage call that could determine the late innings; if he remains unused, DeRosa retains him as a contingency.
Comparison & Data
| Player | Tournament AB | Hits | AVG/Notable | Extra-Base |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Bregman | 27 | 9 | .333 | 3 HR, 2 2B |
| Will Smith | 10 | 3 | .300 | 1 2B |
| Cal Raleigh | 9 | 0 | .000 | — |
The table above isolates straightforward tournament numbers reported by team sources: Bregman’s sample-size success versus lefties is the primary reason for his return to the lineup, while Smith’s limited but productive plate appearances have earned him starts behind the plate. Raleigh’s 0-for-9 indicates an immediate form issue but remains a small sample that can reverse in short order.
Reactions & Quotes
“We set egos aside at the start of the tournament; tonight’s lineup reflects matchups and what gives us the best chance to win,”
Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager
DeRosa characterized lineup moves as collective decisions focused on situational advantage rather than individual status.
“I’ll need regular at-bats when I get back to spring camp to get my timing right,”
Cal Raleigh, Team USA catcher
Raleigh acknowledged the benching and framed his focus on returning to the Seattle Mariners’ camp ready to work through the issue.
Unconfirmed
- Roster affiliation inconsistency: source material lists conflicting club affiliations for Alex Bregman (both “Cubs” and “Red Sox” appear); the lineup decision is reported, but the club listing could not be reconciled in the original report.
- Mason Miller usage: Miller is available in the bullpen, but it is unconfirmed whether he will be deployed in the championship game and, if so, in which inning.
- Late scratches or pre-game changes: final lineup adjustments are possible up to first pitch and could alter batting order or defensive alignment.
Bottom Line
DeRosa’s lineup for the WBC championship prioritizes matchup history and short-term win probability over recent streaks, a common approach in single-game title settings. Alex Bregman’s return and Will Smith’s starting role are explicitly tied to handedness and recent tournament performance; Cal Raleigh’s benching reflects immediate form rather than a season-long judgment.
The decisions carry ripple effects into MLB spring training—Raleigh returns to Seattle needing plate appearances, and the U.S. bullpen could be taxed depending on how Miller is used. For fans and analysts, the game will offer a clear test of whether matchup-driven substitutions or recent in-tournament momentum better predict championship outcomes.