Hernandez asked to set tone as WBC ramps up
After a disheartening showing four years ago, Venezuela is one of the favorites to win the 2017 World Baseball Classic. But can Omar Vizquel’s bunch avoid getting tripped up early by Puerto Rico?
The two countries are preparing to kick off Pool D play tonight, with a 9 p.m. ET first pitch in Mexico. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives Venezuela odds of -165 to prevail at Estadio Charros de Jalisco. Conversely, Edwin Rodriguez’s troops represent +125 underdogs.
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Felix Hernandez draws the start against a loaded Puerto Rico lineup that features Carlos Correa, Carlos Beltran, Francisco Lindor, Yadier Molina and Javier Baez. The perennial Cy Young contender did not toe the rubber in the 2013 tourney. If things go according to plan this time around, though, Hernandez could receive as many as three assignments before returning to Seattle’s camp.
But while Venezuela obviously feels great about its ace, there’s probably even more excitement surrounding the bats. Miguel Cabrera, Jose Altuve, Carlos Gonzalez and Victor Martinez make up the heart of the order. Other potential standouts include Salvador Perez, Ender Inciarte and Martin Prado.
Considering King Felix’s shaky spring debut last week (he allowed three runs on seven hits across five frames), we’re hardly counting on the man to mow down such a motley crew of sluggers. Fortunately, however, Francisco Rodriguez, Jeanmar Gomez, Bruce Rondon and Yusmeiro Petit populate Venezuela’s bullpen. It’s no revelation to assert that those arms will prove the difference in the late innings.
FRIDAY WBC PICK: VENEZUELA -1.5