The World Baseball Classic is nearing its final stage — and if things break a certain way, the championship game could feel surprisingly familiar to Philadelphia Phillies fans.
Several key Phillies players are positioned to play major roles as the tournament heads into its semifinal round. At the center of that storyline is veteran pitcher Aaron Nola, whose next appearance could come on the biggest stage of the entire event.
Italy secured its place in the semifinals on Saturday with a victory over Puerto Rico. The win sets up a Monday night showdown against Venezuela, with a trip to the championship game on the line.
World Baseball Classic Bracket | MLB.com
Meanwhile, the other semifinal features two tournament heavyweights. Team USA will face the Dominican Republic on Sunday night in Miami, where both semifinal games — along with the championship — are being held at loanDepot Park.
For Nola, the timing could not line up much better.
The Phillies right-hander delivered a standout performance earlier in the week, tossing five shutout innings against Mexico to help push Italy forward in the tournament. That outing came on Wednesday, meaning Nola would be fully rested on the standard four days’ rest if Italy chooses to use him in the semifinal.
However, Italy manager Francisco Cervelli may have another plan.
Former Phillies pitcher Michael Lorenzen is also a strong candidate to start the semifinal against Venezuela. Lorenzen was dominant earlier in the tournament, holding Team USA scoreless across 4⅔ innings in Italy’s opening-round win.
If Lorenzen does get the ball Monday, it would set up an intriguing possibility.
Nola would become the obvious choice to start Tuesday’s championship game should Italy advance — a matchup that could come against either Team USA or the Dominican Republic.
That scenario could create a fascinating set of matchups.
A championship clash between Italy and Team USA would pit Nola directly against several of his own Phillies teammates, including Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. Harper has faced Nola often throughout their careers, particularly when Harper played for the Washington Nationals, compiling a .303 average (10-for-33) with three home runs against the right-hander.
Schwarber’s results against Nola have been more limited. He is just 2-for-13 lifetime against him, though one of those hits went for a triple.
If Italy instead meets the Dominican Republic in the final, Nola would face an equally dangerous lineup packed with All-Star talent.
Historically, the results have been mixed against some of those hitters. Nola has dominated Manny Machado in their matchups, holding him to just two hits in 20 at-bats. He has also handled Fernando Tatis Jr., who is hitless in six career at-bats against him.
Juan Soto has drawn plenty of walks against Nola, but his overall production has remained modest. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., however, has been far more successful, hitting .625 in their previous meetings.
The good news for Italy is that Nola appears to be in excellent form.
During his start against Mexico, his fastball topped out at 94.5 mph — a notable development for a pitcher who typically doesn’t reach that level of velocity until much later in the season. Last year, he hit that speed only three times during the entire regular season, all late in August.
Historically, Nola’s fastball averages around 91.4 mph before May, making the early-spring velocity bump an encouraging sign.
His curveball also looked particularly sharp in that outing, a pitch that will be critical if he faces the stacked offenses of Team USA or the Dominican Republic in a potential championship game.
Pitch count limits will still play a role in how Italy uses him. Nola threw 69 pitches in the win over Mexico, and while the WBC allows up to 95 pitches in the semifinal and final rounds, teams typically remain cautious. Major league organizations often prefer their starters to ramp up gradually during spring, usually moving from around 65 pitches toward the 80-pitch range.
Even beyond Nola, the Phillies’ presence in the tournament has been significant.
Outfield prospect Dante Nori has quietly been one of Italy’s most productive hitters. The 21-year-old leads the team with seven hits and has reached base nine times — second only to team captain Vinnie Pasquantino.
For a young player expected to open the season with Double-A Reading, the tournament has served as an invaluable experience. Nori has not only faced elite international competition but has also spent time around veteran big leaguers throughout the event.
Meanwhile, several Phillies players are contributing on the American side as well.
Cristopher Sanchez will not pitch in Sunday’s semifinal after dominating Korea earlier in the tournament. His WBC schedule is complete, and he is expected to return to Phillies camp for one final spring appearance before the regular season begins.
Team USA’s offense, led by Harper and Schwarber, will face Dominican Republic starter Luis Severino in the semifinal. Harper saw Severino frequently during the 2024 season when the right-hander pitched for the New York Mets, going 2-for-5 with two home runs in those matchups.
Schwarber has also had success against Severino, collecting three hits in nine career at-bats, including two doubles.
Another Phillies pitcher, reliever Brad Keller, has already appeared three times for Team USA during the tournament. Across those outings he has allowed four runs, though only two have been earned.
As the World Baseball Classic reaches its final stage, the Phillies’ fingerprints are everywhere — on both sides of the bracket.
And if the pieces fall just right over the next two days, the championship game could end up feeling less like an international tournament and more like a preview of Philadelphia’s upcoming season.
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