Albert Pujols, the manager for the Dominican Republic’s 2026 World Baseball Classic team, recently detailed the strategic reasoning behind his starting pitching rotation. According to reports from El Nacional and other local media, the decision-making process was a collaborative effort involving pitching coach Wellington Cepeda and focused on “matchups” and the logistical constraints of a short tournament. The WBC is set for 5 to 17 March 2026.
Japan has won in 2006, 2009 and 2023. The DR (2013) and the United States (2017) both own up to one victory. The three teams are considered the strongest contenders in the WBC.
The Dominican Republic is playing Group D against Nicaragua, The Netherlands, Israel and Venezuela, with games in Miami, Florida where the finals will eventually take place. In the previous series in 2023, the DR did not move to the finals.
Pujols emphasized that in a short-format tournament, there is no room for error. He explained that the rotation was not chosen at random but was the result of hours of study to determine which pitchers’ styles best countered the specific strengths of their opponents. The rotation is:
• Cristopher Sánchez (vs. Nicaragua): Chosen to open the tournament because he is currently the most “in-form” arm and to ensure he is rested and available for a potential quarterfinal matchup.
• Luis Severino (vs. Netherlands): Selected for his high-velocity “fire” to handle the European squad.
• Brayan Bello (vs. Israel): Slotted for the third game due to his ability to generate ground balls and “defensive gems.”
• Sandy Alcántara (vs. Venezuela): Reserved for the group’s most difficult rival, providing a veteran “ace” presence for the high-voltage finale of the first round.
Pujols stresses the importance of reaching the second phase of the short tournament. In 2023, the DR failed to advance to the quarterfinals, losing to Venezuela.
The DR won the trophy in 2013, unfolding what then was known as “platano power”. This year there is high hopes the well thought of strategies will result in bringing the trophy home.
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El Nacional
Al Bat
26 February 2026