Italy can manufacture runs with small ball or explode with home runs.
The left-handed heavy lineup creates platoon advantages while the bottom third ensures pitchers can’t relax. This is a dangerous, deep roster capable of beating any team in pool play.
Pitching Staff
StartersRelieversSam AldegheriDan AltavillaMichael LorenzenDylan DeluciaAaron NolaAlessandro ErcolaniGabriele QuattriniMatt FestaGordon GraceffoAlek JacobJoe La SorsaRon MarinaccioKyle NicolasAdam OttavinoGreg Weissert
A one-two punch of Aaron Nola and Michael Lorenzen gives Team Italy a chance against the other pool’s power-packed lineups.
Nola, coming off a season where he registered a 6.01 ERA and made just 17 starts because of injuries, will likely look at his WBC starts as a way to put last year in the rearview mirror and start 2026 strong.
Lorenzen recently signed a one-year deal with a team option for 2027 with the Colorado Rockies, inserting himself into the front of the rotation and will likely be an option to draw the Opening Day start on the road against the Miami Marlins.
The 34-year-old right-hander can eat innings and keep his team in the game, something that Italy will need if it hopes to advance.
Sam Aldegheri has seven appearances (five starts) for the Los Angeles Angels over the last two years, while Gabriele Quattrini has plenty of experience (46 starts, 60 games) in Italian Serie A1 over the past five seasons.
In the bullpen, the 40-year-old Adam Ottavino previously represented Italy in the 2009 WBC and dazzled with three scoreless innings against Venezuela. Now a seasoned veteran, Ottavino can provide steadiness whenever called upon, including late in the game.