With the announcement of several superstars joining Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, other teams are loading up on pitching to counter the powerful lineup.
That includes Team Dominican Republic, as they have reportedly added a former ace, and the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner to their WBC roster.
According to Miami Marlins beat writer Craig Mish, Sandy Alcantara will be joining the roster for Team DR. That could be a massive addition for the team, depending on exactly which version of Alcantara they are getting. The 2019-2022 version of Alcantara would be an excellent addition but any version from the previous two seasons could spell trouble.
To make it simple, Alcantara has been abysmal since winning the Cy Young Award. His 4.14 and 5.36 ERA in the two seasons since has taken him from one of the top pitchers in baseball to one of the worst very quickly. Injuries have also been a concern, as Alcantara was forced to miss all of the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery.
If there is a silver lining, it's that Alcantara was much better in the second half of last season, posting his two lowest ERA numbers in August (3.69) and September (3.71). If he is able to replicate that success and return to form in the WBC, Team DR could have its solidified ace to shut down the powerful Team USA lineup.
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