DUNEDIN, Fla. – Veteran Ryan Dempster will start against the Dominican Republic in Canada’s opener at the World Baseball Classic, with Philadelphia Phillies prospect Nick Pivetta slated to start versus Colombia in the second game.
A starter for the third game against the United States is to be announced pending the results of the first two games.
Manager Ernie Whitt confirmed the probables Monday as the Canadians gathered at the Toronto Blue Jays’ Bobby Mattick Training Center and held their first workout.
The 39-year-old Dempster hasn’t pitched since helping the Boston Red Sox win the World Series in 2013, but began throwing last year for fun and eventually felt good enough to kick around suiting up for Canada.
Canada is hoping to get two or three innings from Dempster against the defending-champion Dominicans before turning things over to a bullpen expected to be a strength, even after John Axford’s sudden withdrawal Sunday.
Pivetta, 24, is ranked as the 12th best prospect in the Phillies system by Baseball America, finished last season at triple-A Lehigh Valley where he posted a 2.55 ERA and a whip of 1.216 in 24.2 innings over five starts. He had an ERA of 3.41 and a WHIP of 1.202 in 124 innings over 22 starts at double-A Reading.
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