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The United States fell at the World Baseball Classic in a thriller Tuesday night in Miami, while its closest All-Star player kept a warm seat in the bullpen.
Mason Miller did not play in the championship game against Venezuela after making saves against Canada and the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals and semifinals on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
After Bryce Harper homered in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at two, it set up a perfect scenario for a closer to come in in the ninth, as usual, the tightest pitches in ties like the home team in the top of the ninth.
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Mason Miller of Team USA shakes hands with Manager Mark DeRosa after receiving this silver medal following the 2026 World Classic Baseball Championship presented by Capital One game between Team Venezuela and Team USA at LoanDepot Park, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Photos Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB via Getty Images)
Instead, Mark DeRosa opted for Boston Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock, who gave up the winning run.
DeRosa, who said before the game that Miller was available, revealed that Miller’s availability was only under one condition.
“Honor the [San Diego] Padres,” DeRosa said, implying that the Padres told DeRosa that Miller could only be used in a backup situation. “If we took the lead, he would come in, but I wasn’t going to put him in a no-hitter.”
Mason Miller of Team USA throws the ninth inning against Team Dominican Republic during the ninth inning at LoanDepot Park on March 15, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Gene Wang/Media Capture/Getty Images)
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Of course, a shutdown situation was never going to happen once the United States entered the ninth inning with no lead. So, Miller was ultimately never made available.
Contrary to apparently popular belief, the United States was not the only WBC team adhering to the restrictions imposed by MLB clubs. The FOX broadcast mentioned how Venezuela manager Omar Lopez was on the phone with MLB team officials the morning of the championship about regulations for specific pitchers.
For example, the Detroit Tigers reportedly did not allow reliever Enmanuel De Jesus to pitch under any circumstances Tuesday, while the Chicago Cubs said closer Daniel Palencia, like Miller, was only allowed to pitch in a shutdown situation.
Team Venezuela celebrates after defeating Italy in a World Baseball Classic semifinal game in Miami, Florida, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
There was speculation before the game that New York Yankees closer David Bednar was completely unavailable for Team USA on Tuesday after also pitching Friday and Sunday.
Eugenio Suarez’s RBI double gave Venezuela its first World Baseball Classic title in the short history of the event, which began in 2006. For the United States, it was its second straight loss in the title game after winning it all in 2017.
