World Baseball Classic Free Picks - Italy vs Venezuela

Italy pulled off the upset over Canada on Monday at Rogers Center in Toronto 6-2, stunning the home crowd and sending the Canadians packing.

Italy will once again be underdog when it takes on a more experienced Team Venezuela tonight at 5 p.m. ET.

Featuring a lineup with little Major League experience, the Italians laid into a Canadian team that featured a slew of gifted MLB players.

Despite getting spanked by Team Venezuela 7-0 on Saturday, Team Italy has clearly shown it can bounce back better than a 1970s ‘super ball.’

"You know, one of the great things about international ball is, it's a one-game final every day," said Italian center fielder Chris Denorfia, who went 4-for-4 with three doubles in Monday’s win over Canada.

Italy will send right-hander Adam Ottavino to the hill while Venezuela counters with right-hander Enrique Gonzalez.

Team Venezuela features MLB stars like Bobby Abreu, Magglio Ordonez, Melvin Mora and Francisco Rodriguez while Italy’s best players are Denorfia, Nick Punto, Frank Catalanotto and Lenny DiNardo.

The loser of the game will be eliminated, while the winner will take on the U.S. in Thursday's Pool C finale at 6:30 p.m. ET.

WBC Odds

Italy +3½ -110

Venezuela -3½ -130

Over 8½ -125

Under 8½ -115

Analysis: Despite Italy’s surprising theatrics in yesterday’s convincing win over Canada, I think they used up their ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card yesterday. Simply put, Team Venezuela is far too talented – and hungry – to fall to Team Italy like their Canadian brethren did on Monday.

I like team Venezuela to prevail handily tonight while covering the spread and sending the total, Over the 8 ½ -run spread.

WBC Free Pick: Venezuela 7 Italy 3