Eduardo Rodríguez and Nolan McLean faced each other in the World Baseball Classic final 23 days ago.
They’re doing it again Thursday night.
Tonight at Citi Field, the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets close out their series with a WBC final rematch: Eduardo Rodríguez vs. Nolan McLean. It’s the first time the two have met since they started the championship game 23 days ago in Miami — a 3-2 Venezuela win that delivered the country its first WBC title.
First pitch is 7:10 p.m. ET. If you’re searching for how to watch the Diamondbacks vs. Mets tonight, the full broadcast and streaming details are below.
How to Watch Diamondbacks vs. Mets
- Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
- First Pitch: 7:10 p.m. ET / 4:10 p.m. PT
- Venue: Citi Field, Flushing, NY
- National TV: MLB Network
- Local TV: SNY (Mets) / DBacks.TV (Arizona)
- Streaming: Fubo, MLB.TV (out-of-market)
- Radio: WHSQ 880 AM and the Audacy app (Mets) / 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station (D-backs)
The WBC Story Continues
In Miami, Rodríguez set the tone for Venezuela’s title run with 4 1/3 scoreless innings, one hit, four strikeouts. McLean answered with 4 2/3 innings of two-run ball for Team USA. Neither got a decision. Both walked off knowing the next chapter wasn’t going to take long to write.
United Statfes manager Mark DeRosa relieves United States pitcher Nolan McLean during the fifth inning in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Since that night, neither has blinked. Rodríguez enters tonight with a 0.00 ERA across 12 innings for Arizona — shutdown work against the Dodgers and a seven-inning gem versus the Braves. After two seasons in the desert with an ERA above 5.00, the version of Rodríguez who showed up for Venezuela in March is the version that’s still pitching in April. McLean, meanwhile, has anchored the Mets rotation with a 2.61 ERA and 12 strikeouts in his first two starts. The WBC hangover hasn’t hit either of these arms — if anything, the international stage sharpened them.
Venezuela pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez aims a pitch during the first inning in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
The International Subplot Is Everywhere
This isn’t just a pitching rematch. It’s a reunion. Five players in tonight’s projected lineups were on WBC rosters last month: Ketel Marte (Dominican Republic), Gabriel Moreno (Venezuela), Geraldo Perdomo (Dominican Republic), and Jorge Barrosa (Venezuela) for Arizona; Francisco Álvarez (Venezuela) for New York.
Francisco Lindor (Puerto Rico) adds to the international presence, even though he did not appear in this year’s tournament.
Three of them — Moreno, Barrosa, and Álvarez — were part of Venezuela’s run to the title alongside Rodríguez in Miami, while Marte and Perdomo represented the Dominican Republic. Álvarez was on the other side of that final, and he steps in tonight slashing .300/.400/.633 with three home runs already on the young season.
New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean reacts after striking out a batter during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez throws to the plate during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The series is split 1-1 after Arizona’s 7-2 win Wednesday. Tonight’s rubber match decides the series — but for fans of the global game, it’s the rare April Thursday that feels like an encore to a world championship.
For more on Venezuela’s run to the 2026 WBC title and the players carrying that momentum into the MLB season, check our full WBC coverage.
