Braun, Lucroy on USA Roster for World Baseball Classic

NEW YORK (AP) - Toronto's R.A. Dickey heads a starting pitching staff missing David Price, Justin Verlander, Jered Weaver, Clayton Kershaw and Matt Cain on the preliminary U.S. roster for the World Baseball Classic.
    
Milwaukee's Ryan Braun, Miami's Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees' Mark Teixeira and the Mets' David Wright are among 27 players on the roster announced Thursday. The roster also includes Joe Mauer and Jimmy Rollins, and the bullpen is headed by Atlanta's Craig Kimbrel.
    
Final 28-man rosters are due Feb. 20 and must include at least 13 pitchers and two catchers. The U.S., managed by Joe Torre, opens against Mexico on March 8, then plays Italy and Canada to complete its first-round group.
    
Venezuela's roster includes AL Triple Crown winner MVP Miguel Cabrera, World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval and pitcher Felix Hernandez. The Dominican Republic has Robinson Cano, Jose Reyes, Adrian Beltre and Hanley Ramirez, and Puerto Rico has Carlos Beltran and Yadier Molina.
    
Chien-Ming Wang is on Taiwan, and Bruce Chen is the first major leaguer on China's team. Cuba's roster does not include any defectors in the major leagues. Japan also does not have any major leaguers.
    
Italy's roster includes Francisco Cervelli (born in Venezuela), Jason Grilli (born in Oak Hill, Mich.) and Nick Punto (born in San Diego).
    
The U.S. roster:
    
Pitchers: Jeremy Affeldt (San Francisco), Heath Bell (Arizona), Mitchell Boggs (St. Louis), Steve Cishek (Miami), Tim Collins (Kansas City), R.A. Dickey (Toronto), Luke Gregerson (San Diego), Derek Holland (Texas), Craig Kimbrel (Atlanta), Kris Medlen (Atlanta), Chris Perez (Cleveland), Glen Perkins (Minnesota), Vinnie Pestano (Cleveland), Ryan Vogelsong (San Francisco)
    
Catchers: J.P. Arencibia (Toronto), Jonathan Lucroy (Milwaukee), Joe Mauer (Minnesota)
    
Infielders: Willie Bloomquist (Arizona), Brandon Phillips (Cincinnati), Jimmy Rollins (Philadelphia), Mark Teixeira (N.Y. Yankees), David Wright (N.Y. Mets)
    
Outfielders: Ryan Braun (Milwaukee), Adam Jones (Baltimore), Giancarlo Stanton (Miami), Shane Victorino (Boston), Ben Zobrist (Tampa Bay).