San Juan, Puerto Rico (My Sportsbook) - The Dominican Republic will be without Alex Rodriguez, as it gets its World Baseball Classic slate started against the Netherlands at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

Rodriguez has a torn hip labrum and a cyst, which will require rest and rehab. He is going to need surgery at some point, but the Yankees hope he can make it through the season. Surgery would sideline him for at least four months.

Even without Rodriguez, though, the Dominican team is loaded for manager Felipe Alou, who will field a lineup that still boasts the likes of Hanley Ramirez, Jose Reyes, David Ortiz and Robinson Cano.

Albert Pujols, Alfonso Soriano and Vladimir Guerrero all opted to skip the event.

Edinson Volquez, who will get the start on Saturday, headlines a rotation that will also include future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez. Martinez will be using the WBC as an audition of sorts to land himself a major league deal. Also pitching for the Dominicans will be Johnny Cueto, Ubaldo Jimenez, Tony Pena, Juan Cruz and Jose Arrendondo.

Considered a heavy favorite heading into the inaugural Classic, the Dominican Republic finished fourth despite posting the second best record of the tournament, while advancing to the semifinals, where it lost to Cuba.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, won just one of its three WBC games three years ago, but that victory was a no-hitter from Washington Nationals prospect Shairon Martis, who blanked Panama, 10-0.

Martis will be back along with Sidney Ponson, Rick Vanden Hurk and Randall Simon. Ponson will have the unenviable task of slowing down the Dominican Republic team on Saturday.

The Netherlands' chances of advancing were slim to begin with, but when Jair Jurrjens chose not to participate, it left them with virtually no chance.

Today's winner will face the winner of the Panama-Puerto Rico matchup for the right to advance to Round 2 on Monday. Today's loser, though, will face the loser of the Panama-Puerto Rico tilt in an elimination game on Sunday.