Dominican Republic and United States Set for World Baseball Classic Semifinal Clash
MIAMI — The Dominican Republic has solidified its status as a tournament favorite throughout the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Standing in their way is another baseball powerhouse, a team that, despite not playing at its peak, is one step away from reaching its third consecutive final.
The paths taken by both teams have been different, perhaps diverging from initial expectations. However, this matchup was widely anticipated by many.
A Duel of ‘Dream Teams’
The stage is set for a battle between two “Dream Teams,” a clash of titans. United States and the Dominican Republic will face off on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET at loanDepot park, vying for a spot in Tuesday’s championship final.
The managers, Mark DeRosa of the United States and Albert Pujols of the Dominican Republic, both acknowledge the magnitude of the game. DeRosa expressed, “What can we expect? An unreal atmosphere, right? A lot of respect for their team. A lot of respect for Albert Pujols. He’s an aged teammate of mine from 2009.” He anticipates it will be “one of the best games of all time.”
Pitching Matchup: Skenes vs. Severino
The pitching matchup appears to be where the United States holds a slight advantage, with Paul Skenes taking the mound for the US and veteran Luis Severino for the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic’s offense has been dominant, winning all five of its games with an impressive +41 run differential, including two mercy-rule victories. The team has already hit 14 home runs, tying the historical record for a single Classic tournament. Fernando Tatis Jr. Has driven in 11 runs, nearing Masataka Yoshida’s record from 2023.
US Captain Aaron Judge commented, “We know the type of team they have over there. It’s an incredible offense, an incredible pitching staff, the bullpen. Everything is top-notch. We’re looking forward to facing them.”
Skenes’ Dominance Against Dominican Hitters
However, the United States may possess a key advantage: Paul Skenes. In his brief but impressive Major League career, Skenes has dominated many of the Dominican hitters.
Utilizing his signature fastball and splinker, the Pirates’ ace has been perfect against Ketel Marte (0-for-5), Juan Soto (0-for-3, 2 strikeouts), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (0-for-2), and Junior Caminero (0-for-3). In 27 combined at-bats against the Dominican lineup, Skenes has allowed only three hits, all courtesy of Julio Rodríguez (3-for-6).
DeRosa confirmed Skenes will have a slightly longer leash in this semifinal game, with the tournament pitch count limit increasing to 95.
Severino’s Postseason Experience
Conversely, American hitters have considerable experience against Severino. Aaron Judge, for example, is batting .600 (3-for-5) with a home run against him. Bryce Harper has two hits in five at-bats, both home runs.
Both pitchers shined in the first round. Severino completed 4.0 innings of three hits, one run, five strikeouts, and no walks against the Netherlands, while Skenes also completed 4.0 scoreless innings with just one hit, one walk, and seven strikeouts against Mexico.
Severino brings something Skenes lacks: postseason experience. During his time with the Yankees, Severino participated in 14 postseason games (13 starts), totaling 60.1 innings, 31 earned runs, 57 strikeouts, and 27 walks.
A History of Close Contests
Pujols emphasized a game-by-game approach, stating, “My goal is to continue preparing these guys to win game by game as we’ve done. I think we’re close to achieving what we desire, which is to win the tournament. But we’re two games away, and we’re going to take it one game at a time.”
These two teams have faced each other three times previously. The United States won 6-3 in 2017, while the Dominican Republic emerged victorious in 2013 (3-1) and in a group stage game during the 2017 tournament (7-5). That 2017 group stage game set an attendance record for loanDepot park, drawing 37,446 fans.
FAQ
Q: Where will the 2026 World Baseball Classic final be played?
A: The final will be played in Miami at loanDepot park.
Q: Who is the defending champion of the World Baseball Classic?
A: Japan is the current champion, having defeated the United States in the 2023 final.
Q: What time does the United States vs. Dominican Republic semifinal start?
A: The game starts at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Q: How many home runs has the Dominican Republic hit in the 2026 tournament?
A: The Dominican Republic has hit 14 home runs, tying the tournament record.
Don’t miss the action as these two baseball powerhouses collide! Share your predictions in the comments below and explore more World Baseball Classic coverage on our site.
