Miami, USA – The semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic will feature one of the tournament's most anticipated matchups: star American pitcher Paul Skenes against the powerful lineup of the Dominican Republic baseball team.
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Skenes will be the opener for the United States Baseball Selection in the semifinal game to be played at loanDepot park. The right-hander arrives as one of the most dominant arms in the tournament and current winner of the National League Cy Young Award.
However, they will face a Dominican offense that has been devastating during the championship. In five games, the Dominican team has hit 14 home runs and scored 51 runs, figures that place them as one of the most dangerous attacks in the tournament.
The Dominican lineup includes Major League figures such as Fernando Tatis Jr., Ketel Marte, Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, Junior Caminero, and Julio Rodríguez.
Machado recently highlighted the confidence within the Dominican team.
“We have many stars on the team and we know how good we are. No matter who is pitching, we will execute our game plan,” he said.
Skenes' Velocity, the First Big Challenge
One of the main challenges for Dominican hitters will be the speed of the American right-hander. In his first start of the tournament against Mexico, Skenes averaged 97.4 miles per hour with his fastball and reached peaks of 99.7 mph.
The difference is noticeable when compared to the openers that the Dominican Republic has faced in the tournament, whose deliveries have averaged around 90.8 mph.
Even so, several Dominican hitters have shown the ability to hit high-velocity pitches. Players like Soto, Rodríguez, and Caminero have been especially dangerous against fastballs over 97 mph.
An arsenal of seven releases
Beyond his fastball, Skenes boasts one of the most complete repertoires in current baseball. The right-hander utilizes a combination of seven pitches: four-seam fastball, sinker, splitter, changeup, sweeper, slider, and curveball.
That variety could make the difference against an alignment that combines power and contact.
Among the individual duels that generate the greatest expectation is the confrontation with Soto, who historically has had good results against fast pitches and breaking pitches similar to those of the American.
The battle against Rodriguez will also be key, as he has shown great ability to attack high-velocity sinkers and sweepers.
A game that promises to be historic
Within the American team, there is full awareness of the challenge that facing the Dominican offense represents.
Leader Mark DeRosa assured that the game could become one of the best of the tournament, while pitcher Logan Webb anticipated an "electric" atmosphere.
With two of the biggest powers in world baseball facing each other, the clash between the United States and the Dominican Republic promises to be one of the most memorable moments of the World Baseball Classic. The winner will advance to the championship game.
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