First World Baseball Classic The semifinals are set – and it’s the matchup many have been dreaming about since the beginning of the WBC: Team USA vs. Dominican Republic.
After Team USA defeated Canada and DR Mercy dominated Venezuela on Friday night, our top two teams wbc power rankings The finale will air Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
Who has the upper hand in this star-studded contest? And who are the X-factors that will decide which team advances to Championship Tuesday? ESPN baseball experts Jorge Castillo, Alden Gonzalez and Jeff Passan are reflecting ahead of the semifinals — and be sure to come back to this page on first pitch for live analysis and highlights from Miami.
How excited should baseball fans be for this Team USA-Dominican Republic showdown?
Castillo: Very. While the 2023 final between Team USA and Japan was incredible theater, these are the best teams of this tournament. Paul Skenes Versus Platano Power. All-stars at almost every position. Noisy atmosphere in Miami. Nothing can be better than this.
Pasan: The excitement is just the beginning. This is a dream matchup. This is a Dominican lineup loaded with All-Stars and MVP candidates and future Hall of Famers against one of the two best pitchers in the world. The Dominican people are an unstoppable force. The sconce is an immovable object. Sunday night’s game will reveal in real time what happens when the two meet. Needless to say, this is the real final, but with defending champions Japan out of the tournament after losing to Venezuela on Saturday night, this is unquestionably the WBC’s marquee matchup. You don’t have to love baseball to love US vs DR
Gonzalez: I’ll try to put Jeff’s words into statistical perspective: The two projected starting lineups in this game will feature a combined 52 All-Star games, 32 Silver Sluggers, 11 Gold Gloves, and five MVPs, all players still in their prime. 17 of those 18 players had success in our preseason mlb rank top 100. Fifteen appeared in the top 50. And none of that accounts for arguably the world’s greatest pitcher – Skenes, Team USA’s starter. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime matchup. Enjoy it.
What’s the biggest thing the Dominican Republic needs to do to win tonight?
Castillo: Keep it closed quickly. The Americans have the starting pitching advantage with Skeens on the mound, but the Dominican Republic bullpen is strong, and the offense would not stop all night.
Gonzalez: Assign leadership to its bullpen. The Dominican Republic faced a tough test against Venezuela in the pool-play final, but the DR defeated its four other opponents by a combined score of 44–5.
By the time this semi-final match begins, its best relievers will have been largely rested. And if the Dominican likes can highlight camilo doval, Carlos Estevez, seranthony dominguez, vandy peralta, Dennis Santana And abner uribeAmerica may be swimming against the current.
Pasan: Increase Skenes’ pitch count and try to chase him down to the fourth inning. Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said Skenes would throw 75 to 80 pitches — significantly less than the maximum of 95 allowed in the semifinals and finals. While Skenes generally limits walks, he does have a tendency to increase pitch counts. If DR can force DeRosa into his bullpen, that’s a benefit to him: As good as it is, it’s not as good as Skane’s.
Who is the player who should shine for DR in the semi-finals?
Castillo: Fernando Tatis Jr.. The explosive Dominican is at the top of the lineup and has been a problem for opposing pitchers this tournament. San Diego Padres The right fielder is 7 for 16 with two home runs, 11 RBI and a 1.404 OPS in five games. when he presses forward Ketel Marte, juan soto And Vladimir Guerrero Jr.., It’s almost impossible to slow down the Dominican people.
Gonzalez: On paper this may seem like an unbalanced pitching matchup, but louis severinoHis stuff looked fantastic in his previous start against the Netherlands. His fastball reached 99 mph, and his sinker and cutter were all consistently in the mid to upper 90s. Severino struggled mightily last season, spending half his time in a minor league ballpark in Sacramento. But if he looks close to what he was with the Mets last year, the Dominican Republic will be in good hands.
Pasan: Dominican players take on center fielder Skanes in limited at-bats julio rodriguez Has had the most success with a pair of doubles, achieving 3 out of 6. Of DR’s regular players, Rodriguez has struggled the most, going 3 for 15 with a home run and four RBIs, and when he finds himself in the bottom of cartoonish lineups, he’s been able to unleash the biggest swing of the tournament right in front of him.
What’s the biggest thing Team USA needs to do to win tonight?
Castillo: Bring Severino to work. While the Dominican Republic’s bullpen is electric, the Dominicans have no tall man behind Severino brian bello i came back boston red sox And will not be available to pitch on Saturday. If the Americans can chase Severino early, Dominican manager Albert Pujols will have to rally against a dangerous American lineup.
Gonzalez: This lineup was arguably the greatest montage ever sold when this tournament began, but we have yet to see it match up to the best of the competition. In the pool-play final against Italy, the US lost the first five innings. Michael Lorenzen. Quarter-finals against Canada – started one game Michael SorokaJoe has posted a 4.91 ERA in the majors over the last three years with no major relievers behind him – Americus has allowed just eight hits. The Dominican lineup has been a force in this tournament, having already set a WBC record with 14 home runs. America needs to show aggressiveness.
Pasan: Get an early lead. The Dominicans have finished every inning of the tournament with a lead, so for the U.S. to punch them in the face would not only send a message that their excitement through the WBC won’t continue unabated — it would also be a reminder to a Team USA that looks like a C-plus version of itself that greatness truly does reside within. The games the Americans win are won through early leads and bend-but-to-break bullpen work. That formula, even if it requires a few antacid pills, might be enough for the championship.
Who is the player who should shine for the United States in the semifinals?
Castillo: In a lineup full of all-stars, aaron judgeThe world’s best hitter remains a notch above the rest. The three-time MVP has two home runs and six walks in this tournament. Pitching him around is a scary proposition kyle schwarber Cruising in on-deck circles. The three-time AL MVP will have a chance to impact this game.
Gonzalez: bryce harper He is 3-for-20 with zero extra-base hits, seven strikeouts and just one walk in the tournament. He’s hitting in a vital part of the lineup stuck in the middle bobby wit jr. And judges, and there is a dire need for this.
Harper has had a crush on her since high school, but in this moment it feels a little brighter than usual. Whenever he comes to bat, this is the main thing in people’s mind. “not elite” comment From Dave Dombrowski, which clearly upset him, and his own comments about the Olympics being essentially more important than the tournament itself. Harper can drown out the noise with a big game.
Pasan: Despite his offense’s issues, DeRosa said after Team USA’s quarterfinal win: “I don’t see any crazy changes. We’ll work with guys.” Well, there must be one of those people baltimore orioles shortstop Gunnar HendersonWho has taken 7 wickets for 9 runs against Severino in his career. Where does he play? That’s the hard part. It’s not at shortstop where Bobby Witt Jr. will have to start. It may be at third base, where he has played, but he will be displaced. alex bregman. And put Bregman at second base Bryce TurangArguably the United States’ best hitter so far in the tournament, is on the bench. DeRosa has no easy options. However, Henderson needs to be included in everything he does.
