Skenes vs. Dominicans: A Classic Showdown

The World Baseball Classic semifinal pits Team USA against the heavily favored Dominican Republic, with pitcher Paul Skenes at the forefront for the Americans. Skenes, who has demonstrated remarkable composure in previous starts, will face a Dominican lineup that has averaged more than 10 runs per game and leads the tournament in home runs.

Despite the Dominican Republic's offensive prowess, many of their regular players have a combined 0-for-21 record against Skenes. Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. have never faced the pitcher, while others like Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have yet to record a hit off him. Julio Rodríguez is the only regular with hits, managing two doubles in six at-bats.

Team USA's offense has shown inconsistency since its dominant early games, while the Dominican team's "bat-flipping vibe" is a significant talking point. Pitching coach Andy Pettitte acknowledged the team had not yet fully analyzed the Dominican hitters due to game preparations. Skenes is expected to pitch between 75 to 80 innings, with Luis Severino starting for the Dominican Republic, a matchup potentially more favorable to Team USA's left-handed hitters.