Miami's loanDepot park will host a highly anticipated World Baseball Classic semifinal on Sunday as Team USA faces off against the Dominican Republic, a clash many baseball fans have awaited since the tournament began.

A Dream Matchup in Miami

Two powerhouses with baseball's biggest stars face off Sunday. Experts have called it the "real final" of the tournament, especially with reigning champion Japan already eliminated. It's a once-in-a-lifetime matchup stacked with All-Stars, MVPs, Silver Sluggers, Gold Glovers, and Cy Young winners.

The starting lineups combine for 52 All-Star appearances, 32 Silver Sluggers, 11 Gold Gloves, and five MVPs—all from guys still in their prime. Of these 18 players, 17 were ranked in the preseason MLB Rank top 100, with 15 landing within the top 50. That's a lot of talent.

The D.R. Has crushed everyone, tying the WBC record with 14 home runs.

They even mercy-ruled Korea 10-0 in the quarterfinals. Team USA had to work harder—they got help from Italy and needed Webb's strong arm against Canada to get here.

They haven't faced each other in the WBC since 2017. That year, they split their series 1-1, but Team USA ultimately advanced past the Dominicans in the quarterfinals on their way to winning their first WBC championship.

Pitching Duel Under New Rules

The semifinal clash will feature a compelling pitching duel between Team USA's Paul Skenes and the Dominican Republic's Luis Severino. For this game, the pitch limits are way more relaxed.

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The 65-pitch limit from pool play and the 80-pitch cap from the quarterfinals are off the table, allowing starters to throw up to 95 pitches.

Both pitchers can attack without worrying about saving their arms. Skenes, a reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, is often considered one of the world's best pitchers, an "immovable object" against the D.R.'s powerful offence. But don't sleep on Severino—he's got a 3.02 ERA away from Sacramento, which means this matchup is closer than people think.

Lineup Decisions Loom for Team USA

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa faces critical lineup decisions for this high-stakes game. Against Canada, DeRosa made a notable adjustment, replacing center fielder Byron Buxton with Pete Crow-Armstrong, who had previously slugged two home runs in a loss to Italy. Crow-Armstrong rewarded that trust with two hits, including an RBI single, against Canada.

Still, DeRosa's caught heat for other decisions. Bryce Harper has struggled at the plate throughout the WBC, even against lesser competition, yet remained in the two-hole against Canada, going 0-for-5.

Similarly, Alex Bregman has stayed at third base, primarily for his defensive capabilities. Critics say the best hitters need the most at-bats—Harper and Bregman have been struggling compared to guys like Turang and Crow-Armstrong.

DeRosa has defended his approach in interviews, expressing an "undying passion" for his role and a deep belief in his roster, stating he doesn't categorize players into "A" and "B" lineups. But if Team USA wants to beat the D.R., DeRosa might need to have some hard talks about getting his best hitters more at-bats.

Dominican Strategy: Bullpen and Early Lead

The Dominican Republic, known for its "Plátano Power" offence, enters the semifinal as an "unstoppable force" with a lineup loaded with All-Stars and MVP candidates. Their game plan is simple: stay close early, then let their bullpen and bats take over.

The D.R.'s beaten four opponents 44-5 combined—that's offensive dominance. Their bullpen is solid and will be fresh for Sunday.

With guys like Doval, Estevez, Dominguez, Peralta, Santana, and Uribe, the D.R. Can hand their bullpen a lead and shut the door.

That's a tough combo for Team USA to beat—especially if the D.R. Can survive Skenes early and get rolling offensively.

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The winner plays for the championship on March 17 in Miami.

This article was created with AI assistance.