One of the two World Baseball Classic semifinal matchups is set, with the United States gearing up for a heavyweight clash with the Dominican Republic on Sunday night, with a trip to the finals on the line.
The starting pitching matchup is already set, and it heavily favors the USA because of ironman Paul Skenes. Skenes will take the ball, and the limit on how many pitches a starter can throw has grown to 95 for the knockout rounds. However, the USA will rely on Skenes to be efficient after a recent update by manager Mark DeRosa. The Dominican Republic will roll out Luis Severino to take the ball against the very tough USA lineup.
More MLB on Heavy: Venezuela vs. Japan Predictions, Odds, How to Watch WBC Quarterfinal Match
Paul Skenes to Throw Just 75-80 Pitches
GettyThe Team USA schedule for the World Baseball Classic continues on Sunday, March 15, against Team Dominican Republic.
According to manager Mark DeRosa, following the USA’s 5-3 win over Canada on Friday night, Paul Skenes will throw around 75-80 pitches on Sunday against the Dominican Republic before likely turning the ball over to the bullpen.
This could, of course, just be “manager speak” by DeRosa, but with a long 162-game season ahead of Skenes with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Pirates might be calling in to limit the amount of pitches Skenes throws before MLB Opening Day, which is just two weeks away.
USA will need Skenes to have his A+ stuff working against this D.R lineup that features Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Ketel Marte, Junior Caminero, and many more MLB stars.
There’s been some skepticism around Mark DeRosa as this Team USA manager, but he did claim that this WBC semifinal matchup has the makings to be one of the best baseball games of all time.
More MLB on Heavy: Dodgers Trade Idea Offloads Struggling Pitcher for Triston Casas
Other World Baseball Classic Notes
Saturday night is a loaded day of World Baseball Classic matchups as well. In the matinee, Puerto Rico will face off against Team Italy to advance to the other semifinal matchup, which will be between the winner of P.R/Italy and Venezuela/Japan. The Venezuela-Japan matchup is on Saturday at 9:00 p.m.
Both games should be very exciting, as the WBC has been nothing but electric games throughout the tournament.
As for Paul Skenes and Team USA, Skenes is the exact guy you want taking the ball in a win or go home game, and if anyone is up for the challenge of facing this gauntlet of a lineup that is the DR, it’s Paul Skenes.
More MLB on Heavy: Blue Jays Predicted to Land Veteran with 149 Career Home Runs in Free Agency
Mark DeRosa Gives Paul Skenes Update Ahead of WBC Semifinal