Pirates' Paul Skenes Faces Tough Task vs. Dominican Republic

Skenes takes the mound for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic semifinals against a star-studded Dominican lineup.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:19pm

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Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes is set to make his final start for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, where he'll face off against one of the most talented lineups in the tournament - Team Dominican Republic. Skenes will have to navigate a lineup filled with 2025 MLB All-Stars like Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Manny Machado.

Why it matters

This matchup pits one of the rising young stars in baseball, Skenes, against an offensive juggernaut in Team Dominican Republic. Skenes' performance could play a pivotal role in determining whether Team USA advances to the WBC final.

The details

Skenes has made two strong starts for Team USA so far in the WBC, including a 7-strikeout outing against a powerful Team Mexico lineup. He'll likely be limited to around 70-75 pitches, which could allow him to go as deep as the 6th or 7th inning if he's effective. While the Dominican lineup poses a major challenge, Skenes has had success against many of these hitters in the past, holding them to just 4 hits in 42 plate appearances.

  • Skenes' start is scheduled for March 15 at 8 p.m. at loanDepot Park in Miami.
  • This will be Skenes' second and final start for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

The players

Paul Skenes

A rising star pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who is making his final start for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Team Dominican Republic

The Dominican national baseball team, featuring a star-studded lineup of 2025 MLB All-Stars including Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Manny Machado.

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What’s next

If Skenes and Team USA are victorious, they will advance to the World Baseball Classic final on March 17.

The takeaway

This matchup between rising star Paul Skenes and the offensive juggernaut that is Team Dominican Republic will be a must-watch event, as Skenes looks to lead Team USA to the WBC final by navigating one of the toughest lineups he'll ever face.