Shohei Ohtani Builds Up Pitching As Team USA Punches Ticket to WBC Semifinals

Team USA didn’t flinch. Not against Canada, not under the pressure of a tournament that’s become the biggest stage in international baseball. Friday night in Miami, the Americans took care of business with a gritty 5–3 win that punched their ticket to the semifinals and set up what might be the most electric matchup of the entire 2026 World Baseball Classic.

On Sunday night at loanDepot Park, it’s USA vs. the Dominican Republic. This wasn’t a blowout. Canada made it uncomfortable, the way Canada always does. But Team USA showed the kind of composure you’d expect from a roster loaded with big-league talent, holding on to secure a two-run victory that wasn’t fully decided until the final outs.

With Will Smith sitting this one out, Cal Raleigh stepped in behind the plate and handled business. The Americans worked through Canada’s lineup methodically, doing enough offensively and holding firm under late pressure.

On the other side of the bracket, the Dominican Republic was sending its own message — a thunderous 10–0 shutout of Korea that didn’t leave much to the imagination. Austin Wells crushed a three-run homer, and the Dominicans looked every bit like a team built to win this whole thing. Korea’s Hyeseong Kim returned from injury and rejoined the lineup, but it didn’t matter. The Dominican Republic was in a different gear.

1. Ohtani Is Watching and Building

Here’s the subplot that refuses to fade into the background: Shohei Ohtani is coming. On Thursday, Ohtani threw four simulated innings in Miami. Four. Not a bullpen session, not a light toss, four innings of live work as part of a carefully managed build-up that has MLB scouts, coaches, and fans checking their phones every hour for updates. Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior confirmed that teams are monitoring Ohtani’s progress through reports and video, underscoring just how closely everyone in the sport is watching. The man doesn’t even have to be in the game to dominate the conversation around it. For the WBC, Ohtani is expected to slot in as designated hitter when Japan faces Venezuela. But the bigger picture here is what this all means for the MLB season. A healthy, fully operational Ohtani changes everything for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The fact that he’s hitting four-inning milestones in February is the kind of news that makes opposing managers nervous.

2. Clayton Kershaw Is Out, Joe Ryan Is In

Team USA is in the last four, but there are headlines about the profile. There’s a roster shake-up worth noting for Team USA heading into Sunday’s semifinal. Clayton Kershaw, who had been part of the conversation for pitching duties, is expected to be replaced by Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan. Ryan’s stuff plays on the big stage, and the USA’s pitching depth has been a quiet strength throughout the tournament. Against a Dominican Republic lineup that just demolished Korea, they’re going to need it. They will present a different kind of challenge to the Americans.

3. Why the USA vs. Dominican Republic Semifinal Matters

This isn’t just a game. This is two of the most talented baseball nations on earth going head-to-head in a winner-take-all semifinal, with a World Baseball Classic trophy on the line. Team USA has the roster depth. The Dominican Republic has the firepower and the hunger. Their offensive display against Korea wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. And now they get America, in America, in front of a Miami crowd that will absolutely be split down the middle. The WBC has always had a way of producing moments that remind you why this tournament matters. Sunday night is shaping up to be one of those moments. On Sunday night, the USA will face the Dominican Republic at loanDepot Park in Miami. On Saturday, there will be a Japan vs. Venezuela quarterfinal with Ohtani expected as the designated hitter The bigger picture is Ohtani’s pitching trajectory and what it signals for the 2026 MLB season. The bracket is set. The stakes are real. And somewhere in Miami, Shohei Ohtani is throwing simulated innings and preparing to remind everyone exactly what he’s capable of.

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