New York Yankees @ Baltimore Orioles/USA vs. Dominican Republic (World Baseball Classic semifinal)

SARASOTA, Fla. – Baseball fans were treated to a split-screen night of high-stakes drama on Saturday, as the New York Yankees’ split-squad visited Ed Smith Stadium to face the Baltimore Orioles while Aaron Judge and a star-studded Team USA battled the undefeated Dominican Republic in the opening semifinal of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Nightcap in Sarasota: Blackburn vs. Eflin

Hours after the Yankees’ other contingent was roughed up by Detroit—Luis Gil allowing seven runs on nine hits in three innings—Paul Blackburn took the hill for New York hoping to steady the ship. Signed to a one-year, $2 million deal in January, Blackburn has been one of camp’s brightest surprises, posting a 1.46 ERA with 10 strikeouts over 12⅓ Cactus League innings while adding a tick of velocity that should secure his long-relief role and serve as rotation insurance alongside Ryan Yarbrough.

He opposed Zach Eflin, who re-upped with Baltimore in December after lower-back surgery ended his 2025 season. Eflin has worked only two innings this spring while rebuilding strength; prior to the procedure he carried a 5.93 ERA and looked nothing like the right-hander who had been dominant for the Orioles down the stretch in 2024.

Despite the split-squad designation, the Yankees brought plenty of thunder to Sarasota. Ben Rice led off, followed by Jasson Domínguez, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and José Caballero. Spencer Jones—optioned to minor-league camp earlier in the week—continued to punish baseballs, entering play 8-for-24 with four homers, eight RBIs and a 226 wRC+ in 11 spring contests.

The Orioles countered with their strongest available lineup, minus WBC participants Gunnar Henderson and the injured Jackson Holliday (broken hamate). Newcomer Taylor Ward, acquired from the Angels for Grayson Rodriguez, hit leadoff, with marquee winter signing Pete Alonso batting third. Catching phenom Samuel Basallo—slashing .320/.414/.560 this spring—hit cleanup and could push Adley Rutschman for playing time once the games count.

Miami showdown: Skenes vs. Severino in WBC semifinal

While the exhibition unfolded in Florida, global attention shifted to LoanDepot Park, where the tournament’s most explosive offense collided with its most decorated roster. The Dominican Republic arrived unbeaten and untested, having scored 51 runs while allowing just 10, and fresh off a 10-0 quarterfinal rout of Korea. Team USA, by contrast, needed Mexico’s help to escape pool play after an upset loss to Italy, then rebounded to eliminate Canada 5-3 behind Logan Webb.

USA manager Mark DeRosa handed the ball to Paul Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young winner, whose lone WBC start—four scoreless innings against Mexico with seven strikeouts—offered a blueprint for silencing the Dominicans’ gauntlet: Fernando Tatís Jr., Ketel Marte, Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, Junior Caminero, Julio Rodríguez, Austin Wells and Geraldo Perdomo. That lineup has produced a collective 1.090 OPS through five games, though they are a combined 3-for-27 lifetime against Skenes.

Opposing him, Luis Severino has reinvented himself since his back-to-back All-Star seasons with the Yankees. Relying on a six-pitch mix rather than pure velocity, Severino allowed one run over four innings with five strikeouts in the Dominicans’ 12-1 dismissal of the Netherlands.

Team USA’s offense has clicked only once so far—the 15-5 opening win over Brazil—leaving Aaron Judge, Roman Anthony and Kyle Schwarber to shoulder the load. Bryce Harper, Cal Raleigh and Byron Buxton have struggled, prompting starts tonight for Pete Crow-Armstrong in center and Will Smith behind the plate. Harper remains in a largely unchanged top four alongside Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson and Brice Turang, the latter pair combining to go 12-for-25 in the tournament.

With Italy and Venezuela set to decide the other finalist on Sunday night, the winner of this heavyweight clash books a Tuesday date in Miami for the 2026 World Baseball Classic championship.

Up next

The Yankees continue spring training with Cam Schlittler scheduled for his second start, while Chisholm and Caballero return to the lineup. Neither the Orioles game nor the WBC semifinal was televised locally, but both offered plenty of storylines as clubs inch toward Opening Day and national teams edge toward global bragging rights.