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Christopher Bell won the pole and Stage 1 at Las Vegas. Then William Byron took Stage 2. But neither driver had quite enough to get into Victory Lane. They both, however, finished in the top 10. The lucky winner in Sin City was none other than Denny Hamlin. Here’s how it all unfolded. The Winner Is… Denny Hamlin won the day, but fans might have expected that the No. 11 would have a great race. In the fall of 2025, Hamlin started this race from the pole before winning ahead of Kyle Larson (second). Before today’s race at Vegas, Hamlin had earned two top 10s and one top five in 2026. How The Race Was Won With fewer than 85 laps to go, Denny Hamlin took the lead from William Byron and didn’t let up. Down the stretch, Hamlin was able to hold off a feisty Chase Elliott to get his first win of the 2026 NASCAR season. The victory today for the JGR driver makes this win No. 61 for the veteran. One Big Moment Connor Zilisch spun on Turn 4, causing the caution to come out. Top-10 Results 1. Denny Hamlin2. Chase Elliott3. William Byron4. Christopher Bell5. Ty Gibbs6. Chris Buescher7. Kyle Larson8. Chase Briscoe9. Bubba Wallace10. Brad Keselowski What’s Next? NASCAR heads to Darlington for the Good Year 400 on Sunday, March 22 on FS1. Last spring, Denny Hamlin won that race, with William Byron and Christopher Bell finishing second and third.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Oscar Cluff scored 21 points, Trey Kaufman-Renn had 20 and No. 7 seed Purdue topped top-seeded Michigan on Sunday for the Big Ten Tournament championship, 80-72. Braden Smith had 14 points, 11 assists and three steals as Purdue (27-8) added to an impressive turnaround after closing the regular season with four losses in six games. Fletcher Loyer made three 3-pointers and finished with 14 points. The Boilermakers won the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2023 and third time overall. They lost to the Wolverines in the final in 1998 and 2018. Yaxel Lendeborg scored 20 points for top-seeded Michigan (31-3), which beat Purdue 91-80 in their regular-season meeting on Feb. 17. Aday Mara had 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots. Reporting by The Associated Press.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Arlington, Texas — INDYCAR is 3-for-3 this year. Three races. Three winners. And we’re not talking just about three different winners on the racetrack. We’re talking about three races with great atmospheres — a traditional street race festival in St. Petersburg, the return of INDYCAR to the 1-mile Phoenix oval as part of a doubleheader with NASCAR and then Sunday at the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington. [RACE HIGHLIGHTS: How Arlington Race Unfolded] The winner wasn’t too much of a surprise — Kyle Kirkwood is arguably the best street-course racer in the series and despite a hiccup in qualifying where he ended up seventh, many viewed him as the driver to beat. He gave Andretti Global its first win of the year, joining Alex Palou (Ganassi) and Josef Newgarden (Penske) with trophies already this season. Here are my takeaways: 1. Kirkwood Masterful Kirkwood passed Palou on the final turn of Lap 55 of the 70-lap race with a daring move on the inside of the turn. He appeared impatient even though it was clear he had the speed to make the pass. But Kirkwood explained why he felt the urgency, and it made sense, considering Palou is masterful in his own way, a way that has led to three consecutive series titles (and four overall). “Palou is a smart person, smart driver — and if he knew that I got that close to him on that lap, and then I waited for the next lap to attack him, he would have defended,” Kirkwood said in his postrace news conference. “We were in a dire straits situation. This is probably the only place I can pass him. This is the only time I can surprise him.” Kirkwood now leads the points for the first time in his career, having a 26-point edge on Palou. 2. Andretti Awesome Andretti, which is known for its recent street-course prowess, placed three of its drivers in the first four spots with Will Power in third and Marcus Ericsson in fourth. Ericsson started from the pole. “The team has done a fantastic job — three cars in the top four. That’s an amazing result,” Ericsson told me and other reporters after the race. “It’s just frustrating to be the one out finishing fourth. I wish I was up there on the [top-three] podium with other guys.” 3. Palou Second-Best Alex Palou settled for second, and he knew that it would take a break to beat Kirkwood. He didn’t have anything for him. When INDYCAR decided to try to have a 1-lap green-flag dash to the finish after a late caution, Palou didn’t have much hope. “Honestly, I don’t think I had the pace to try and go for Kyle,” Palou said in his postrace news conference. “I was more worried about the 26 [of Power] than the 27 [of Kirkwood].” 4. About That Decision Kirkwood would have been furious if he lost the race on that final restart. Christian Rasmussen stalled on the track with less than three laps remaining. Typically, that wouldn’t be enough time to get the race restarted. But INDYCAR knew Rasmussen was near an opening he could be pushed into and be safely out of the racing groove. It told Kirkwood to slow significantly on the track so they could do just one slow full lap under caution and then go green with one lap remaining. The 2023 Indy 500 ended in controversy when officials red-flagged the race for a 1-lap shootout. It is a regular topic of conversation in INDYCAR circles — they feel the race should be run only to its scheduled distance but when the caution comes out late, there is debate on how to handle it to try to give fans the green-flag finish they deserve. With a sold-out inaugural race at Arlington, it seemed like a no-brainer to at least try to give the fans a green-flag finish, which eventually didn’t happen because of a crash at the rear of the field on the restart. Most of the drivers were good with the decision, but Kirkwood understandably had the most to lose. “I thought we weren’t going to do that, quite honestly, after the 500 a few years ago,” Kirkwood said. “I get it. Their first and foremost thing is to get a green-flag finish. Whatever it might take to get that done, I get it. “Of course, when you see a 5-and-a-half-second lead that you stretched and worked very hard to stretch go down to zero for one lap, it can get very frustrating inside the car.” 4 ½. What’s Next A weekend off. Kind of. At least some of the drivers will be competing in the 12 Hours of Sebring next weekend. The next INDYCAR race will be at the picturesque Barber Motorsports Park in two weeks. It presents a little bit of a regroup for the teams with just two races and an Indy 500 test over the next seven weeks before a May-August schedule that has just four weekends off in a 17-weekend stretch.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Alex Palou didn’t finish first in Sunday’s INDYCAR race at Arlington. But he couldn’t help but praise winner Kyle Kirkwood for his clean racing in the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, the series’ debut on the streets adjacent to the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. While Kirkwood took the checkered flag for his first win of the 2026 INDYCAR season, Palou finished second and Will Power finished third to complete the podium. All three drivers led the race for 16 laps. Midway through the 70-lap race on the 2.73-mile street course, Power took the lead and held on for about 10 laps, until he had to pit and Palou took control on Lap 46. But less than 10 laps later, Kirkwood started eyeing the lead. [INDYCAR RESULTS: Kyle Kirkwood Outlasts Alex Palou at Arlington] Kirkwood, driver of the No. 27 Andretti Global Honda, passed Palou in Turn 13, led the rest of the race and held on for a caution-plagued victory. And while Palou probably would have preferred a different finish, he lauded Kirkwood’s racing, particularly his “awesome pass” for the lead. “Hats off to him,” Palou said of Kirkwood during his INDYCAR on FOX post-race interview. “It was super clean, and it was pretty impressive.” Palou — who started second behind pole-winner Marcus Ericsson, Sunday’s fourth-place finisher — acknowledged he and his No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda just didn’t have the speed to catch Kirkwood on the final restart. At one point late in the race, Kirkwood had a nearly a six-second lead over Palou and everyone else, and with a late caution leading into a last-lap shootout, there was always a chance Palou could pass for the lead. But he said his car just didn’t have it Sunday at Arlington. “We’ll get them in a couple weeks,” Palou added, referencing INDYCAR’s next race, the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix on March 29 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Unsurprisingly, Jerry Jones was as excited as anyone for Sunday’s INDYCAR race, as the series made its debut on a street course around the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium for the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington. “I said one thing when we first started talking about the idea: it has to be extremely high quality,” Jones told the INDYCAR on FOX pre-race broadcast. “Everything about it, the track, the equipment, everything involved, it’s beyond anything I could have expected,” Jones said. “We know this had to go up. What have they done to my football stadium? But no, it is great. And to think these guys are going to be upwards of 200 miles an hour in these turns, that just gives me a chill. Start your engines.” While speaking with the INDYCAR on FOX broadcast pre-race crew, Townsend Bell brought up Jones getting the opportunity to spend a little time with Arrow McLaren star Pato O’Ward, and the broadcaster mentioned his own experience meeting and watching Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, praising his “high energy, his leadership, his enthusiasm.” [INDYCAR: Everything to Know About the Grand Prix of Arlington] Bell then asked Jones to share his perspective on O’Ward after decades of working with elite athletes, and Jones was impressed by the No. 5 Chevrolet driver. “The controlled intensity,” Jones said about O’Ward. “You can feel it, boy, and he’s driving for the marbles. Everything, every motion he has looks [effortless], looks natural. “Deion Sanders used to say, ‘It’s natural.’ No, Deion worked at every nuance of it because he was intense and wanted to win. And that reminds me of what I see in these great athletes that are driving these cars.” Ahead of the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington’s green flag, Jones continued to praise the magnitude and challenges of putting on an INDYCAR race outside of AT&T Stadium. “I don’t know when, logistically, we have been a part of anything that had the coming together, the nuances of everything that it takes to make this work,” Jones told James Hinchcliffe on FOX’s pre-race broadcast. “Tangible and intangible, everything that goes. And it can’t miss because, frankly, this is serious business going up a couple of hundred [miles an hour].” Follow INDYCAR’s Grand Prix of Arlington LIVE HERE.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

DAIKIN PARK (Houston) – Time to get beaned up, Miami. The magical run continues for undefeated Italy, which will be taking its Armani suits, espresso machines, cheek-kisses and, most importantly, high-powered offense to the World Baseball Classic semifinals after holding off a late charge from Puerto Rico in Saturday’s quarterfinal to seal an 8-6 win. Here are my takeaways: 1. Tournament Surprise Story Italy Writes Its Latest Chapter There was no letdown for Italy after upsetting Team USA in pool play, so why should the quarterfinals be any different? No stage appears too mighty or inconquerable for Italy, which continues cruising through the tournament undefeated with its compilation of primarily Italian-American prospects and neophyte big-leaguers pummeling the baseball. After hitting 12 home runs in pool play — a total that trailed only the Dominican Republic for the most in the WBC — Italy didn’t need the long ball on Saturday, instead stringing together two separate four-run rallies. Prior to Saturday, Puerto Rico hadn’t even allowed four runs in a game. The team’s pitching staff entered the quarterfinals leading the WBC with a 1.22 ERA. By game’s end, Puerto Rico allowed more runs against Italy than it had in its four pool-play games combined. All nine players in Italy’s starting lineup reached base, a testament to the depth of a lineup that continues causing more havoc than anyone imagined. Italy’s offense has scored as many runs as Team USA — and hit for more average and power — through five games. 2. Puerto Rico Strikes First; Italy Responds Immediately, Emphatically On an 0-2 count to start the game, Italy starter Sam Aldegheri left a changeup up to Willi Castro, who did not miss. Puerto Rico’s leadoff hitter sent the pitch over the Crawford Boxes in left field and sent a crowd of 34,291 — primarily pro-Puerto Rico fans — at Daikin Park into a frenzy. Puerto Rico’s players emptied out of the dugout to celebrate the blast as chants of “olé, olé, olé, olé” filled the stadium and Puerto Rico flags flew. But Italy went undefeated in pool play for a reason. Puerto Rico had its most accomplished starter on the mound. Against an Italy offense that outscored its opponents by 21 runs during pool play, it didn’t matter. Italy has showcased various ways to score throughout the competition. During pool play, it was primarily with power. In the quarterfinals, it was patience and precision. The start to the game for the Italy offense: walk, strikeout, walk, three straight RBI singles. Just like that, five batters into the game, Italy had chased 2024 All-Star Seth Lugo. The Italians tallied another run before the end of the inning on a sacrifice fly to jump out to a 4-1 lead. Three innings later, Italy’s next four-run was catalyzed by three straight walks which led to back-to-back run-scoring doubles from Andrew Fischer and J.J. D’Orazio. Back in pool play, that same duo hit back-to-back solo shots against Great Britain. D’Orazio, a 24-year-old minor leaguer with the Los Angeles Angels, has become the team’s primary catcher since Kyle Teel strained his hamstring against Team USA — and he’s running with the opportunity. 3. Puerto Rico Makes Late Charge, Will Lament Missed Opportunities Puerto Rico didn’t just fold after falling behind 8-2, responding with its own four-run rally in the eighth inning and getting the tying run to the plate in the ninth. However, it will regret the chances it let slip away right from the start. Right after Italy poured it on in the first, Puerto Rico had a chance to respond similarly. The team put four runners on base in the second inning and scored only one run with the opportunity. Aldegheri, one of three Italian-born players on Team Italy, lost his command in the second and was removed with one out after allowing two straight walks and then hitting a batter. Alek Jacob entered and then immediately hit another batter to bring in a run. But with the bases loaded, he struck out Castro and got pool-play hero Darell Hernaiz to groundout to keep Italy’s lead at two. In the seventh, Puerto Rico had another chance to rally and cut into Italy’s lead when a walk and an error put runners on the corners to start the inning. A lineout and two strikeouts followed. Puerto Rico finished the game 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base. 4. Italy Goes Where It Hasn’t Before Italy has made the WBC quarterfinals twice before in its country’s history, including at the 2023 WBC. Now, it will be making its first trip to the semifinals, where it will play the winner of Saturday night’s Japan-Venezuela matchup.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Arlington, Texas — Alex Palou hadn’t left a race weekend not as the INDYCAR points leader for 21 months. So when he exited Phoenix Raceway fifth in the standings, some would think he might have lost a little swagger. Palou knows his incredible run is over, but he qualified on the front row for the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington, where Marcus Ericsson will lead an INDYCAR field to green for the first time in his career at a new temporary 2.73-mile street circuit that winds by both the Cowboys and Rangers stadiums (Sunday, 11:30 a.m. ET) Here are my takeaways: 1. Palou Ready To Pounce Palou won the last two points races on new road/street courses as he captured the first win at the new Detroit course and also won last year at Thermal. Can he make it three in a row and cut into his 19-point deficit on leader Josef Newgarden. [ARLINGTON PREVIEW: Everything to Know About Inaugural Race] “[Those wins] mean nothing,” Palou said in his post-qualifying news conference. “It means more that the team does a good job not having data and being able to put the car. “I felt good at both Detroit, Thermal, and here as well. I feel we have a good car. I feel very confident with the track.” Both Palou and Newgarden downplayed the fact that Palou — a four-time series champion who has won the title the last three years — isn’t leading the standings two races into the season. “It’s crazy, crazy numbers, crazy statistics,” Palou said in a news conference Friday about that streak. 2. Ericsson Long Road To Pole This was the first pole for Marcus Ericsson in 117 career starts. [POWER RANKINGS: Who is on top at Arlington?] The former Formula 1 driver and former Chip Ganassi Racing driver finished 20th in the standings last year at Andretti Global, and doesn’t hide from the fact that this will be his last year there if he doesn’t perform. “I was very pissed off really after last year and the way I performed, especially the second half,” Ericsson said in his post-qualifying news conference. “I just felt like I didn’t recognize myself as a driver. I wasn’t aggressive, I lost confidence. I put a lot of work in in the offseason, tried to drive different things. “I jumped in GT3 cars and all kinds of things to build up my confidence and sort of enjoyment of driving race cars again.” 3. Newgarden, McLaughlin Wreck It was a long day for Team Penske as its mechanics had to repair cars throughout the day. Josef Newgarden wrecked in Saturday’s morning practice and Scott McLaughlin hit the wall in qualifying. Newgarden had to go to a backup car (a little bit of a surprise since the wreck didn’t appear too hard) and McLaughlin’s car will need repair. McLaughlin will start tail of the field in 25th while Newgarden starts 11th. While the track does appear racy enough where they can pass, they both are in somewhat significant holes. Newgarden said he just locked up the rear wheels and “ran out of room” while McLaughlin started a turn too early. Newgarden said on the FS1 telecast: “The speed’s been great, so hopefully it’s all good.” No one should be surprised by the wrecks. They are all trying to maximize speed and learning the course. It is typical for those type of incidents when drivers come to a track for the first time. 4. Wind Worries With wind gusts of up to 50 miles an hour, INDYCAR officials opted to move the race an hour earlier with a green flag in the vicinity of noon ET. The move was made for general safety reasons — from workers and fans trying to navigate the facility, which has plenty of temporary structures, as well as lifts being used to broadcast and officiate the race. “Sounds like a tailwind down into Turn 10 there [after the 0.9-mile backstretch] — it’s going to make it fun,” McLaughlin told me and other reporters. “A lot of slipstreaming and passing.” 4 ½. What’s Next Drivers might get a better feel of the wind and how it could impact them in their warmup Sunday morning (9:30 a.m. ET, FS1). They then will battle for 70 laps in what is expected to be an electric crowd to witness the inaugural race.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

“Hello, A.J. … what’s happening?” Star wide receiver A.J. Brown remains a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Nonetheless, Brown’s four-year stint with the Eagles (2022-25) has come against the backdrop of the three-time Pro Bowler publicly complaining about his role in the team’s offense and rampant speculation about his relationship (or lack thereof) with quarterback Jalen Hurts. Just last season, Brown told fans to “get rid” of him if they have him on their fantasy football team and that playing “Madden NFL 26” is the only way to find “highlights” of him. Meanwhile, former Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson said in November of last season that he knew “something else” was “going on” between Brown and Hurts. Earlier this week, reports circulated that the Eagles were discussing a potential Brown trade with multiple teams. Here’s what’s going on with Brown and an explainer on the situation. Who’s interested in trading for Brown? The Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots discussed a trade with the Eagles for Brown during the opening week of NFL free agency, according to The Athletic. Brown played for Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel over his first three seasons in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans (2019-21). The report noted that Philadelphia is tabling any trade discussions regarding Brown. What are the Eagles asking for in a potential Brown trade? At least one first-round pick and a top-100 draft pick in any trade for Brown, according to Sports Illustrated. What is Brown’s current contract? Brown, who will be 29 at the start of the 2026 season, signed a three-year, $96 million extension with the Eagles in April 2024, a contract that includes $84 million guaranteed and one that doesn’t begin until 2027. Why is a Brown trade more likely after June 1? If the Eagles trade Brown before June 1, they would incur a $43 million dead cap hit, whereas if they trade the receiver after June 1, the dead cap hit would be just $16.4 million. Beginning on June 1 of every NFL year, teams can spread out a dead cap hit for a player in a trade or release over two years, whereas it directly impacts their payroll for the upcoming season if a player is released before June 1. What have the Eagles done this offseason? On Mar. 7, Philadelphia extended defensive tackle Jordan Davis to a three-year, $78 million deal. On the free-agent front, the Eagles have signed cornerback and 2022 Pro Bowler Riq Woolen (one-year, $12 million deal) and linebacker Arnold Ebiketie (one-year, $7.3 million deal), among other deals. What did Brown do last season? Coming off the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX triumph, Brown totaled 78 receptions for 1,003 yards (career-low 12.9 yards per reception) and seven touchdowns through 15 regular-season games in 2025. It marked the sixth time that Brown reached 1,000 receiving yards in a single season in his seven-year NFL career (2019-25). At the same time, Brown had four games where he logged two or fewer receptions, and he had just three receptions on seven targets in Philadelphia’s NFC wild-card round loss at home to the San Francisco 49ers.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

DAIKIN PARK (Houston) – As Team USA quashed a late charge from Canada on Friday night, Paul Skenes had already started the process of preparing for a seemingly indomitable machine. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, the best hope the United States has of getting back to the World Baseball Classic final, took off early to get ready for his Sunday start in Miami where a juggernaut will be waiting. “I expect it to be, like, one of the best games of all time,” USA manager Mark DeRosa said ahead of the star-studded semifinal matchup against the Dominican Republic. Despite fielding the most talented roster it has ever assembled, Team USA got to this point by surviving rather than thriving. The U.S. held on late against Mexico, lost to Italy and needed help to advance out of pool play, then held on for life again against its neighbors to the north. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic has steamrolled its way through the competition, dancing and bat-flipping and swim-moving and soaring and soaking in every minute of a tournament that so outwardly and obviously means the world to its players. Julio Rodriguez even said it would mean more to win the World Baseball Classic than the World Series. “It’s exciting,” Aaron Judge said of the Dominican style of play. “I know the fans definitely love it. But I try not to look at what other teams are doing, other people are doing. I’m focused on what we got here. We’ve got a special group of guys that love to play this game, they’re excited to be in this room, they’re all honored to be in this room, and they’re not taking it for granted.” The U.S. players say they’re having fun, too, even if it’s not as obvious, even if the wins aren’t as convincing and even if every game is changing the color of their pitching coach’s head. The latest survival was a 5-3 win, during which Canada put the tying runners in scoring position in the seventh. “I’m telling everybody, my hair might start falling out I think,” said Andy Pettitte. “It’s all turning gray. But it’s fun.” Is it? “I mean, I’m trying to have fun,” Pettitte, a five-time World Series champion with the Yankees, said. “I’m not going to lie, it’s tough. With what we’re doing and how we’re trying to do things and trying to talk through this and figure it out, it’s not easy, but it’s fun, and we knew what we were getting into when we accepted this. The guys have been amazing. I hope they’re having fun. I’m enjoying it.” Pettitte’s hair isn’t likely to get any thicker with the opponent on deck. Just as the U.S. is attempting to avenge its performance three years ago, Team D.R. is looking to do the same. The Dominican Republic won the tournament in 2013 but was bounced in the second round in 2017 and didn’t make it out of pool play in 2023. It has started this tournament with a vengeance, pulverizing every pitching staff it has faced. Team D.R. went 4-0 in pool play and entered the quarterfinals with the best run differential in the tournament. The unrelenting behemoth of a lineup has scored 51 runs in five games — and that’s while mercy-ruling two of their opponents in seven innings. “They’re one of the greatest countries in the world at baseball,” said Bryce Harper. “They’re young. They’re talented. One through nine in that lineup, they can all go deep. They can all hit for average.” “We know what type of team they’ve got over there,” added Judge. “Incredible offense, incredible pitching staff, bullpen, everything is just top notch.” On Friday, the Dominican Republic shut out its latest victim. Austin Wells’ three-run shot triggered a run rule in the seventh against Korea and gave the Dominican Republic the 10-0 win and its 14th home run of the WBC, already tying a tournament record. Team USA, meanwhile — with a lineup that many expected to be similarly formidable — has hit half as many homers and scored 11 fewer runs than Team D.R. in the same number of games. The U.S. didn’t hit any home runs in its win on Friday, though Harper had a 416-foot flyout and Alex Bregman and Cal Raleigh both narrowly missed home runs on deep foul balls. “If we’re going to win this tournament like we all believe we’re going to, it’s going to take more than home runs,” Judge said. “There’s times we’re not hitting home runs, we’ve got to play small ball, we’ve got to move runners, we’ve got to do different things just to create some offense.” Added Bregman: “We’ll get it dialed in.” DeRosa said he doesn’t see “any crazy changes taking place” with the lineup and believes in the group he has. On the mound, he’ll have perhaps the only person left in the tournament capable of giving the Dominican Republic lineup a challenge. Skenes, who threw 60 pitches in four scoreless innings in USA’s win against Mexico, is projected to have a pitch limit of around 75 to 80, though that number is subject to change. “He wanted the ball,” Pettitte said. “Before he left today, we were out there talking — man, he’s wanting to get to Sunday — and of course all of us were praying we’d be able to get there and have an opportunity to do this. He’s a special human being, a special kid, and he’s looking forward to it, I know. It’s going to be a great game.” Added Judge: “I like any game that Paul Skenes pitches.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

DAIKIN PARK (Houston) – Once again, it did not come easily or stylishly for Team USA on Friday night, as evidenced by the subdued celebration on the field in the aftermath of its victory against its neighbors to the north. It seemed more like a sigh of relief than a scene of jubilation. But coming off a shocking pool-play loss to Italy that put its tournament hopes at risk, the dream team survived again, holding off Canada in the quarterfinals to set up a matchup of the juggernauts between Team USA and the Dominican Republic in Sunday’s semifinals. Here are my takeaways: 1. Team USA Has Major Pitching Advantage Moving Forward Yes, Team USA has assembled a lineup packed with superstars, but the biggest difference for the club in this tournament compared to past iterations is the arm talent — particularly in the rotation. Even with Tarik Skubal no longer available, the U.S. had a back-to-back All-Star in Logan Webb to start on Friday and will have a back-to-back All-Star and Cy Young Award winner in Paul Skenes ready for Sunday’s much-anticipated matchup against the Dominican Republic. Webb did his job against the Canadians, holding them scoreless for 4.2 innings with five strikeouts. In two starts in the WBC, Webb allowed just one run in 8.2 innings. Once he left, though… 2. Canada Made Things Interesting vs. USA Bullpen After falling behind 5-0, Canada didn’t go down without a fight. The inning after Webb’s departure, Tyler Black got Canada on the board with an RBI single off Brad Keller in the sixth. USA manager Mark DeRosa then turned to lefty Gabe Speier to get the platoon matchup on Bo Naylor, but it didn’t matter as the Canada catcher crushed an inside slider 404 feet out to right field to bring Canada within two runs. It would soon get even dicier for the U.S. bullpen. David Bednar entered in the seventh and got a couple ground balls to start the inning, but they both resulted in infield singles. After a passed ball by Cal Raleigh, Canada suddenly had the tying runs in scoring position. The Yankees reliever buckled down from there, though, getting Josh Naylor to pop out before striking out Tyler O’Neill and Owen Caissie, Canada’s hottest hitter entering the game, to extinguish the threat. In the ninth, Mason Miller shut the door. 3. Canada Gifted Jerseys, USA Gifted Runs Before the game, Hockey Canada sent a congratulatory video message to the country’s baseball players for getting through to the quarterfinals for the first time and gifted the team Canadian hockey jerseys, which the players proudly wore pregame at Daikin Park. Three innings into the game, Canada’s defense was also in the giving spirit. After plating a run on an RBI groundout in the first inning, Team USA didn’t hit a ball out of the infield in the third yet still managed to tack on two more runs to give Webb some breathing room. The damage came with two outs and the bases loaded, when Alex Bregman pulled a grounder that third baseman Abraham Toro secured on a dive. The throw to first, however, was airmailed, as two runs came home. That ended the day for Michael Soroka. Reliever Micah Ashman entered and prevented the inning from unraveling by striking out Roman Anthony. On a night in which Canada managed to hold USA’s biggest boppers in check, it was the bottom of the lineup delivering crucial insurance. The No. 8 and 9 hitters in USA’s lineup, Brice Turang and Pete Crow-Armstrong, came through with RBI singles in the sixth. At the time, it seemed like they were just padding USA’s lead. Given how the ensuing innings went, those hits instead ended up the difference. 4. The Juggernaut Semifinal Matchup is Upon Us The Dominican Republic has bulldozed its way through the tournament with elation and bat flips and brute force. Team USA, despite fielding a roster capable of doing the same, has not. And if it plays the way it has to this point, the offense awaiting them in Miami will be salivating. But as the lineup attempts to play to its capabilities, the biggest hope for the Americans is on the bump. The Dominican Republic used its best arm while run-ruling Korea, 10-0, in a game in which starter Cristopher Sánchez fired five scoreless innings. The U.S., meanwhile, will have reigning National Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes ready to go.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports