The 2026 World Baseball Classic is set to kick off pool play on Wednesday, featuring four pools with five teams each. The top two teams from each pool will progress to the quarterfinals, taking place in Miami and Houston starting March 13, with the semifinals and finals also held in Miami.
Team USA’s manager Mark DeRosa has finalized the pitching rotation for pool play:
– March 6 vs. Brazil: RHP Logan Webb
– March 7 vs. Great Britain: LHP Tarik Skubal
– March 9 vs. Mexico: RHP Paul Skenes
– March 10 vs. Italy: RHP Nolan McLean
Logan Webb, a two-time All-Star and a standout workhorse in Major League Baseball, will open for the USA. He finished fourth in the National League Cy Young voting last season and has previously been a runner-up. His experience makes him an ideal choice for the tournament’s first matchup. Tarik Skubal, who has won the last two American League Cy Young awards, will start against Great Britain. This game will be his only appearance with Team USA before he returns to the Detroit Tigers.
Paul Skenes, tasked with facing the formidable Mexican team—a contender regarded as the second-best in the pool—has established himself as one of the best pitchers in the world. Nolan McLean is expected to follow him on the mound, despite facing health challenges, including “vertigo-like symptoms.” The hope is that he will be ready for his start against Italy.
During pool play, pitchers are limited to 65 pitches, although they can exceed this limit to finish facing a current batter. This threshold increases to 80 pitches for the quarterfinals and reaches 95 for the semifinals and finals.
Once pool play concludes, Team USA could face a challenge, as Skubal will not be available for subsequent rounds if the team advances. However, with Webb, Skenes, and McLean still in the rotation, the squad remains in a strong position. Backup options like Matthew Boyd, Clay Holmes, and Michael Wacha could step in, supported by relievers such as Gabe Speier, Garrett Whitlock, and Garrett Cleavinger, bridging the gap to late-inning pitchers like Griffin Jax, David Bednar, and Mason Miller.
Overall, the USA’s pitching lineup appears robust, setting the stage for what fans hope will be a thrilling run in the World Baseball Classic.