Team USA’s rotation is set for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Per ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa announced that San Francisco Giants star Logan Webb will start Game 1 against Brazil in pool play. Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal will start Game 2 against Britain, followed by Pittsburgh Pirates standout Paul Skenes in Game 3 against Mexico.
“Yeah, it’s set up,” DeRosa said. “There’s obviously guardrails for the tournament … pitch count wise, but there’s also guardrails for guys having to throw on certain days to get ready for their team’s opening day.”
According to Rogers, New York Mets’ Nolan McLean is currently set to start against Italy in Game 4, but is currently dealing with a cold. DeRosa said the team will “reassess that day-to-day.”
As far as what the rotation will look like after pool play, Skenes said last month that he plans to pitch at least one more time in the tournament.
“We win, we go as far as we should, I’ll pitch again in the tournament,” he said.
Skubal, on the other hand, plans to only pitch once during the WBC.
Team USA will begin pool play against Brazil on Friday at 8 p.m. ET in Houston.
