USA names first four starting pitchers for 2026 World Baseball Classic

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/webb-logan/t6XsrJVT/"]Webb[/a], 29,  will pitch against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/IqbFg267/"]Brazil[/a] (March 6th). [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/skubal-tarik/zuS2jB1J/"]Skubal[/a], 29, against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/great-britain/2iGVi47K/"]Great Britain[/a] (March 7th). [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/skenes-paul/CWmNDS6J/"]Skenes[/a], 23, against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/ptt8Lj5l/"]Mexico[/a] (March 9th). And [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mclean-nolan/WfVpmrgg/"]McLean[/a], 24, against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/italy/Y1YKIlk7/"]Italy[/a] (March 10th). [/p][embed guid="8020faa5-9291-46a2-a93c-d3ae709a7914" url="https://x.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/2028609797319217467?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Webb ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/san-francisco-giants/bRZ9b6xj/"]San Francisco Giants[/a]) led the entire National League with 224 strikeouts through an MLB-leading 207 innings, finishing the season with his second All-Star selection, his first Gold Glove, and fourth in NL Cy Young voting. [/p][p]Skubal (Detroit Tigers) has won back-to-back Cy Youngs after having the best ERA in the AL in each of the past two seasons. In 2024, he became the 22nd pitcher in MLB history to win the Triple Crown after leading the AL in wins (18), ERA (2.39), and strikeouts (228). [/p][p]However, Skubal announced he will only be pitching in one game before returning to the Tigers' Spring Training camp and it was announced on Monday as well that[a href="https://x.com/BNightengale/status/2028589991660818577?s=20" target="_blank"] he will be limited to 55 pitches[/a]. [/p][embed guid="10ec7eac-7198-4772-b925-135bed016e4f" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmzuIw4kbiU&t=1s" social-type="youtube" /][p]Skenes ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/pittsburgh-pirates/tr9K2SqG/"]Pittsburgh Pirates[/a]) announced something similar, as he'll only be starting two games. He won the ERA title this past season, putting up a jaw-dropping 1.97 ERA - the best in all of baseball - with 216 strikeouts. [/p][p]McLean ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-mets/I5wWW4UM/"]New York Mets[/a]) is coming off a stellar rookie season in which he tossed a 2.06 ERA, giving up just 11 runs on 13 hits in 48 innings while striking out 57 and walking 16. [/p][p]The four are just part of what is considered the greatest team in World Baseball Classic history before the tournament even begins [b]([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/team-usa-historic-roster-for-the-2026-world-baseball-classic/Mi8rfygA/"]read more here[/a]).[/b][/p]