The 2026 World Baseball Classic is shaping up to be another outstanding tournament, and this time around Team USA may have the pitching to go all the way. On Thursday, it was announced that Detroit Tigers’ ace Tarik Skubal will be a member of Team USA for the first time. That gives manager Mark DeRosa one heck of a one-two punch with the two-time AL Cy Young Award winner joining forces with Pittsburgh Pirates ace, Paul Skenes to head their starting rotation.
Skubal’s commitment was an open question
considering he’s one more elite season away from seeking the biggest free agent contract for a pitcher in baseball history. He wasn’t on the radar for the 2023 edition as he was still recovering from flexor tendon surgery in his elbow.
The WBC gets underway on March 5, and runs through the championship game scheduled for March 17.
Joining Skubal and Skenes in Team USA’s rotation is long-time Tigers’ starter, Matthew Boyd. Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock has also committed to pitch, while recruiting is ongoing for the rest of the bullpen.
Team USA’s offense will be led by team captain Aaron Juge. They’ll have Kyle Schwarber as their DH, making for an extremely dangerous 3-4 in the lineup, presumably. Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstong will be joined in the outfield by the Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll. Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals and Gunnar Henderson of the Orioles will make for an outstanding left side of the infield. Behind the plate, Skubal, Skenes, and the rest of the pitching staff will have the two best catchers in baseball behind the plate in Will Smith of the Dodgers and Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners.
The Tigers will also have Riley Greene and Javier Báez in the WBC playing for Team Puerto Rico.
