PHOENIX (AP) — Team USA manager Mark DeRosa announced Monday that San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb will take the mound as the starting pitcher when the United States faces Brazil in their World Baseball Classic opener this Friday evening.
DeRosa also revealed his pitching rotation for the tournament’s pool play phase, naming two-time American League Cy Young Award recipient Tarik Skubal as Saturday’s starter against Britain, while National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes is slated to pitch against Mexico on Monday.
The manager indicated that New York Mets right-handed pitcher Nolan McLean is provisionally set to start Tuesday’s final pool game against Italy, though McLean missed Monday’s team practice due to illness and his status remains uncertain.
“It’s set up,” DeRosa explained. “There are obviously guardrails for the tournament to begin with, 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.”
Before heading to Houston for the Brazil matchup, Team USA will participate in a pair of exhibition contests in Arizona on Tuesday and Wednesday. Skenes is scheduled to start Tuesday’s exhibition against the Giants, with DeRosa confirming that Matthew Boyd, Gabe Speier, David Bednar, Griffin Jax and Mason Miller will also see action on the mound.
According to DeRosa, Skubal will make only one World Baseball Classic appearance for the United States before returning to the Detroit Tigers to continue spring training preparations.
