In the United States, the focus is crystal clear: win the World Baseball Classic 2026 (WBC). And it’s hard to deny that Team USA enters the tournament as one of the heavy favorites to claim the international title. Just take a look at their elite starting rotation, led by Paul Skenes, who is ready to shoulder a significant workload on the global stage.
That’s according toKen Rosenthal of The Athletic, who detailed the internal plans for the team’s star pitchers as they prepare for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
Paul Skenes wants to pitch more than Tarik Skubal
Tarik Skubal, ace of the Detroit Tigers, is reportedly scheduled to make just one start in the international competition. However, his counterpart-Paul Skenes, the 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner with the Pittsburgh Pirates-is prepared to take the mound twice if Team USA advances beyond the WBC group stage.
His commitment to the United States national baseball team is undeniable:
“We win, we go as far as we should, I’ll pitch again in the tournament.”
The stance of the 23-year-old flamethrower energizes fans who are still remembering the disappointment of the 2023 World Baseball Classic final, when the United States fell to Japan in the championship game.
Integrating the WBC 2026 into MLB Spring Training shortens the usual preparation window for the regular season and directly ties Skenes’ ramp-up to high-leverage innings for Team USA.
With elite pitching depth and a Cy Young ace willing to embrace the spotlight, the United States appears determined to reclaim the World Baseball Classic title.
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