Six WBC storylines in international event chock-full of star power
NY Post
A taste of October in March. Some international flavor baked into the national pastime, coming on the heels of an entertaining Olympics. Welcome to the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
For the sixth edition of the tournament, 20 nations have been split into four pools of five teams attempting to qualify for the eight-team, single-elimination knockout stage. Hearts and bats (and hopefully not patellar tendons) will be broken. Bars across the world will be busy. Fans tired of spring training exhibitions will be sated.
With the tournament just underway and the Americans on deck to debut Friday, here is a look at the storylines that might define the international competition:
For the 2023 championship game that it would lose, Team USA turned to zero-time All-Star Merrill Kelly. No disrespect meant toward the reliable righty, but the quality of the American arms has escalated.
Both reigning Cy Young Award winners, Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes, will don the Red, White and Blue. Persistent Cy Young contender Logan Webb is the best No. 3 in the field.
With Skubal (set to make one start) and Skenes (two) expected to participate but preserve their arms, Mets spin god Nolan McLean could grab the spotlight and is lined up to pitch in the championship game.
A taste of October in March. Some international flavor baked into the national pastime, coming on the heels of an entertaining Olympics. Welcome to the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
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