Mark DeRosa sets USA rotation for WBC; Logan Webb set for G1 - ESPN

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb will start Game 1 of the World Baseball Classic for Team USA when it takes on Brazil in pool play Friday, manager Mark DeRosa said Monday.

Two-time American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal will pitch Game 2 against Britain. National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes is set to face Mexico in Game 3.

«Yeah, it's set up,» DeRosa said after Team USA's first workout. «There's obviously guardrails for the tournament… 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.»

New York Mets starter Nolan McLean is scheduled for Game 4 against Italy but is currently fighting a cold. He's still in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the Mets train. It's not yet known whether DeRosa will have to make a change to his plan.

«He's down there right now, and we'll kind of reassess that day to day,» DeRosa said.

DeRosa wouldn't reveal his batting order but indicated he'll be able to go lefty/righty all the way down, with platoon opportunities in center field where Pete Crow-Armstrong and Byron Buxton will share time.

Team USA first gathered in Arizona on Sunday, holding a team dinner before playing in exhibition games Tuesday and Wednesday. Pool play starts Friday in Houston.

New York Yankees and Team USA captain Aaron Judge — who spoke to the team at dinner Sunday night — had trouble finding the right words to describe the stars who will attempt to avenge their loss to Japan in the 2023 finals.

«I wouldn't even call it an all-star team,» Judge said with a smile. «This team is a lot of great players, a lot of greatness in the room, and it's cool to see us kind of jumping in on the first day already.»

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