The United States has started the 2026 World Baseball Classic 3-0 and has just one pool play game left.
Team USA is coming off a 5-3 win over Mexico in its toughest game yet. The United States will finish its first round games by taking on Italy at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 10.
A win would put the United States at 4-0 and would automatically qualify them for the knockout stage. Italy, on the other hand, is playing in just its third game of the pool play stage and has one more game against Mexico on Wednesday. Currently, Team Italy is undefeated in its two games, and a win over the U.S. could be an extremely important tiebreaker, depending on how its game against Mexico goes.
Here is more on how the United States will line up for its final pool-play game against Italy.
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USA baseball lineup vs. Italy
United States manager Mark DeRosa used different lineups for the team’s first and second games of the 2026 WBC. After a day off, the U.S. played a tough game against Mexico, and DeRosa opted to go with the Game 1 lineup. For the US’s last game in pool play, DeRosa is switching things up yet again.
Here is how the U.S. will line up against Italy.
| No. | Player |
| 1. | Bobby Witt (SS) |
| 2. | Gunnar Henderson (3B) |
| 3. | Aaron Judge (RF) |
| 4. | Kyle Schwarber (DH) |
| 5. | Will Smith (C) |
| 6. | Roman Anthony (LF) |
| 7. | Paul Goldschmidt (1B) |
| 8. | Ernie Clement (2B) |
| 9. | Pete Crow-Armstrong (CF) |
The lineup against Italy looks like the Game 2 lineup against Great Britain with some tweaks. Henderson is back in the lineup, but he is playing third base and batting second. Anthony got bumped up to hitting sixth, and he will be followed by Goldschmidt, who will be seeing his first action of the 2206 WBC.
Who is the United States’ starting pitcher?
Team USA will start Nolan McLean against Italy. Before the 2026 WBC, the projected pitching order also had McLean pitching in the championship should Team USA make it there.
The New York Mets pitcher has yet to throw in the 2026 WBC. He made eight starts in 2025 and had a 5-1 record with a 2.06 ERA. McLean figures to be the anchor of the Mets’ rotation in 2025 and is not only New York’s top prospect, but the No. 6 prospect in all of baseball according to MLB.com.
MORE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC 2026:
Who is Italy’s starting pitcher?
Italy will start Michael Lorenzen. He spent the 2025 season with the Kansas City Royals, but signed with the Colorado Rockies for the 2026 season.
One fun thing about Lorenzen is that he was one of the NL pitchers who loved hitting before the universal DH rule. If Italy had already been locked into a spot in the knockout stage or eliminated from contention, they may have opted to let Lorenzen use the Ohtani rule and hit, but he likely will just pitch in this one.
Lorenzen appeared in 27 games last year, making 26 starts. He finished with a 7-11 record with a 4.64 ERA.
MORE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC 2026:
USA World Baseball Classic roster
Pitchers
| Player | Team | Throws |
| David Bednar | New York Yankees | R |
| Matthew Boyd | Chicago Cubs | L |
| Garrett Cleavinger | Tampa Bay Rays | L |
| Clay Holmes | New York Mets | R |
| Griffin Jax | Tampa Bay Rays | R |
| Brad Keller | Philadelphia Phillies | R |
| Clayton Kershaw | — | L |
| Nolan McLean | New York Mets | R |
| Mason Miller | San Diego Padres | R |
| Paul Skenes | Pittsburgh Pirates | R |
| Tarik Skubal | Detroit Tigers | L |
| Gabe Speier | Seattle Mariners | L |
| Ryan Yarbrough | New York Yankees | L |
| Michael Wacha | Kansas City Royals | R |
| Logan Webb | San Francisco Giants | R |
| Garrett Whitlock | Boston Red Sox | R |
Catchers
| Player | Team | Bats/Throws |
| Cal Raleigh | Seattle Mariners | S/R |
| Will Smith | Los Angeles Dodgers | R/R |
Infielders
| Player | Team | Bats/Throws |
| Alex Bregman | Chicago Cubs | R/R |
| Ernie Clement | Toronto Blue Jays | R/R |
| Paul Goldschmidt | New York Yankees | R/R |
| Bryce Harper | Philadelphia Phillies | L/R |
| Gunnar Henderson | Baltimore Orioles | L/R |
| Brice Turang | Milwaukee Brewers | L/R |
| Bobby Witt Jr. | Kansas City Royals | R/R |
Outfielders
| Player | Team | Bats/Throws |
| Roman Anthony | Boston Red Sox | L/R |
| Byron Buxton | Minnesota Twins | R/R |
| Pete Crow-Armstrong | Chicago Cubs | L/L |
| Aaron Judge | New York Yankees | R/R |
Designated Hitter
| Player | Team | Bats/Throws |
| Kyle Schwarber | Philadelphia Phillies | L/R |
