Team USA faces Great Britain in Pool B of the 2026 World Baseball Classic on Saturday, with Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal making his only start for the Americans. The matchup at Daikin Park in Houston follows the U.S. victory over Brazil and Great Britain's loss to Mexico. Both teams seek to improve their standings in the tournament's pool play phase.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic pool play continues with Team USA taking on Great Britain at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday at Daikin Park in Houston. Tarik Skubal, the back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner, will start for the United States against right-hander Tyler Viza of Great Britain. This will be Skubal's sole appearance in the tournament, as he is scheduled to throw 50-55 pitches before rejoining the Detroit Tigers for spring training on Sunday.
Skubal expressed excitement about the opportunity, stating, "It is my first opportunity to play for Team USA -- and I am excited about it. These games are going to feel like playoff games or World Series games." Team USA captain Aaron Judge added, "I know people are definitely looking forward to the U.S.-Mexico game because they have a fantastic team over there. But we have to take it one game at a time. And when they are next for us, we will lock it in for that."
The Americans opened the tournament with a 15-5 win over Brazil on Friday, though the game remained close until a seven-run ninth inning. Judge hit a home run in his first WBC at-bat, Brice Turang cleared the bases with a triple, and Logan Webb retired 12 of 13 batters faced. The U.S. also drew a tournament-record 17 walks.
Great Britain fell 8-2 to Mexico in its opener, tied entering the eighth before Jonathan Aranda's three-run homer broke it open. Harry Ford hit a clutch home run for the Brits in the sixth. The team features MLB talent like Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ford but faces an uphill battle against the loaded U.S. roster, which includes Judge, Cal Raleigh, and Bobby Witt Jr.
In their last meeting during the 2023 WBC pool play, the U.S. defeated Great Britain 6-2. The top two teams from Pool B advance to the quarterfinals. The game airs on FOX, with streaming on fubo and a free English audio stream available.
