Team USA adds McLean, Holmes & Ryan to 2026 pitching staff
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Team USA is building out its starting rotation for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The team announced the addition of three more starters on Wednesday: Mets right-handers Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes and Twins ace Joe Ryan. They join a starting staff headed by 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes.
McLean, the No. 11 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, was sensational once he got called up to The Show in August of this year. The 24-year-old recorded a 2.06 ERA with 57 strikeouts over 48 innings (eight starts).
Holmes, a reliever for almost all of his first seven big league years, transitioned to being a starter once he signed with the Mets prior to last season and posted a 3.53 ERA across 165 2/3 frames.
A 2025 All-Star, Ryan exceeded 190 strikeouts for the second time in three seasons this year. He accrued 3.1 FanGraphs WAR for the second straight season while his 22.5% strikeout-minus-walk rate ranked fourth best among qualified pitchers, trailing only Skenes, Garrett Crochet and Tarik Skubal.
Team USA will begin its WBC run in Pool B play at 8 p.m. ET on March 6, when it will face Brazil inside Houston’s Daikin Park.