Skubal on the mound as USA faces Great Britain (8 p.m. ET on FOX)

HOUSTON -- It's time to see what Team USA's two-headed Cy Young monster can do on the World Baseball Classic stage.

Up first: Tarik Skubal. The back-to-back reigning American League Cy Young Award winner will take the ball for Saturday night's showdown against Great Britain at Daikin Park, looking to take the U.S. to 2-0 in Pool B.

"It is my first opportunity to play for Team USA -- and I am excited about it," Skubal said Friday. "These games are going to feel like playoff games or World Series games."

It will be Skubal's one and only start of the World Baseball Classic, as the Tigers ace will return to Spring Training to build up for the MLB season after the game. Skubal will try to keep the United States' momentum going before passing the baton to his National League Cy Young counterpart, Paul Skenes, for a marquee matchup against Mexico on Monday.

"I know people are definitely looking forward to the U.S.-Mexico game because they have a fantastic team over there," Team USA captain Aaron Judge said Friday. "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 U.S. beat Brazil, 15-5, in its WBC opener Friday night, although the game was much closer than anyone expected until the very end. Great Britain lost its first game against Mexico, also a hard-fought and exciting game that got away from it late. For the Brits to advance out of Pool B, an upset of Team USA would go a long way. But it would be a huge upset.

Here’s what you need to know about the matchup:

When and where: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, Daikin Park

How you can watch: The USA-Great Britain matchup will air nationally on FOX.

The FOX Sports family of networks (FOX, FS1, FS2, FOX Deportes), the FOX Sports App and Tubi will combine to air all 47 games of the 2026 World Baseball Classic in the United States, and all matchups will be available to stream live and on-demand on FOX One. Additionally, 41 out of the 47 contests will air in Spanish across a combination of FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App, Tubi and FOX One.

Netflix Japan will stream all tournament games in Japanese.

How you can listen: There is a free English-language audio stream available for every game.

Team results: The United States wound up winning its first game by 10 over Brazil, largely thanks to a seven-run ninth inning. For a while, it was too close for comfort. The biggest swing came from Judge, who crushed a home run in his first career World Baseball Classic at-bat. The U.S. also took advantage of a WBC-record 17 walks by the Brazil pitchers.

Great Britain dropped a tough one to Mexico, 8-2, on Friday. That score also looks more lopsided than it really was. The game was tied entering the eighth inning after the Brits got a clutch home run from Harry Ford in the sixth. But Great Britain surrendered a tiebreaking three-run homer to Rays All-Star Jonathan Aranda and Mexico blew the game open after that.

Probable starting pitchers: RHP Tyler Viza (Great Britain) vs. LHP Tarik Skubal (USA)

What’s at stake: The two favorites in Pool B, the U.S. and Mexico, both won their first games. Team USA will want to keep its foot on the gas against Great Britain to stay atop the standings. Great Britain is in need of a win to avoid falling to 0-2, which would make it a major uphill climb to advance. Can Britain pull off a shocker against the dominant Skubal and the stacked USA lineup?

Matchup history: The U.S. and Great Britain faced off in the previous World Baseball Classic in 2023, with the United States winning the pool play matchup, 6-2. Great Britain took an early lead on a home run by Trayce Thompson off Adam Wainwright, but a big three-run homer by Kyle Schwarber -- who's back again for WBC 2026 -- carried Team USA to the victory.