Nolan McLean to Start Game 4 of WBC for USA

Nolan McLean is going global.

Before that, he must recover. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports the Mets’ right-handed pitcher missed the first Team USA workout on Monday due to illness. The plan was for the rookie to start Wednesday’s exhibition game against the Rockies before the World Baseball Classic begins, but instead, it appears he will get the nod in Game 4 against Italy on March 10. 

Logan Webb, Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes will start the first three games, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The plan is for Skubal to throw around 55 pitches before he returns to Tigers camp. 

It’s a huge nod for McLean, 24, who debuted with the Mets in mid-August of 2025. In his eight starts with the big league club, McLean went 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA. He struck out 57 batters in 48 innings, posting a 196 ERA, 2.97 FIP and 1.042 WHIP in the process. He’ll get in his first full season in 2026 and has already had a successful spring. In one start, he went four innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while punching out six Astros. 

McLean will be joined on Team USA by fellow Met Clay Holmes.

Team USA will play exhibition games against the Giants and Rockies on Tuesday and Wednesday before beginning pool play on March 6 against Brazil in Houston.

The post Nolan McLean to Start Game 4 of WBC for USA appeared first on Metsmerized Online.