Can Team USA’s Reinforced Pitching Outsmart the World’s Best Sluggers at the World Baseball Classic?
With Joe Ryan dropping off the roster this week due to a back issue, the fourth starter against Italy could come from a myriad of options, including New York Mets rookie sensation Nolan McLean (83 RV- in with a 5-1 record, 2.06 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10.7 K/9 in eight starts) or Chicago Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd off his best season (94.3 RV-, 25th). No matter the direction, the average age of the starting pitchers could be anywhere from nine to 12 years younger than in 2023.
A front four with McLean would be coming off a combined 43-28 record, 2.45 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 last season, while one with Boyd would be coming off a combined 52-35 record, 2.65 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 9.6 K/9. That’s the kind of pitching success Japan had in the 2023 WBC when its staff went 7-0 with a 2.29 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 11.4 K/9.



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