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By Tyler Erzberger
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A few weeks ago, Team USA looked unbeatable going into the World Baseball Classic.
Not only did they have a roster of fields and hitters that would be too overpowered for a video game, but they also had a pitching frontline bolstered by the reigning American and National League Cy Young winners: Tarik Subal of the Detroit Tigers and Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Along with San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb and another strong starter in the Minnesota Twins' Joe Ryan, the United States were heavy favorites to win their first WBC since 2017.
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The team was so confident in the frontline pitching that they brought in recently retired Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who would chip in from the bullpen if needed.
After Sunday's news, though, Kershaw might actually have to do a lot more than previously asked.
Following the announcement from Skubal that he'll only pitch a single game in the WBC against Great Britain before leaving for the Tigers' spring training, another top starter is uncertain for the tournament. Joe Ryan was pulled off the 30-man roster for the Yankees' Ryan Yarbrough due to a nagging back injury.
Although Ryan might be back in time for the semifinals if Team USA makes it, there's no guarantee he will pitch a single game for the red, white, and blue.
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Ryan's absence brought out even more frustration from fans about the decision to put Skubal on the roster, with him pitching in a game that the Americans would be favored to win regardless of who from their staff was on the mound.
While Team USA is expected to breeze through the group stage, the issues will arise in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and possibly the finals, with only Skenes and Webb now prepared to pitch twice.
Ryan was slated to be one of those knockout round pitchers, but with him being pulled from the roster, it could mean a youngster like Nolan McLean or a retired Kershaw might need to pull off a start in a pivotal game against the likes of the Dominican Republic or Japan.
Team USA's management believed they put together the perfect roster. Now, with a glaring hole in the knockout rounds, their years of planning might come down to a 24-year-old McLean or 37-year-old Kershaw needing to go five innings to even make the finals.
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