The stage is set for a truly exceptional 2026 World Baseball Classic, one that boasts a pitching lineup rivaling an MLB All-Star roster. As teams finalize their preparations, the sheer volume of elite arms committed to the tournament is remarkable.
Following a recent ranking of the top-10 hitters expected to shine in the competition, attention now turns to the men on the mound. This year’s Classic isn’t just about power hitting; it’s a showcase of pitching prowess, with established stars and rising talents alike ready to compete on the international stage.
A note on availability: Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani will participate for Japan, but will focus solely on hitting. Minnesota Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez (Venezuela) faces an uncertain future due to an elbow injury, and is not included in this assessment.
Here’s a look at the pitchers poised to make a significant impact in the 2026 World Baseball Classic:
10. Jesús Luzardo (Venezuela) – After an injury-hampered 2024, Luzardo rebounded strongly in his debut season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2025. He recorded a 3.92 ERA, 3.9 wins above replacement, and a career-high 216 strikeouts, establishing himself as a reliable force in the Phillies’ rotation. Luzardo’s ability to generate strikeouts and consistently utilize five distinct pitches – four-seamer, sweeper, changeup, sinker, and slider – makes him a formidable opponent.
9. Joe Ryan (USA) – Ryan has firmly established himself as an ace. In 2025, the Twins’ right-hander posted a career-best 3.42 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 194 strikeouts across 171 innings pitched in 31 appearances (30 starts), earning his first career All-Star nod. He relies heavily on his four-seamer, complemented by a sweeper and sinker, among other pitches. Over the past two seasons, Ryan has maintained a combined 3.50 ERA and 1.01 WHIP.
8. Sandy Alcántara (Dominican Republic) – Alcántara, a two-time All-Star, possesses the potential to be higher on this list when fully healthy. An elbow injury sidelined him for the 2024 season and caused a slow start to 2025. When at his best, he’s among the league’s premier pitchers. Alcántara, the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner, consistently pitches deep into games, utilizing a five-pitch arsenal: sinker, changeup, curveball, four-seamer, and slider. Over his last 12 starts in 2025, he showed signs of returning to his dominant form, posting a combined 3.13 ERA over 77 2/3 innings.
7. Cristopher Sánchez (USA) – Sánchez has quickly become an indispensable part of the Philadelphia Phillies’ starting rotation. In 2025, he recorded a 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 8 wins above replacement, and 212 strikeouts in 202 innings pitched across 32 starts. He consistently throws five pitches: sinker, changeup, cutter, curveball, and four-seamer. Sánchez has also proven effective in the postseason, posting a combined 2.79 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across four career postseason starts.
6. Ranger Suárez (Puerto Rico) – Suárez is a proven performer. The veteran left-hander signed a five-year, $130 million deal with the Red Sox after eight seasons with the Phillies (2018-2025). He throws five pitches with frequency: sinker, changeup, cutter, curveball, and four-seamer. He boasts a career 3.38 ERA and consistently avoids damage. His primary challenge remains staying healthy, as he has yet to make 30 starts in a single season due to various injuries.
5. Luis Castillo (Dominican Republic) – Castillo has consistently performed at a high level. Over three-plus seasons with the Seattle Mariners (after being acquired from the Cincinnati Reds during the 2022 season), he has a combined 3.46 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. He also excelled in the postseason, recording a 1.74 ERA, 0.68 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts across 20 2/3 innings in three postseason starts last year. Castillo relies on his four-seamer and mixes in a sinker, slider, and changeup.
4. Logan Webb (USA) – Webb is a West Coast gem, consistently ranking among the elite starting pitchers in MLB. He led the National League in innings pitched and finished in the top-six in NL Cy Young voting in each of the past three seasons, totaling a career-high 241 strikeouts in 2025. Webb’s sinker is his primary weapon, complemented by a sweeper and changeup. A two-time All-Star, he owns a career 3.38 ERA and was sensational in his two postseason starts in 2021, posting a mere 0.61 ERA and 0.68 WHIP across 14 2/3 innings.
3. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Japan) – Yamamoto has been exceptional in his first two seasons in MLB with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-2025). In 2025, he recorded a 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 4.9 wins above replacement, and 201 strikeouts in 173 2/3 innings pitched across 30 starts. He overwhelms hitters with his four-seamer and deceives them with his split-finger fastball and curveball. He then delivered a dominant postseason performance, including two complete games and 2 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, earning him the series MVP award.
2. Paul Skenes (USA) – Skenes has made an immediate impact in MLB. In his first two seasons, he has consistently defied expectations. The 2024 NL Rookie of the Year followed up by winning the 2025 NL Cy Young Award, posting a 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 216 strikeouts, a 217 ERA+, and 7.7 wins above replacement across 32 starts. He overwhelms hitters with his four-seamer and effectively mixes in his off-speed pitches. He is already among the elite pitchers in the game, boasting a career 1.96 ERA.
1. Tarik Skubal (USA) – Skubal is currently the best pitcher in MLB. He has won the American League Cy Young Award in each of the past two seasons, leading the AL in ERA, ERA+, and wins above replacement in both years. He was a menace for the Detroit Tigers in his three postseason starts last year, recording a 1.74 ERA, 0.68 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts across 20 2/3 innings. Skubal generates strikeouts at a high rate, limits baserunners, and finds success by primarily relying on his changeup and four-seamer.
