Team USA Baseball Advances to WBC Quarterfinals with Win over Italy

Nolan McLean and the U.S. bullpen shut down Italy's offense in decisive victory

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The United States baseball team secured a berth in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals with a 10-2 win over Italy on Tuesday night in Houston. Rookie right-hander Nolan McLean turned in a strong start for the Americans, who also got key contributions from their deep bullpen. The victory means the U.S. will advance as the top seed from Pool B, while Italy will need to wait to see if they can clinch the second spot from the group.

Why it matters

This was a crucial game for Team USA, as a loss would have muddied the quarterfinal picture in Pool B. With the win, the Americans have now punched their ticket to the knockout rounds of the WBC, where they will look to capture their first title in the tournament since 2017.

The details

Mets prospect Nolan McLean got the start for the U.S. and delivered 5 strong innings, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits while striking out 7. The American offense then broke things open late, scoring 6 runs over the 7th and 8th innings to turn the game into a rout. Manager Mark DeRosa was able to utilize a fresh bullpen, with Garrett Cleavinger, Matthew Boyd, Griffin Jax, and Garrett Whitlock all contributing scoreless relief appearances.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 9 p.m. ET.
  • This was the final game of pool play for both teams in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

The players

Nolan McLean

A 24-year-old right-handed pitching prospect in the New York Mets organization, McLean was making his first start of the 2026 WBC for Team USA.

Mark DeRosa

The manager of the United States baseball team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

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What they’re saying

“Nolan really set the tone for us tonight with his performance. Our bullpen then came in and shut the door, which allowed our offense to break it open late.”

— Mark DeRosa, Manager, Team USA (ESPN)

What’s next

With the win, Team USA has clinched the top spot in Pool B and will advance to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. They will await the winner of the second-place finisher from Pool B, which will be determined by the outcome of Wednesday's game between Italy and Mexico.

The takeaway

This decisive victory over Italy showcased the depth and talent of the 2026 Team USA roster, as they were able to get a strong starting pitching performance, lockdown relief, and a timely offensive outburst to punch their ticket to the WBC quarterfinals. The Americans will now set their sights on making a deep run in the knockout rounds as they pursue their first WBC title in nearly a decade.