U.S. sets WBC rotation; Giants' Webb gets opener

San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb will start for Team USA on Friday against Brazil in its first game of pool play in the World Baseball Classic.

Detroit Tigers star left-hander and two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal will toe the rubber in Game 2 versus Great Britain, while Pittsburgh Pirates ace and defending NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes gets Mexico in Game 3.

"Yeah, it's set up," U.S. manager Mark DeRosa said Monday, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. "There's obviously guardrails for the tournament ... pitch count wise, but there's also guardrails for guys having to throw on certain days to get ready for their team's Opening Day."

DeRosa added that New York Mets prized rookie Nolan McLean is scheduled to start Game 4 against Italy, but the right-hander's status is "day-to-day" because he hasn't left the club's camp yet due to an illness.

Skubal, accounting for his ramp-up schedule ahead of Opening Day, has already said that he'll only make one WBC start - with a pitch count - regardless of how far the Americans go.

Meanwhile, Skenes is ready to make multiple starts should the U.S. advance to the knockout stage.

Team USA enters the tournament as one of the favorites after losing in the 2023 final to Japan.