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Who Are the Top 10 Starting Pitchers In the 2026 World Baseball Classic?
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Who Are the Top 10 Starting Pitchers In the 2026 World Baseball Classic?

#World Baseball Classic #MLB pitchers #2026 WBC #Shohei Ohtani #Sandy Alcántara #Jesus Luzardo #Joe Ryan #Baseball rankings

📌 Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 WBC features elite MLB pitchers representing their countries
  • Shohei Ohtani will play for Japan but won't pitch
  • Jesus Luzardo, Joe Ryan, and Sandy Alcántara are among the top-ranked pitchers
  • Injuries significantly impact pitcher rankings for the tournament

📖 Full Retelling

Major League Baseball's top pitchers are set to showcase their talents in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, with analysts ranking the ten most formidable starting pitchers who will represent their countries in this prestigious international tournament. The list of participating pitchers reads like an MLB All-Star roster, featuring some of the sport's premier arms from various teams across the league. The tournament represents a unique opportunity for these elite pitchers to compete on the international stage, representing their home countries while demonstrating their skills against top international competition. Notably absent from the pitching ranks is Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who will play for Japan but focus solely on hitting duties. The rankings begin with Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo at number ten, who rebounded from an injury-shortened 2024 campaign to post a 3.92 ERA with 216 strikeouts in his first season with Philadelphia. Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan claims the ninth spot after establishing himself as an ace with a career-best 3.42 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 2025, earning his first All-Star selection. The eighth position belongs to Miami Marlins' Sandy Alcántara, a two-time All-star whose elite potential is tempered by injury concerns that sidelined him for most of 2024 and caused a bumpy start to 2025.

🏷️ Themes

Baseball, International Competition, Player Rankings, Injuries in Sports

📚 Related People & Topics

Joseph Ryan

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Joseph, Joe or Joey Ryan may refer to:

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World Baseball Classic

World Baseball Classic

International baseball tournament

The World Baseball Classic (WBC), also referred to as the Classic, is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), the sport's global governing body, and organized by World Baseball Classic Inc., a partnership of the WBSC with Major League Base...

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Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani

Japanese baseball player (born 1994)

Shohei Ohtani (born July 5, 1994) is a Japanese professional baseball designated hitter and pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "Shotime", he has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido N...

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Jesús Luzardo

Jesús Luzardo

American baseball player (born 1997)

Jesús Guillermo Luzardo (born September 30, 1997) is a Peruvian-born American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics and Miami Marlins. He made his MLB debut in 2019.

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Original Source
One might mistake the list of pitchers participating in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for an MLB All-Star Game roster — but this isn't a prank. The 2026 WBC is bringing out MLB's best position players and pitchers across the board. After ranking the top-10 hitters that will star in the tournament, we're taking a look at the top-10 pitchers in the 2026 WBC. Note: Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is playing for Japan, but won't be pitching. Minnesota Twins RHP Pablo Lopez (Venezuela) has an elbow injury that threatens his 2026 availability, hence their exclusion from this list. [2026 WBC: Full World Baseball Classic Broadcast Schedule] 10. Philadelphia Phillies LHP Jesus Luzardo (Venezuela) Following an injury-shortened 2024 campaign, Luzardo, who posted a 3.48 ERA with the Miami Marlins from 2022-23, got back on track in his debut season with the Phillies last year. Recording a 3.92 ERA, 3.9 wins above replacement and a career-high 216 strikeouts, the southpaw was a rock in Philadelphia's 2025 starting staff. Luzardo posts strikeouts at a high clip and consistently deploys five pitches: four-seamer, sweeper, changeup, sinker and slider. 9. Minnesota Twins RHP Joe Ryan (USA) Ryan has become an ace. Last year, the Twins' right-hander posted a career-best 3.42 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 4.5 wins above replacement and 194 strikeouts across 171 innings pitched in 31 appearances (30 starts), helping Ryan earn his first career All-Star nod. He primarily relies on his four-seamer, while mixing in a sweeper and sinker, among other pitches. Over the past two seasons (2024-25), Ryan has recorded a combined 3.50 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. 8. Miami Marlins RHP Sandy Alcántara (Dominican Republic) The only reason why Alcántara, a two-time All-Star, isn't higher on this list is because of an elbow injury that forced him to miss 2024 and a bumpy start to the 2025 season. When healthy and at his best, Alcántara is one of the best pitchers in the sport. Alcántara, who won the 2022 N
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