Paul Skenes is arguably the best pitcher in baseball, but do ESPN baseball staffers and analysts agree?

Mar. 4—There's more than one way to participate in the World Baseball Classic. You can be one of the best players in the world, chosen by hand to represent your country on a global stage.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman draft all 30 teams based on which they feel will do the best at run prevention in 2026.

Pittsburgh Pirates star Paul Skenes reflected Monday on what it meant to him to be able to represent Team USA at the World Baseball Classic.

Despite having the unanimous NL Cy Young Award winner last year in Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates still finished last in the NL Central and 20 games below .500.

It’s been a huge week for Konnor Griffin news. On Tuesday, he blasted a pair of long home runs against the Boston Red Sox, intensifying the insane hype he’s been getting in spring training.

Skenes may be an alien, but he lost to a robot on Wednesday during his spring training debut.

Skenes threw 53 pitches in his lone outing to prepare for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes says he's pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic to honor U.S. servicemen and women to give them the recognition they deserve.

Bryce Elder vs. Paul Skenes-ish

Few players are dominating baseball quite like Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes.

An analyst breaks down the National League Cy Young field for 2026, offering best bets, odds, and predictions, questioning if Paul Skenes can repeat his performance.

Dunne did Valentine’s right with her squeeze.

It’s a North American showdown in the World Baseball Classic as the United States takes on Mexico, with Paul Skenes getting the start for Team USA on Monday. MORE: Official USA World Baseball Classic 2026 gear: WBC jerseys, hats and…

Letting McCutchen walk might hurt the Pirates in the long run.

Skenes is entering his third season with the Pirates and is currently pitching in his first World Baseball Classic.

Paul Skenes and Griffin Jax, who both pitched for the Air Force Academy, were among the MLB standouts who were moved playing exhibition for Team USA.

The 2026 World Baseball Classic kicks off this week as Team USA prepares to square off with the best baseball players in the world.

There’s a lot to be excited about this year.

Paul Skenes is awesome. Konnor Griffin is making a push. The Pirates are still not great.

Paul Skenes channeled Team USA's Olympic dominance into his own World Baseball Classic hopes, as he will join Aaron Judge and others on the world stage.

This would be a stunning third season for Paul Skenes.

The righthander got a tune up on Wednesday.

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting rotation should be a strength again during the 2026 season. Who will snag the team’s fifth (and potentially final) spot in the group after the likely quartet of Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft though? Pirates beat writer Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said on Friday that […]

MLB Cy Young odds for the 2026 season. Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal lead the pack yet again.

The ticket even sold for twice as much as Paul Skenes' debut ticket

NCAA champion gymnast Olivia Dunne opened up about how she handles the long-distance nature of her relationship with MLB star Paul Skenes.

Led by Aaron Judge and Paul Skenes, Team USA begins its pursuit of a WBC championship on Friday against Brazil.

Everything points to another dominant season from the flamethrower.

Skenes struck out four batters in three innings, and both Alex Bregman and Roman Anthony went yard.

San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb will start on the mound for Team USA in its first World Baseball Classic game Friday night against Brazil, manager Mark DeRosa said Monday. DeRosa added that two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is expected to start Saturday against Britain, followed by NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes versus Mexico on Monday.

Webb wants to set the record straight.

After years of rebuilding, the future is finally here for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Paul Skenes is coming off his first career NL Cy Young award and is only 23.

Paul Skenes loses 4 strikes to ABS challenges in Cy Young winner's spring debut before WBC  AP News

Skenes struck out four and walked four over 2 1/3 innings for Pittsburgh on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves, who were 4 for 4 against the right-hander on challenges to get called strikes overturned to balls. The 53-pitch outing is expected to be the only one for Skenes before he joins the U.S. for the World Baseball Classic.

Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes is learning about MLB's new ch the hard way.

After only two Major League seasons, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is already drawing comparisons to some of MLB's greatest pitchers from a former Pirates pitcher.

Paul Skenes sat down for an interview to discuss his approach to staying present and focused, which he considers a key to his success in the upcoming baseball season.

Vaughn Dalzell predicts the Pittsburgh Pirates, led by Paul Skenes, are a sleeper team to win the NL Central in 2026 and will surpass their 76.5 win total.