This was the biggest start of Nolan McLean’s career, and there was no doubt that he was going to feel the pressure coming into the USA-Italy game. But the way McLean crumbled under the pressure was not good to watch for Team USA fans.

With the game ending 8-6, things are not looking good for Team USA.

A Team USA fan wrote, “Of course Nolan McLean is going to be a fraud in the biggest game of his career.”

Nolan McLean began with fire, striking out Marsee, Berti, and Pasquantino on 11 pitches in the first inning. Then Italy’s Kyle Teel hit a solo home run off McLean in the second to give Team Italy a 1-0 lead early.

Two batters later, Sam Antonacci lifted a two-run homer, pushing the score to 3-0 in the inning. McLean walked two batters in the third inning but escaped further damage with a groundout by Zach Dezenzo. After 3 innings and 55 pitches, McLean exited, allowing 3 earned runs on 2 hits total.

Italy used McLean’s struggles as a platform to add more damage in the fourth inning. Ryan Yarbrough took over and allowed Italy’s third long ball when Jac Caglianone hit a two-run homer, making the score 5-0.

Team Italy’s three hits up to that point were all home runs, and each changed the game’s tone. Team USA’s bats still had not scored by mid-fourth while Italy held firm with comfortable run support. The lack of offense and pitching trouble left the crowd uneasy, and the lead was growing.

Now the pressure is hanging over Team USA’s qualification hopes in Pool B. If Mexico beats Italy next, a three-way tie could form with the USA, Mexico, and Italy all finishing 3-1. Pool placement could then come down to runs allowed divided by outs recorded, and that 5-0 deficit would hurt badly.

USA fans watched nervously as that scenario took shape in Daikin Park. Every run Italy scored now felt heavier with the quarterfinal spot at stake. The early promise of McLean’s first inning stands in stark contrast to the precarious position the USA now faces.

USA fans go off on Nolan McLean after Team Italy goes all out

Nolan McLean is not going to hear the end of this if the USA doesn’t make it to the next round. A fan wrote, “I don’t think people realize how much of a possibility it is for the US to fail to advance if they lose this game,” after Nolan McLean’s struggles left Team USA vulnerable in pool play.

If Mexico now beats Italy, all three teams could finish at 3‑1, meaning head‑to‑head doesn’t separate them and moves to tiebreakers based on runs allowed divided by defensive outs recorded (USA has already allowed 11 runs in pool play compared with Italy’s and Mexico’s 5 each).

In that scenario, the United States could be left out of the quarterfinals if Mexico’s runs allowed quotient ends up lower than theirs, making that possibility more than just fan talk. McLean’s early rough innings that helped Italy build a lead are part of what increased runs allowed and complicated the USA’s path forward tonight. Because only two teams advance from Pool B, losing and then relying on math would put fans on edge about what happens next with Mexico playing Italy.

“If we get bounced because of this bum, we need to terrorize Mets fans forever,” one fan vented after McLean’s rough start rattled Team USA’s hopes. The USA ultimately lost the game 8-6, failing to secure the quarterfinal spot in Pool B of the World Baseball Classic. McLean’s early innings saw Italy build a lead that the USA could not overcome despite late offense. This result leaves fans frustrated, tying his performance to the team’s early exit in Houston.

“Skubal, please come back and pitch the finals,” pleaded one fan after McLean’s rough start left the USA reeling against Italy at the WBC. Skubal only made one start for Team USA, going 3 innings with 5 strikeouts and 1 run allowed on 2 hits before returning to the Tigers’ spring camp as planned. The left‑hander’s strong outing versus Great Britain had given fans hope, striking out multiple batters early in a 9‑1 victory. After McLean’s struggles, calls grew louder for Skubal’s return to steady the staff. But he will not pitch again for Team USA and has returned to Florida for his regular training duties.

A fan wrote, “The guy who is supposed to pitch the final might keep the team from escaping pool play,” after Nolan McLean struggled early against Italy in the World Baseball Classic. McLean was originally named as Team USA’s Game 4 starter and projected to start the WBC final if they made it that far, according to team announcements before the event began. In his debut, McLean allowed two homers and three runs by the third inning while striking out four over 55 pitches, letting Italy take a big early lead. That deficit led to USA’s defeat, hurting their pool play positioning.

“No one should EVER put Nolan McLean in Cam Schlittler talks,” noted a frustrated fan after McLean’s rough outing showed a stark difference in recent results. McLean posted a 2.06 ERA with 57 strikeouts over 48 innings for the Mets in 2025, showing good rookie promise before the WBC stumble.

Cam Schlittler, by comparison, logged a 2.96 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 73 innings for the Yankees, suggesting more consistent success at the big-league level. The fan’s comment reflects how McLean’s tough night contrasts with Schlittler’s steady performance this season.

With the shaky start, Nolan McLean has left Team USA praying for Mexico’s win. Cam Schlittler’s consistency makes McLean’s WBC struggles feel like a reality check and shows how far he still has to go.