What do Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, Bobby Witt Jr., along with countless other All-Stars, have in common? They’re all looking to become part of just the second United States team ever to bring home gold in the World Baseball Classic. However, it won’t be easy to be the last team standing, despite all the star power the team will have at its disposal.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman give a complete preview of the Team USA squad as they try to avenge their loss in the 2023 edition of the tournament, falling just short against Team Japan. What will the rotation look like after Tarik Skubal pitches his one game? Can Aaron Judge be the difference-maker for the team? Time will tell, with the tournament starting next week.

Later, Jake and Jordan discuss the impact the WBC will have on the 2028 Olympics, Max Scherzer rejoining the Toronto Blue Jays on a one-year deal and share some observations from Florida at Boston Red Sox camp. Then, the guys make their picks for this week’s edition of The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.

2:03 - The Opener: Team USA preview
8:50 - The pitching staff
29:09 - The starting lineup
51:15 - We Need To Talk About: WBC-Olympics
56:32 - Scherzer back to Blue Jays
59:22 - Red Sox field report
1:04:31 - The Good, The Bad & The Uggla

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:

🎧 Apple Podcasts

🎧 Spotify

🖥️ YouTube

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv

And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:

🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social

🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ

📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq

⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz

🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_

The 2026 edition of the World Baseball Classic starts next Wednesday, and now is the time to get familiar with every squad looking to be the last team standing. While the United States of America has one of its best rosters ever in the tournament, which international teams should they have their eyes on?

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman break down every international team’s roster to try and figure out who poses the biggest threat to Team USA. They are joined by the creator of Yakyu Cosmopolitan and NPB expert Yuri Karasawa to talk all things Team Japan and why Shohei Ohtani not pitching this year is a bigger deal than people realize. As the current reigning champion, will Japan be able to defend its title?

Later, Jake and Jordan talk about the other teams, including why they feel the Dominican Republic and Venezuelan squads might have the best chance to reach the finals and raise the WBC trophy. They then make their picks for sleeper teams and discuss which long shots could pull off a huge upset.

1:31 - Yuri Karasawa previews Team Japan
5:20 - What is the Ohtani vibe going into the WBC?
27:59 - Who could be starting for Japan?
43:11 - Around the League: DR & Venezuela
1:15:42 - Who are the sleeper teams?
1:39:25 - All the other teams

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:

🎧 Apple Podcasts

🎧 Spotify

🖥️ YouTube

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv

And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:

🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social

🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ

📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq

⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz

🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_

With Spring Training games in full swing, baseball fans are starting to get familiar with the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system. Although ABS isn’t brand new to baseball, as it’s been used in the minor leagues for a few seasons, it will be new to the majors in 2026 — so now is the time to learn all about it.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman give you the history of the ABS challenge system and explain how we’ve gotten to the point where it will be implemented in the game. MLB catcher Garrett Stubbs joins the show to give a catcher’s point of view on how it’s impacting his position, as well as the strategies that come along with challenging calls and the tension it can create with umpires.

Later, Jake and Jordan talk about Rhys Hoskins and Michael Conforto both getting minor league deals and a wave of new injuries plaguing the Minnesota Twins and the Baltimore Orioles. They then close the show by remembering Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski following his passing this weekend.

1:56 - What is the ABS system?
35:48 - Garrett Stubbs gives POV on ABS
54:19 - Around the League: Minor league deals
1:00:51 - Injury bug is going around
1:05:14 - College baseball happenings
1:11:29 - Remembering Bill Mazeroski

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:

🎧 Apple Podcasts

🎧 Spotify

🖥️ YouTube

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv

And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:

🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social

🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ

📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq

⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz

🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_