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World Baseball Classic: Why Tarik Skubal won’t be pitching for Team USA in the final

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Team USA’s World Baseball Classic roster looks like the best they’ve ever put together, but it just took a hit.

Two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal will pitch just once for USA and it’ll happen in pool play (March 7 vs. Great Britain). If USA advances to the championship round, as expected, Skubal won’t pitch.

“If they go to the finals, I think I’m going to try and lobby to just go watch and be with the guys,” he told reporters, including The Athletic, Monday.

That’s too bad. Those of us who had already started looking ahead figured Skubal could be the USA starter in either the semifinals or finals, giving a nice edge to the squad. After all, he’s won two straight Cy Young awards, two straight AL ERA titles and has a 2.04 ERA in six career playoff starts. 

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Instead, if USA advances, it’ll be without Skubal. 

That gives the mantle of ace to Paul Skenes alone, instead of Skenes just being a “co-ace.” USA isn’t hurting for starters after Skubal or Skenes, either, as All-Stars Logan Webb and Matthew Boyd are also on the team. Fellow All-Star Joe Ryan is on the roster, though he’s currently dealing with a back injury, as is youngster Nolan McLean and his veteran Mets teammate Clay Holmes

The offense is headed up by Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Bobby Witt Jr., Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber

This is to say that, yes, USA is still plenty talented and could well win the finals. Not having Skubal for the championship round is still a bit of a bummer.

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Pool play kicks off next week in Tokyo, San Juan, Houston, and Miami, and the tournament will conclude with the Championship Game at loanDepot Park on March 17. Team USA won the 2017 WBC, but fell to Japan in the finals in 2023. The Americans are the favorite to win this year (-115, per Caesars), ahead of Japan (+350) and the Dominican Republic (+425).

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Team USA men’s hockey returns to United States after old medal win

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The U.S. men’s hockey team arrived in Florida on Monday hours after winning the gold medal in a thrilling overtime win over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The players flew to Miami International Airport and will begin the celebratory festivities. The team is set to revel at E11EVEN MIAMI nightclub later in the night.

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Team USA celebrates a win over Canada

Jack Hughes (86) of the United States celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026. (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)

U.S. fans, some with signs, waited for their arrival into the terminal with bated breath – and when they did, jubilation.

Jack Hughes, Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk showed off their gold medals to the cameras.

“We’re gonna celebrate for a few days,” Hughes told reporters at the airport.

The team will go to an upscale restaurant for dinner before continuing their celebration at one of Miami’s famous clubs.

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Hughes gave the U.S. the gold on Sunday when he scored in overtime, getting the puck past Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington. The U.S. won 2-1.

Connor Hellebuyck with the flag

Connor Hellebuyck of United States celebrates after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026. (David W Cerny/Reuters via Imagn Images)

“This is all about our country right now. I love the USA. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable. The U.S. are a hockey brotherhood. It’s so strong and we had so much support from ex-players. I’m so proud to be American today,” Hughes told NBC after the game.

The team celebrated in the locker room and FBI Director Kash Patel was the go-between for the team and President Donald Trump.

Trump invited the team to his State of the Union address, which is set to take place on Tuesday.

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“I’ll tell you what. I just told my people two minutes ago, I didn’t know they’d be calling, I said we’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night,” Trump said. “I can send a military plane or something, but if you would like to, it’s the coolest night, it’s the biggest speech …”

One player cut off Trump and said, “We’re in.”

“We’ll get Kash, and we’ll get the military to get you guys over,” Trump continued. “You won’t have to worry about the weather or landing. We don’t care if it’s snowing or if it’s the worst blizzard – we’ll be sailing through like you did on the ice.”

Team USA greets fans in Milan

Jack Eichel (9) of the United States greets fans after the game against Slovakia in a men’s ice hockey semifinal during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 20, 2026. (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)

It’s unclear if the team will attend.

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House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., told Fox News that they were still working out the logistics of them attending the event.

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Team USA hockey stars keep America's heroes top of mind after grabbing Olympic gold

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all characters and weapons revealed

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Genshin Impact has officially released the details of all characters and weapons featured on the Phase I banners of the Luna V update. The long-awaited Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, Varka, will be released during the Phase I character banners. His signature weapon, Gest of the Might Wolf, will also be featured on the Weapon banner.

The Phase I Character and Weapon banners will be available from February 25, 2026, till March 17, 2026. Flins will have a rerun banner, and his signature weapon will be featured alongside Varka’s weapon.

On that note, this article lists the details of all characters and weapons that will be featured in the first half of the Genshin Impact Luna V update.


Phase I banners for Genshin Impact Luna V

As mentioned, the Phase I banners for the Genshin Impact Luna V update will be released globally on February 25, 2026, at 11 am (UTC+8), and they will be available until March 17, 2026. Varka and Flins are the featured 5-star characters during these banners, and their signature weapons will also be featured on the Weapon banner, Epitome Invocation.

Since the Phase I banners typically release along with the new update, players can pull for the new characters and weapons as soon as the maintenance for the Luna V update ends.

Phase I Character banners

Here’s the list of all units that are featured on the Phase I character banners in Luna V:

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  • Varka (5-star Anemo Claymore)
  • Flins (5-star Electro Polearm)
  • Bennett (4-star Pyro Sword)
  • Sucrose (4-star Anemo Catalyst)
  • Xiangling (4-star Pyro Polearm)

Varka is the new character who will be released alongside the Luna V update. He is an Anemo DPS that can deal other Elemental DMG types, based on his team composition. Meanwhile, Flins is an Electro DPS whose teams primarily revolve around the Lunar-Charged Elemental reaction.


Phase I Weapon banner

Phase I Weapon banner for the Luna V update (Image via HoYoverse)Phase I Weapon banner for the Luna V update (Image via HoYoverse)
Phase I Weapon banner for the Luna V update (Image via HoYoverse)

Here’s a list of all weapons that are featured during the Phase I Weapon banner in the Luna V update:

  • Gest of the Might Wolf (5-star Claymore, Varka’s signature weapon)
  • Bloodsoaked Ruins (5-star Polearm, Flins’ signature weapon)
  • Sacrificial Fragments (4-star Catalyst)
  • Sacrificial Bow (4-star Bow)
  • Favonius Greatsword (4-star Claymore)
  • Favonius Sword (4-star Sword)
  • Sacrificer’s Staff (4-star Polearm)

The signature weapons for both Varka and Flins will be featured on the Weapon banner, Epitome Invocation.

Also read: Genshin Impact Varka’s signature weapon leaked


Chronicled Wish Ode to the Dawn Breeze

Mondstadt Chronicled Wish will be featured during the Phase I banners of Luna V (Image via HoYoverse)Mondstadt Chronicled Wish will be featured during the Phase I banners of Luna V (Image via HoYoverse)
Mondstadt Chronicled Wish will be featured during the Phase I banners of Luna V (Image via HoYoverse)

HoYoverse has also announced that a new Mondstadt Chronicled Wish will be available during the first half of the Luna V update. This new banner features some 5-star characters and weapons from Mondstadt, and will be available from February 25, 2026, to March 17, 2026.

Here’s the list of all 5-star characters on this Chronicled Wish:

  • Eula (Cryo Claymore)
  • Klee (Pyro Catalyst)
  • Albedo (Geo Sword)
  • Mona (Hydro Catalyst)
  • Diluc (Pyro Claymore)
  • Jean (Anemo Sword)

Meanwhile, here are all the weapons that will be featured on the same banner:

  • Song of Broken Pines (5-star Claymore)
  • Elegy for the End (5-star Bow)
  • Wolf’s Gravestone (5-star Claymore)
  • Aquilla Favonia (5-star Sword)
  • Skyward Spine (5-star Polearm)
  • Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds (5-star Catalyst)
  • Skyward Blade (5-star Sword)
  • Skyward Pride (5-star Claymore)
  • Skyward Atlas (5-star Catalyst)
  • Skyward Harp (5-star Bow)

Similar to the previous iterations of the Chronicled Wish, this banner will also feature all the 4-star characters and weapons from the Mondstadt region.

Also read: Genshin Impact Luna V first phase event schedule