Team USA fans rooting for Italy’s Aaron Nola to be great

Philadelphia Phillies veteran Aaron Nola pitches for Italy in the World Baseball Classic. On Wednesday, Team USA’s fate rests on Nola’s right arm.

Nola will start for Italy in its Pool B finale against Mexico (7 p.m. ET Wednesday, Fox Sports 1). Because Italy shocked Team USA 8-6 on Tuesday, the Americans stand at the edge of elimination.

The easiest way for Team USA to advance to the WBC quarterfinals would be for Nola to fire a gem at Mexico and lead Italy to victory. That would leave USA as the runner-up in Pool B.

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But there is another scenario for Team USA to advance if Mexico beats Italy. Should Italy give up five or more runs in defeat, USA would still advance as the runner-up with Mexico winning the pool.

So Nola can be great or terrible. Average doesn’t work.

That realization caused mixed reaction for fans of the Phillies and Team USA. Nola, a Louisiana native with Italian heritage, has spent his entire 11-year MLB career with Philadelphia. winning 109 games with an ERA of 3.83.

“Aaron Nola legacy game tonight pleaseee!” one fan posted.

Another fan summarized the situation perfectly, “So wait, the fate of Team USA rests in the hands of Aaron Nola. We either need him to be awesome or objectively horrendous. Sweet. Feels like the universe has aligned.”

So wait, the fate of Team USA rests in the hands of Aaron Nola.

We either need him to be awesome or objectively horrendous.

Sweet. Feels like the universe has aligned

— Michael McCarry (@CoachMcCarry) March 11, 2026

This fan is optimistically skeptical of Nola: “Aaron Nola is on the bump for Italy. They have just as many dudes as Mexico, but Mexico putting up 5 should not be an issue.”

Another observer grabbed the middle ground: “Aaron Nola is bad for USA because it increases the odds of a low scoring affair. Mexico should be able to score a couple runs.”

This Phillies fan offers a positive prediction for Team USA: “So we need Aaron Nola to be either lights out or awful. As a Phillies fan, the odds of USA advancing are pretty good.”

Mexico has not yet named a starting pitcher for Wednesday’s game.

With or without Team USA, the WBC quarterfinals begin Friday in Miami and Houston.