Tigers ace Tarik Skubal plans to pitch just once for US in WBC

Two-time defending Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal will be making his World Baseball Classic debut next month for the U.S. with some caveats.

Skubal told reporters after his spring-training debut Monday that he plans on making just one start in WBC group play, which begins March 5, before returning to the Tigers. He doesn't plan to make himself available for a potential second start in an elimination game.

According to reports, Skubal's lone U.S. start will come March 7 in a pool-play game against Great Britain.

"If they go to the finals, I think I'm going to try and lobby to just go watch and be with the guys," Skubal said.

That's a blow of sorts for the United States, which is looking for its second WBC title and its first since 2017. Skubal has been the best pitcher in baseball the last two seasons with 31 total wins and a sub-2.40 ERA in 2024 and 2025. In six seasons with the Tigers he is 54-37 with a 3.08 ERA in 137 appearances (134 starts).

The American team will not be lacking in pitching options, with 2025 Cy Young winner Paul Skenes and 2025 All-Stars Logan Webb, Joe Ryan and Matthew Boyd on the roster.

The U.S. is in Group B and opens the WBC March 6 vs. Brazil in Houston. The other Group B teams are Great Britain, Italy and Mexico. The WBC championship game will take place March 17 at Miami.

--Field Level Media