Has Tarik Skubal thrown his last pitch for Team USA at the 2026 World Baseball Classic?
The Detroit Tigers ace went three full innings in the United States’ rout of Great Britain in pool play on Saturday at Daikin Park in Houston. He was retired after 41 pitches, five strikeouts, two hits allowed and one run earned.
Following his start vs. Great Britain, Skubal left the door open for another appearance, telling FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal that it was “a tough question right now.” But according to Team USA manager Mark DeRosa, Skubal’s World Baseball Classic will conclude on Monday, following the United States’ rivalry game against Mexico.
Skubal tempered expectations for his time at the World Baseball Classic when asked about it in February.
“The reason I didn’t announce it (sooner) was I wanted to keep the momentum on the WBC, but I’m just making one start and then I’ll stick around for a few games,” Skubal told reporters. “I haven’t determined what games I’m going to watch.
“If they go to the finals, I think I’m going to try and lobby to just go watch and be with the guys. But yeah, I’m just making one start and getting back on track and getting back to here.”
Before his start, Skubal also discussed his long-term future with the Tigers. The two-time AL Cy Young winner won his $32 million arbitration case this season amid talks of a potential new deal.
“There is no offer,” Skubal told USA Today Sports, “and there won’t be an offer until the end of the season. … My focus is on playing baseball and winning this year. I’ll deal with the contract stuff at the end of the year, and then we’ll kind of see. And that’s fine. It’s their decision.”
Even without Skubal, the rotation that the USA has assembled is still the best in the tournament. The Americans used San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb in Friday’s win over Brazil. They’ll use reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes on Monday night against Mexico.
Assuming the USA advances from Pool B, they will play a quarterfinal game either March 13 or 14, with either game in Houston. The semifinals are March 15 and 16 before the championship game on March 17, with those rounds in Miami.
