Skubal Considering Pitching Again for Team USA at WBC

The Tigers pitcher is torn after making his debut for the U.S. national team.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Tarik Skubal, the back-to-back Cy Young Award winner, is leaving the door open to pitching another game for Team USA at the World Baseball Classic. Skubal had planned to make one start against Great Britain in pool play and then return to the Tigers to finish building up for the MLB regular season. However, after his debut on Saturday in the U.S.'s 9-1 win, Skubal is now contemplating reversing course and pitching again for his country. He said the experience has changed his perspective and made it hard to walk away from the team.

Why it matters

Skubal is one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, and his potential continued participation in the WBC could be a major boost for Team USA's championship aspirations. However, he is also entering a contract year with the Tigers, so there are significant career considerations at play as well.

The details

Skubal pitched three innings against Great Britain, allowing one run on a leadoff homer before settling down to strike out five. He said his stuff felt sharp and his arm felt good. After the game, Skubal acknowledged that his emotions were running high and that he would need to have conversations with the Tigers, his agent, and his family before deciding whether to pitch again for Team USA.

  • Skubal made his Team USA debut on Saturday, March 8, 2026.
  • Skubal said he will make a decision on pitching again in the next couple of days.

The players

Tarik Skubal

A back-to-back Cy Young Award winner who is entering his final year before free agency with the Detroit Tigers.

Nate Eaton

A player for the Great Britain national team who hit a leadoff homer off Skubal in the first inning.

Paul Skenes

The other Cy Young Award winner on Team USA, who the U.S. would also like to have for as long as possible in the WBC.

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What they’re saying

“This is gonna be one of the tougher decisions I've made in my career so far.”

— Tarik Skubal (mlb.com)

“It just changes your perspective a little bit, you know? And how proud I am to be an American and go out there and pitch and compete. [Thinking about] the people that make real sacrifices for me to play a kids' game. So we'll see.”

— Tarik Skubal (mlb.com)

“They've been extremely supportive of everything. They totally get what's going on with my situation. It's unique. I've had these discussions with people, and most of it is, they're extremely supportive of me being here in the first place. And I've got a ton of respect for that. But it's just hard. When you get in these environments, and you get this team, it's hard to walk away from that.”

— Tarik Skubal (mlb.com)

What’s next

Skubal said he will make a decision on whether to pitch again for Team USA in the next couple of days after having conversations with the Tigers, his agent, and his family.

The takeaway

Skubal's emotional experience pitching for Team USA has made it difficult for him to commit to his original plan of making just one start. His potential continued participation could be a major boost for the U.S., but he also has to weigh the career implications as he enters a contract year with the Tigers.