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Tarik Skubal WBC stats: Cy Young winner throws 3 innings before leaving game, doesn’t rule out second start originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is in search of a third straight Cy Young Award, but first he suited up for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
Despite entering a contract year, Skubal agreed to pitch for Team USA as part of its stacked roster. However, he joined the team with strict guidelines, as the USA coaching staff could only use him on a limited basis.
As a result, Skubal's outing against Great Britain was shorter than Logan Webb's start against Brazil on Friday night. The lefty pitched a near-dominant three innings before leaving the game.
Here's how Skubal performed in the WBC.
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Tarik Skubal WBC stats
- Games: 1
- Innings: 3.0
- Hits: 2
- Runs: 1
- Strikeouts: 5
- Pitches: 41
In Skubal's lone WBC appearance, the Tigers ace threw three innings of one-run ball. His lone blemish came on the first pitch of the game, when Boston Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton took him deep to leadoff the contest.
Tarik Skubal pitch count
Tarik Skubal threw 41 pitches in his World Baseball Classic debut against Great Britain. He had a pitch limit of 55 for the game, but Mark DeRosa pulled him for Clay Holmes in between innings.
Why did Tarik Skubal only pitch three innings in WBC?
Entering the WBC, Skubal, the Tigers and Team USA had an agreement that the pitcher wouldn't over-exert himself. While pitchers can throw a maximum of 65 pitches in the group stage, Skubal entered the round with a pitch limit of 55 as he continues to prepare for the MLB season.
Skubal is entering the final year of his contract as is set to hit free agency, where he could become the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history. Therefore, Skubal didn't want to risk injury this early in the year.
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Will Tarik Skubal pitch again in WBC?
It is unlikely that Skubal will pitch again in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Team USA agreed to have him pitch once in the tournament before returning him to Tigers spring training in Florida, allowing him to continue his preparation for Opening Day. When asked if he would make a second start, however, the Cy Young winner did not rule it out, saying, "That's a tough question right now. I probably won't answer."
Team USA lined Skubal up on Saturday to coincide with his routine that allows him to pitch on Opening Day for Detroit. Despite his words, he remains very unlikely to appear in the tournament again.
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How old is Tarik Skubal?
Tarik Skubal is 29 years old and will turn 30 this offseason, when he will hit free agency. At 27 and 28 years-old, Skubal became the latest pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Youngs.
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