Tigers' Tarik Skubal teases exciting WBC pitching plan for Team USA
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Tigers' Tarik Skubal teases exciting WBC pitching plan for Team USA originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The United States is one of the World Baseball Classic favorites right alongside Japan and the Dominican Republic. While their offense is a big reason, their pitching staff is much better than it's been in years prior.
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Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who, alongside Paul Skenes, is leading the charge for one of the best rotations in the tournament, is only expected to make one start in the WBC.
However, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today shared from Skubal, the two-time Cy Young Award winner isn't ruling out a second appearance later in the tournament just yet.
Tarik Skubal teases second outing for Team USA in WBC
"Those (conversations) have already started," Skubal said of making another start in the WBC, "So, we'll see. I mean, when you get in the moment, and you're competing, especially in the next four-ish days with games that really matter, we'll see."
Skubal isn't shutting down the possibility of making a second start when Team USA needs it in the knockout rounds.
When asked further if there was a chance for him to pitch again, Skubal's answer was simple: "Yeah, sure."
Skubal isn't likely to make a second start for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, but this messaging from Skubal is, at the very least, leaving the door open.
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Team USA manager Mark Kotsay said with a smile, according to Nightengale, "Is there a chance? There's always a chance."
Seeing Skubal, the two-time Cy Young, make a second start to help Team USA stay alive in the tournament would be a very exciting storyline.
But it's not a likely outcome for this year's tournament. No matter how fun it is, Skubal is more likely than not going to make his lone start and be done.
He might stick with the team through the end of the tournament in the dugout, but his odds to make a second start seem slim to none. But, as Skubal and Kotsay noted, it's not zero.
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