LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal plans to make only one start for the United States in the World Baseball Classic, regardless of how far Team USA advances.
The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner wants to remain on a regular spring training regimen and ramp up for opening day mostly with the Tigers.
''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 Monday in Florida. "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.''
Skubal made his first Grapefruit League start Monday, striking out four over two scoreless innings of two-hit ball in Detroit's 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins. He is expected to pitch for the Tigers again Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays and then start for the U.S. late next week during WBC pool play in Houston.
After that, the rest of his outings this spring will come in a Detroit uniform, he said.
''It's kind of the best of both worlds. That was the communication I had with those guys,'' Skubal said. ''There's some risk obviously, and I'm trying to do both things, trying to pitch for Team USA, but also I understand I need to be here with these guys and get ready for the season. I think it's kind of the best of both worlds in that aspect, and I'm grateful they took me in that capacity.''
Skubal, who can become a free agent in the fall, is scheduled to start Detroit's season opener March 26 in San Diego. The 29-year-old left-hander won his salary arbitration hearing with the Tigers this month and will be paid $32 million this season instead of the team's $19 million offer.
The WBC runs from March 5-17 in Tokyo, Houston, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Miami, where the final will be played for the second straight time.
