Preview: Japan, Venezuela jockey for top spot in Super Round at WBSC Premier12 2024

The Super Round of the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS continues on Friday at 7pm local time at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan with the matchup between the No. 1 in the WBSC/KONAMI Men’s Baseball World Rankings, Japan, and the No. 4 Venezuela. Both teams celebrated successful opening days into the Super Round. Venezuela beat Chinese Taipei 2-0 on Thursday, while Japan prevailed 9-1 over USA.

Venezuela continued its strong performance from the opening round and kept Chinese Taipei off the board through nine innings. A two-run home run by catcher Carlos Perez in the fourth inning was all the South Americans needed to win the contest. It was his second home run in the tournament. Overall Venezuela is now hitting .297/.351/.519 through six games. Their pitching staff hasn’t allowed a run in 23 straight innings, dating back to the second inning of their 5-2 win over Puerto Rico. Their team ERA now sits at a strong 1.94.

Samurai Japan saw Kaito Kozono erupting for three hits – two home runs and a triple – with two runs scored and a WBSC Premier12 record tying seven RBI against Team USA. His two-run triple put Japan ahead 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning. His home runs in the seventh and eighth sealed the victory. It were just the home runs three and four for Japan in the tournament. They are still hitting a strong .307/.401/.420 with a tournament leading 45 runs scored. Their team ERA sits at 2.50.

Still Japan knows that probably their biggest test in the WBSC Premier12 is ahead of them with Venezuela.  "They are very dangerous, they can hit for power”, said manager Hirokazu Ibata. “I want my pitchers to be cautious, but also to play their game, be confident in their skills." Japan are giving the starting pitcher nod to Hiroto Saiki. The 28-year-old right-hander of the Hanshin Tigers pitched a tremendous game against Chinese Taipei in the opening round, allowing just three hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings, striking out five. His repertoire features a fastball, slider, curveball, splitter and a cutter. Japan's bullpen is missing Sora Suzuki, who is not available due to an injury.

Venezuela’s
manager Omar Lopez doesn’t need extra motivation in a matchup with Japan. “There
won't be any extra motivation at all. We just got to step up and play our game.
This is who we are. This is how we play. And it doesn't matter who we're
facing. We want to play our game. If it goes in our side, we want to get the
victory. If it's not, I mean, who will be here? We're going to reset the next
day. Play one more game.”

Ricardo Pinto is going to be the starting pitcher for Venezuela. The 30-year-old right-hander, who pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB this year, has a strong showing at the WBSC Premier12 2024 so far. Through two appearances he allowed only six hits and three base on balls in ten scoreless innings in the opening round, striking out eight. He is featuring a mix of fastballs, sinker, slider and a split change-up. He and his catcher are on the same page in the tournament, as Carlos Perez explained following their opening win over Chinese Taipei. “I think we know each other, and I know how he pitches, and it's important for us just to be on the same page. Trying to call whatever you feel constable to pitch and I think the most important thing is we are on the same page.”

Japan is
owning an 11-4 record against Venezuela in international competitions since
2011. Its going to be their third head-to-head game at the WBSC Premier12. In
2015 Japan prevailed 6-5 in a close game. In 2019 Japan won 8-4. Both times in
the opening round. Venezuela last prevailed over Japan in the WBSC U-12
Baseball World Cup in 2023 with a 9-8 win. Japan won the WBSC Premier12 in 2019
and finished third in 2015. Venezuela claimed seventh place in 2019 and ninth
in 2015.