Preview: Venezuela, USA cross paths again hoping to retain Premier12 Finals Dream

The WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS is nearing its culmination point, as the Super Round ends on Saturday with all four teams still hoping to claim a spot in the finals on Sunday. At 12pm local time on Saturday Venezuela and USA are meeting at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan with the No. 4 of the WBSC/KONAMI Men’s Baseball World Rankings taking on the No. 5.

Venezuela are 1-1 in the Super Round following a 2-0 win over Chinese Taipei on Thursday and a 6-9 loss to Japan on Friday. USA meanwhile are 0-2 after 1-9 and 2-8 losses to Japan and Chinese Taipei on the first two days of the WBSC Premier12 Super Round. Still, both teams have chances to advance to the finals, although it also depends on the outcome of the Chinese Taipei (1-1) vs Japan (2-0) clash on Saturday evening.

Venezuelaseemingly had Japan on the brink of their first loss, when they took a 5-3 leadin their matchup on Friday. But in almost the blink of an eye the lead vanishedand the defending champion prevailed once again. Venezuela dropped to 5-2 inthe WBSC Premier12 2024. They are now hitting .299/.352/.516 with 39 runsscored in the event. Their pitchers have a team ERA of 3.05 in seven games.

Team USAsuffered their second loss of the Super Round to move to 3-4 in the WBSCPremier12. They still have chances to reach the finals, but they must beatVenezuela first. They kept the deficit to Chinese Taipei to a single run untilfive runs in the seventh blew the score wide open. They are hitting.288/.377/.489 with 39 runs scored. USA and Venezuela both have 11 home runs inthe tournament. USA’s team ERA has risen to 4.19 in the tournament from 2.41 inthe opening round.

Venezuela’smanager Omar Lopez selected 26-year-old right-hander Jesus Vargas as startingpitcher. The former minor leaguer with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New YorkMets started the game against Panama in the WBSC Premier12 2024, allowing tworuns on four hits in five innings, while striking out six.

USA iscountering with a player, who pitched in the big leagues this year. 28-year-oldright-hander Touki Toussaint is a seven-year MLB veteran with a career 5.39ERA. He started against Panama as well, but lasted only two innings, concedingtwo hits, a run and a walk, while striking out five.  

Both teamsmet in the opening round in Group A of the WBSC Premier12 2024 with Venezuelawinning 5-3. USA twice tied the game in the contest, but a three-run bottom ofthe sixth eventually decided the outcome. It was just the fourth win forVenezuela in head-to-head matchups on the international baseball level since2011. USA finished in second place in the WBSC Premier12 2015 and fourth in2019. Venezuela was seventh in 2019 and ninth in 2015.