WATCH IN US/CANADA ON DAZN ($) | WATCH OUTSIDE US/CANADA ON GAMETIME ($) | LIVE STATS

TEPIC, Mexico – Team USA looks to build on its victory over the Netherlands, taking on Venezuela on Sunday in Group A play at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 presented by RAXUS. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. local/9:00 p.m. ET from Coloso del Pacifico in Tepic, Mexico.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP Zac Grotz (USA) vs. RHP Mario Sanchez (VEN)

U.S. starting pitcher Zac Grotz

GROUP A STANDINGS

Team USA (1-1)

Mexico (1-1)

Netherlands (1-1)

Panama (1-1)

Puerto Rico (1-1)

Venezuela (1-1)

HISTORY AGAINST VENEZUELA

Since first meeting at the 2000 Pan American Cup, Team USA holds a slight 7-6 advantage in 13 matchups with Venezuela. The two sides have met one time at the Premier12, a 7-5 win for Venezuela in the tournament’s opening round in 2015. The last meeting between Team USA and Venezuela came at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, when Trea Turner lifted the stars and stripes to a 9-7 quarterfinal round victory.

Trea Turner hit a clutch grand slam in Team USA's last meeting with Venezuela at the 2023 World Baseball Classic

LAST TIME OUT

Matt Shaw went 4-for-5 with seven RBIs to propel Team USA to a 12-2 win in a run-rule-shortened contest on Sunday night. Shaw drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the third inning before tacking on late, driving a bases-clearing double and a three-run homer to right field. Luke Ritter and Ryan Ward each also homered in the victory, hitting back-to-back blasts in the bottom of the first. Justin Crawford chipped in a pair of doubles at the plate. On the mound, Casey Lawrence started and pitched 3.1 innings and allowed two runs before handing the ball to winning pitcher Antonio Menendez, who shoved for 2.2 shutout frames. Spencer Patton and Austin Vernon finished it off with two perfect frames.

SHAW-SOME START

Matt Shaw has seven hits in his first eight at-bats of the 2024 Premier12, good for an .875 batting average. The U.S. infielder is atop the Group A leaderboard in nearly every statistic, including hits, average, RBIs (7), and OPS (2.264). He is tied for the lead in runs scored (3) and stolen bases (2).

DEFENSE WINS

Through two games, the United States has not committed an error and maintains a 1.000% fielding percentage. Tim Elko, Willie MacIver, and Luke Ritter all have a team-high 10 put outs.

SWIPING BAGS

Team USA is a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen bases through two games of play. Matt Shaw, Chandler Simpson, and Carson Williams have each swiped two bags, while Colby Thomas has one stolen base so far. The United States has the most stolen bases in Group A through two games.

SHAW AND GRIFFEY JR.

Matt Shaw drove in seven runs in Team USA’s 12-2 win over the Netherlands on Sunday, becoming the first U.S. player since Ken Griffey Jr. to drive in seven runs in a single game. Griffey Jr. accomplished the feat at the 2006 World Baseball Classic, hitting two homers in a 17-0 Team USA victory. Shaw’s seven RBIs accounted for more than half of the total runs scored by the U.S. on Sunday.

THE FUTURE IS NOW

Six players on Team USA’s roster have played in the MLB All-Star Futures Game, including five players who competed in the event in 2024: Drake Baldwin, Justin Crawford, Termarr Johnson, Matt Shaw, and Chandler Simpson. Crawford also earned a spot in the 2023 iteration of the Futures Game, while Willie MacIver played in the event in 2019.

TOP SPECTS

The U.S. roster features four players who rank in the MLB Pipeline Top 100, including two players who are the top-ranked prospect for their respective Club. Carson Williams ranks as the fourth-best prospect in baseball and atop Tampa Bay’s Top 30 Prospects, while Matt Shaw leads the way for the Cubs and is the 22nd-ranked prospect in the sport. Additionally, Justin Crawford sits at No. 53 and Termarr Johnson ranks No. 75 in the Top 100.

BIG LEAGUERS

The U.S. roster features nine players with MLB playing experience, combining for 57 big-league seasons. Rich Hill leads the way with 20 MLB seasons under his belt, while Dan Altavilla, Anthony Gose, Spencer Patton, and Touki Toussaint bring at least five seasons of big-league time to the roster. Zac Grotz, Casey Lawrence, Chris Okey, and Cam Vieaux have also had stints in the major leagues.

SCIOSCIA AT THE HELM

Nineteen-year MLB veteran manager Mike Scioscia leads Team USA at the Premier12 in 2024, his third stint in the U.S. dugout. Scioscia debuted with the stars and stripes in 2021, first leading the Club to a 4-0 record as it qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Scioscia then managed the United States at the Olympics and led the team to a silver medal, going 4-2 overall. Before his role with Team USA, Scioscia won three World Series titles in MLB; two as a player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and one as a manager for the Los Angeles Angels.