Preview: Team USA hoping to rebound in matchup with Netherlands on Sunday
USA and the Netherlands had an eventful start into the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS on Saturday. Team USA lost 0-1 in a shutout to Puerto Rico, while the Dutch team erased a 2-7 deficit in the process of a 9-8 walk-off extra-inning win over Panama. On Sunday the USA and the Netherlands meet at 4pm local time at Coloso del Pacifico ballpark in Tepic, Mexico.
Dutch manager
Evert Jan’t Hoen appointed Kaj Timmermans as starting pitcher for game two. Theright-hander, who just celebrated his 29th birthday on Friday priorto the event start, has solely played in the Hoofdklasse in his home countryNetherlands during his career. Aside from a three-year stint with Neptunus, HCAWis his team. During the 2024 season he went 9-6 with an ERA of 2.34 in 19games, while striking out 89 batters and walking 30 in 115.1 innings pitched.
He played for the Netherlands in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in 2012, theWBSC U-21 Baseball World Cup 2014 and the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2018.
USA’s manager
Mike Scioscia is trusting 37-year-old veteran right-hander Casey Lawrence thestarting pitching duties. Signing as an undrafted free agent with the TorontoBlue Jays in 2010 he managed to work his way up until making his MLB debut forthe Blue Jays in 2017. He spent four seasons in the big leagues in totalincluding stints with the Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals. He has a4-4 record with an ERA of 6.75 in 59 games along with 97 strikeouts and 49walks in 124 innings. In 2019 he also had a brief stint with the Hiroshima Carpin the NPB. The 2024 season Lawrence spent with the Mariners Triple-A affiliate.
He went 11-11 with an ERA of 5.95 in 29 starts, racking up 108 strikeouts in165 innings, while walking 48.
Team USA isentering the matchup against the Netherlands as favorites. In WBSC competitionssince 2011 they own a 7-1 record in head-to-head games against each other.
Their lone loss came during the Baseball World Cup 2011, when the Dutch teamprevailed 7-5 in group-play en route to becoming World Champion. Both teamshave met twice in WBSC Premier12 history. In 2015 the USA won 6-1 in thequarterfinal. In the opening round in 2019 Team USA celebrated a 9-0 shutout.