All-Star closer Mason Miller will be available for Team USA in Tuesday night's championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, manager Mark DeRosa said.
San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen on Monday said Miller's availability for the final would depend on how Miller was feeling after he pitched the final two innings of Sunday's semifinal victory against the Dominican Republic.
Miller, who has recorded 35 pitches of 100 mph or more during the tournament, has been instrumental to Team USA's success in the WBC, securing saves in two of the team's victories while recording 10 strikeouts in four innings of work.
New York Mets star Nolan McLean will be the starting pitcher for the United States in Tuesday's game at LoanDepot Park in Miami, while Aaron Judge, Roman Anthony and Kyle Schwarber lead a lineup seeking to win the Americans' second title and first title since 2017.
"Putting U.S. on your chest and going out there and competing obviously means the world," MacLean said.
Venezuela, headed by All-Stars Ronald Acuna Jr., Maikel Garcia and Luis Arraez, will start Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound as it seeks it first championship in the sixth edition of the event that launched in 2006.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
