There’s a saying among tournament poker players have about having a chance to win regardless of the long odds.
If you have “a chip and a chair,” you still have a chance to win the tournament and the pile of cash that comes with being the last player alive.
Last season, the Charros de Jalisco applied that idiom to baseball, showing that despite a 46-46 finish in the regular season and getting into the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Liga Mexicana de Beibsol’s Zona Norte, they used their equivalent of “a chip and a chair” and knocked off the Zona Norte’s regular season champion, the Sultanes de Monterrey, in the first and third rounds of the playoffs to reach the Serie del Rey.
“I love the roster we have, with more experience in the Major Leagues, like with Willie Calhoun from the beginning, that makes a difference. We’ve been working since the winter to surpass what happened last summer. We want the organization to compete for championships year after year,” Charros manager Benji Gil said in a preview on the LMB’s website.
Gil, one of the best managers anywhere in the world, and his Charros fell to Lorenzo Bundy and his Diablos Rojos del Mexico in a sweep in the Serie del Rey, but what happened last year set the table for improvement this year.
“Last year helped us believe in the possibilities of this campaign, it doesn’t mean it will be a guarantee, but now that I tell you that we will be champions maybe you will believe me more,” Gil said.
Unlike the Zona Sur, where the Diablos Rojos are a heavy favorite, it’s hard to see any one team running away with the Zona Norte in 2026. Tijuana hired Roberto Kelly to manage a stellar lineup that has a ton of power but lacks bullpen depth. Monterrey, which fired Kelly after last year’s playoff failure, hired Henry Blanco and added veteran catcher Omar Narvaez. Monclova, Dos Laredos, Union Laguna, and the Charros will all be in the mix, and a rebuilt team in Durango will look to break that city’s long playoff schneid.
Meanwhile, the Charros are stronger than last summer, adding Zach Plesac to a rotation that includes Luis Ivan Rodriguez, Zac Grotz, and Luis Payan. Between the rotation and the lineup, the Charros should compete for the regular season title in the Zona Norte and secure home field.
But even if they don’t, all they need to do is get into the playoffs. They proved last year that once you’re in the playoffs, anything can happen.
Where to Watch – All Liga Mexicana de Beisbol games are streamed live with a subscription on LMB TV, and a season subscription is on sale for MX$799 (about US$46) until April 30. Select games are streamed live on the YouTube page for Latin American network Claro Sports.
Sultanes de Monterrey
2025 Regular Season – 55-37, First in Zona Norte
2025 Playoffs – Lost 4-3 in first round to Jalisco, won 4-0 vs. Dos Laredos in second round, lost 4-1 to Jalisco in third round.
Manager – Henry Blanco (First Season)
Notable Players – LF Socrates Brito, C Omar Narvaez, IF Josh Lester, SS Gustavo Nunez, 2B Ramiro Pena, OF Raimel Tapia, CF Louis Okoye, SP Stephen Tarpley, SP Justus Sheffield, SP Manny Banuelos.
Outlook – Losing twice to sixth-place Jalisco in last year’s playoffs cost Roberto Kelly the managing job in Monterrey, and Henry Blanco takes over an improved lineup this season. The addition of catcher Omar Narvaez, who has 10 seasons of MLB experience, will elevate an already-elite pitching staff to a higher level. Brito, Tapia, and Okoye should be among the LMB’s elite outfield trios. The Sultanes will very likely make the postseason, and then they’ll have to beat the teams they should beat.
Toros de Tijuana
2025 Regular Season – 54-38, Second in Zona Norte
2025 Playoffs – Lost 4-2 in first round to Union Laguna.
Manager – Roberto Kelly (First Season)
Notable Players – IF Justin Turner, 2B Wilmer Flores, IF Luis Guillorme, 3B Aderlin Rodriguez, IF Hernan Perez, OF Rafael Ortega, OF Junior Lake, OF Franchy Cordero, SP David Reyes, SP Domingo German, SP Jorge Perez.
Outlook – Roberto Kelly has something of a mandate to win in Tijuana, where management has put together a lineup that could potentially be as dominant in the Zona Norte as the Diablos Rojos del Mexico are in the Zona Sur. Hernan Perez and Aderlin Rodriguez each had 19 homers last season, and one of the two will likely serve as designated hitter and with the other playing first base after the club acquired 17-year MLB vet Justin Turner last week. Reyes, German, and Jorge Perez are all solid starters, but the Toros are lacking in bullpen depth, and they’ll need to shore up the relief corps to avoid an early playoff exit.
Acereros de Monclova
2025 Regular Season – 51-39, Third in Zona Norte
2025 Playoffs – Lost 4-3 in first round to Dos Laredos.
Manager – Juan Gabriel Castro (Second Season)
Notable Players – 3B Rodolfo Amador, DH/1B Balbino Fuenmayor, OF Luis Gonzalez, RF Juan Mora, SP Wilmer Rios, RP Chavez Fernander.
Outlook – Juan Castro has a young team in Monclova, but has some solid veterans in Fuenmayor, who hit 21 homers and drove in 74 runs for the Blue Fury last season, and Rodolfo Amador. Former MLBer Luis Gonzalez and 2025 LMB Rookie of the Year Juan Mora provide a solid foundation in the outfield. Veteran Wilmer Rios is likely the No. 1 starter, and Bahamian reliever Chavez Fernander has a live arm, but the Acereros likely need to upgrade the pitching, though, to escape the first round of the playoffs.
Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos
2025 Regular Season – 51-42, Fourth in Zona Norte
2025 Playoffs – Won 4-3 in first round vs. Monclova, lost 4-0 to Monterrey in second round.
Manager – Felix Fermin (Fourth Season)
Notable Returners – CF Cade Gotta, LF Yadiel Hernandez, DH Kennys Vargas, C Francisco Arcia, SP Daniel Mengden.
Outlook – The Tecos return one of the top power bats in the LMB in Yadiel Hernandez, who had 26 homers and 96 RBIs last season, and Gotta and Vargas provide pop to the lineup as well. Roenis Elias comes to Dos Laredos after pitching in Taiwan and Korea the last three summers and brings MLB experience to a league where high-level pitching is at a premium. Barring major injury problems, the Tecos should make the playoffs again, though the pressure is on Felix Fermin to get Dos Laredos their first title since 1989.
Algodoneros de Union Laguna
2025 Regular Season – 50-42, Fifth in Zona Norte
2025 Playoffs – Won first round 4-0 vs. Tijuana, lost 4-3 in second round to Jalisco.
Manager – Fernando Tatis Sr. (First Season)
Notable Players – 1B Emmanuel Rivera, 2B Isan Diaz, SS Didi Gregorius, C Hendrik Clementina, SP Ricardo Sanchez, SP Erasmo Ramirez, SP Touki Toussaint, SP Aldo Montes
Outlook – Union Laguna has been near the top of the Zona Norte the last few years, but this year, they have as strong a rotation as any club in the LMB, even with Travis Lakins Sr. having retired after the winter season. Adding Erasmo Ramirez gives the Guindas one of the top starters in the league, and he, Sanchez, Toussaint, and Montes form an elite group. Emmanuel Rivera brings power to first base, and Isan Diaz and Didi Gregorius are elite bats and strong defenders up the middle. Could this be the year for the Algodoneros?
Charros de Jalisco
2025 Regular Season – 46-46, Sixth in Zona Norte
2025 Playoffs – Won first round 4-3 vs. Monterrey, won second round 4-3 vs. Union Laguna, won third round 4-1 vs. Jalisco, lost Serie del Rey 4-0 to Mexico.
Manager – Benji Gil (Third Season)
Notable Players – CF Billy Hamilton, LF Johneshwy Fargas, RF Kyle Garlick, 2B Allen Cordoba, 1B/DH Willie Calhoun, 3B Josh Fuentes, SS Mateo Gil, SP Zac Grotz, SP Luis Ivan Rodriguez, SP Luis Payan, SP Zach Plesac, RP Trevor Clifton.
Outlook – It may have been a surprise that the Charros managed to make it to the Serie del Rey last year, but it won’t be if they return to the LMB’s title series in 2026. Benji Gil’s club returns most of the lineup from 2025. Leadoff man Billy Hamilton will create havoc on the basepaths, and has former MLBers in Fargas, Cordoba, Calhoun, and Fuentes behind him. The starting rotation is as good as any in the league, and Trevor Clifton is an elite closer. With one of the best managers in baseball in Benji Gil leading the club, this could be the summer the Charros win their first Serie del Rey since 1971.
Dorados de Chihuahua
2025 Regular Season – 43-49, Seventh in Zona Norte
2025 Playoffs – Did not qualify.
Manager – Homar Rojas (First Season)
Notable Players – SS Andrelton Simmons, 3B Leobaldo Pina, 1B Alejandro Mejia, DH Jonathan Schoop, SP Devin Smeltzer.
Outlook – A 5.93 team ERA last year put the Dorados in the bottom half of the league, and Devin Smeltzer led the club with a 5.17 ERA. Simmons, Pina, Mejia, Schoop, and Brainer Bonaci give the Dorados five solid bats, and if they can add some pitching, the playoffs aren’t out of the question.
Saraperos de Saltillo
2025 Regular Season – 43-49, Eighth in Zona Norte
2025 Playoffs – Did not qualify.
Manager – Mendy Lopez (First Season)
Notable Players – C Patrick Mazeika, 1B Chris Carter, 2B Ramon Rios, 3B Alex Mejia, CF Brandon Villareal, LF Fernando Villegas, SP Manny Barreda, SP Wilmer Font, SP Eric Pardinho, RP Jorge Lopez.
Outlook – Saltillo hasn’t made the playoffs since 2023, but new skipper Mendy Lopez has a team that could return to the postseason. Chris Carter, who had 21 homers and 45 RBIs last year with Campeche, adds power to the lineup, and Villareal and Villegas get on base at a good clip. Barreda and Font are top-tier starters at this level. If Pardinho can learn to pitch effectively at altitude and Jorge Lopez can be elite as a closer, a better-than-.500 finish is very possible.
Caliente de Durango
2025 Regular Season – 39-54, Ninth in Zona Norte
2025 Playoffs – Did not qualify.
Manager – Oscar Robles (First Season)
Notable Players – 1B Reynaldo Rodriguez, 2B David Villar, 3B David Hensley, IF Jonathan Villar, SP Odrisamer Despaigne, SP Jose de Leon, SP Elian Leyva, SP Felix Doubront, SP Aaron Brooks, RP Hansel Robles.
Outlook – A team from Durango hasn’t made the LMB playoffs since 1978, but this could be the team that breaks that run of futility. Oscar Robles has a solid infield with a lot of MLB experience, and five starters in the rotation that any manager in this league would be happy to have. If the bullpen can bridge the gap to Hansel Robles and the outfielders produce above expectations offensively, the Caliente could be a force in the Zona Norte.
Rieleros de Aguascalientes
2025 Regular Season – 37-53, 10th in Zona Norte
2025 Playoffs –
Manager – Enrique “Che” Reyes (Second Season, Fourth Tenure With Team)
Notable Players – 3B Andretty Cordero, OF Angel Reyes, OF Simon Muzziotti, SP Ronald Medrano
Outlook – Cordero batted .342 two years ago had a .368 mark last year, leading the league in hits with 100 and put together a 16-game RBI streak last season, while Reyes hit 31 homers last year. Muzziotti brings MLB experience to Aguascalientes, and Nicaragua World Baseball Classic vet Medrano is an elite starter at this level. But both the pitching and offense is average, and it’s hard to see the Rieleros being much better than they were last year.
Tonight’s LMB Schedule
All times Eastern Daylight Time
9 p.m. – Piratas de Campeche at Diablos Rojos del Mexico
9:10 p.m. – Dorados de Chihuahua at Caliente de Durango
9:30 p.m. – Tigres de Quintana Roo at Olmecas de Tabasco
9:30 p.m. – Guerreros de Oaxaca at Pericos de Puebla
10 p.m. – Tecolotes de Los Dos Laredos at Rieleros de Aguascalientes
10 p.m. – Sultanes de Monterrey at Algodoneros de Union Laguna
10 p.m. – Toros de Tijuana at Saraperos de Saltillo
10 p.m. – Conspiradores de Queretaro at El Aguila de Veracruz
10:15 p.m. – Acereros de Monclova at Charros de Jalisco
10:30 p.m. – Bravos de Leon at Leones de Yucatan
2026 Liga Mexicana de Beisbol Key Dates
April 16 – Opening Day
June 26-28 – All-Star Game – Walmart Park – Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
August 6 – Last Day of Regular Season
August 8 – Playoffs Begin
September 8-16 – Serie del Rey
Photo: Photo: Mateo Gil, right, and Michael Wielansky celebrate Gil’s two-run homer during a game against Union Laguna in 2025. (Photo courtesy of the Charros de Jalisco)
