With the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol’s 93-game regular season concluded, the matchups for the first round of the playoffs are set.
Here’s a brief look at each series.
Zona Norte
No. 1 Sultanes de Monterrey vs. No. 6 Charros de Jalisco – Roberto Kelly’s Sultanes battled their way to the top in a tough Zona Norte, but they’ll have to play the Charros de Jalisco, a team that is better than their record reflects. Benji Gil’s club in Guadalajara outscored the Sultanes by 70 runs over the course of the regular season, but pitching is their weak link. If the Charros can win one of the first two games in Monterrey, they have a great chance to steal the series. Prediction: Jalisco in seven games.
No. 2 Toros de Tijuana vs. No. 5 Algodoneros de Union Laguna – Union Laguna comes into the playoff on a four-game winning streak, but their offense at times is soft as cotton. The Toros have a solid starter in David Reyes and the best team ERA in the league to go along with a potent lineup. Prediction: Tijuana in five.
No. 3 Acereros de Monclova vs. No. 4 Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos – The Acereros have a four-game win streak as the playoffs get under way, but they’re pretty evenly matched with the Tecos. Both teams hit 106 homers in the regular season and had similar run differentials, while the pitchers for Dos Laredos have more strikeouts by a higher ERA. Prediction: Dos Laredos in six.
Zona Sur
No. 1 Diablos Rojos del Mexico vs. No. 6 Leones de Yucatan – Even without Trevor Bauer, the Diablos cruised through the regular season and are the closest thing to a “super team” professional baseball has seen in a long, long time. The Leones squeaked into the playoffs. This series shouldn’t be that close. Prediction: Diablos Rojos in five.
No. 2 Guerreros de Oaxaca vs. No. 5 El Aguila de Veracruz – Don Alfredo Harp Helu’s other team, the Guerreros de Oaxaca, finished 12 games behind the Diablos, but they’ve got the second seed for the playoffs. The two teams are pretty evenly matched pitching wise, but the Guerreros are far more powerful offensively. Prediction: Oaxaca in six.
No. 3 Piratas de Campeche vs. No. 4 Pericos de Puebla – Campeche had a team ERA under 5.00, one of just four teams to accomplish that feat, and went 27-16 at home, while the Pericos were outscored by 34 runs over the course of the season and went 18-30 on the road. While this should be a close series if you look at the seeds, it probably won’t be. Prediction: Campeche in five.
Liga Mexicana de Beisbol First Round Playoff Schedule
All Times Eastern Daylight Time
* – If Necessary
August 9
6 p.m. – Leones de Yucatan at Diablos Rojos del Mexico – Game 1
7 p.m. – El Aguila de Veracruz at Guerreros de Oaxaca – Game 1
8 p.m. – Pericos de Puebla at Piratas de Campeche – Game 1
8 p.m. – Charros de Jalisco at Sultanes de Monterrey – Game 1
9:45 p.m. – Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos at Acereros de Monclova – Game 1
10:35 p.m. – Algodoneros de Union Laguna at Toros de Tijuana – Game 1
August 10
4 p.m. – Leones de Yucatan at Diablos Rojos del Mexico – Game 2
7 p.m. – El Aguila de Veracruz at Guerreros de Oaxaca – Game 2
8 p.m. – Pericos de Puebla at Piratas de Campeche – Game 2
8 p.m. – Charros de Jalisco at Sultanes de Monterrey – Game 2
9 p.m. – Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos at Acereros de Monclova – Game 2
10:35 p.m. – Algodoneros de Union Laguna at Toros de Tijuana – Game 2
August 11
No Games Scheduled
August 12
9:30 a.m. – Sultanes de Monterrey at Charros de Jalisco – Game 3
8:30 p.m. – Acereros de Monclova at Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos – Game 3
9 p.m. – Piratas de Campeche at Pericos de Puebla – Game 3
9 p.m. – Guerreros de Oaxaca at El Aguila de Veracruz – Game 3
9:30 p.m. – Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Leones de Yucatan – Game 3
9:30 p.m. – Toros de Tijuana at Algodoneros de Union Laguna – Game 3
August 13
9 p.m. – Guerreros de Oaxaca at El Aguila de Veracruz – Game 4
9 p.m. – Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Leones de Yucatan – Game 4
9:30 p.m. – Toros de Tijuana at Algodoneros de Union Laguna – Game 4
9:30 a.m. – Sultanes de Monterrey at Charros de Jalisco – Game 4
9:30 p.m. – Acereros de Monclova at Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos – Game 4
TBD – Piratas de Campeche at Pericos de Puebla – Game 4
August 14
8:30 p.m. – Acereros de Monclova at Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos – Game 5*
9 p.m. – Piratas de Campeche at Pericos de Puebla – Game 5*
9 p.m. – Guerreros de Oaxaca at El Aguila de Veracruz – Game 5*
9:30 p.m. – Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Leones de Yucatan – Game 5*
9:30 p.m. – Toros de Tijuana at Algodoneros de Union Laguna – Game 5*
9:30 a.m. – Sultanes de Monterrey at Charros de Jalisco – Game 5*
August 15
No Games Scheduled
August 16
6 p.m. – Leones de Yucatan at Diablos Rojos del Mexico – Game 6*
7 p.m. – El Aguila de Veracruz at Guerreros de Oaxaca – Game 6*
8 p.m. – Pericos de Puebla at Piratas de Campeche – Game 6*
8 p.m. – Charros de Jalisco at Sultanes de Monterrey – Game 6*
9:45 p.m. – Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos at Acereros de Monclova – Game 6*
10:35 p.m. – Algodoneros de Union Laguna at Toros de Tijuana – Game 6*
August 17
6 p.m. – Leones de Yucatan at Diablos Rojos del Mexico – Game 7*
7 p.m. – El Aguila de Veracruz at Guerreros de Oaxaca – Game 7*
8 p.m. – Pericos de Puebla at Piratas de Campeche – Game 7*
8 p.m. – Charros de Jalisco at Sultanes de Monterrey – Game 7*
9:45 p.m. – Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos at Acereros de Monclova – Game 7*
10:35 p.m. – Algodoneros de Union Laguna at Toros de Tijuana – Game 7*
WBN LMB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mexico/liga-mexicana-de-beisbol/
Photo: Lorenzo Bundy led the Diablos Rojos del Mexico to a Liga Mexicana de Beisbol title in his first season as manager. He’s looking for another in 2025. (Photo Courtesy of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico)
