The Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional regular season enters its final week with playoff positioning still very much in flux.
Positions three through seven are separated by just two games. Teams finishing fifth and sixth will meet in a wild-card series, with the winner advancing to the round-robin stage. The final week will be crucial for clubs seeking a top-four finish and a direct berth to the round robin.
No team has been officially eliminated, but the Leones del Caracas is on the brink. Any loss by Caracas, or a win by any of the three teams ahead of it during the final week, would eliminate the club. Leones entered Sunday facing elimination but stayed alive with a 7-3 victory over archrival Navegantes del Magallanes, powered by a big performance from former MLB infielder Orlando Arcia.
Caracas will host the Bravos de Margarita on Monday, and a loss would end its postseason hopes. With a win, the Leones cannot be eliminated until at least Friday.
Another team whose playoff outlook has taken a dramatic turn for the worse is the Tigres de Aragua. After spending much of the season in first place, the Tigres have fallen into seventh and currently sit outside the postseason picture. They close the regular season with a two-game home series against the Bravos de Margarita in what amounts to a do-or-die matchup. Aragua would likely be eliminated with a sweep against it and may need a sweep of its own to remain in contention.
The most significant series of the final weekend features the Tiburones de La Guaira hosting the Navegantes del Magallanes. The two teams are currently positioned to meet in the wild-card round, but a sweep by either side would guarantee a top-five finish while potentially eliminating the other. It shapes up as the most pivotal series of the regular season.
Over the weekend, Argentina-based journalist Wilmer Castellano reported that the LVBP has invited all members of the Series of the Americas to participate in a tournament in Venezuela to be held concurrently with the Caribbean Series. The invited teams reportedly include Cuba, Panama, Colombia, Curaçao, Nicaragua and Argentina. Under that format, Cuba and Panama could send their national teams.
Two weeks ago, the LVBP announced the cancellation of its All-Star Game. The exhibition, scheduled for Dec. 9 in Caracas, had been held only twice since its return in 2017. The league cited “logistical reasons” for the cancellation but provided no further explanation.
The final week of the regular season continues Monday, with Navegantes del Magallanes visiting Caribes de Anzoátegui and Bravos de Margarita facing Leones del Caracas, which will be playing for its postseason life. The league will pause play on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day before resuming Friday.
LVBP Standings
1. Bravos de Margarita 29-24
2. Cardenales de Lara 29-25
3. Caribes de Anzoátegui 27-25
4. Águilas del Zulia 27-26
5. Navegantes del Magallanes 26-27
T-6. Tiburones de La Guaira 26-28
T-6. Tigres de Aragua 26-28
8. Leones del Caracas 23-30
