Two more second round series get underway in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol tonight, with the Pericos de Puebla facing the Diablos Rojos del Mexico and the Guerreros de Oaxaca facing the Olmecas de Tabasco.
The top-seeded Diablos, who won the Zona Sur title in the regular season with a 64-29 record, face Puebla, the last team not named the Diablos to win an LMB title, who finished fourth in the Zona Sur with a 50-42 record.
After battling through a seven-game series to get past Oaxaca, the Diablos will hit the field tonight after just two days of rest. Seven different Diablos had at least five RBIs in the first round, with veterans Robinson Cano and Julian Ornelas driving in seven apiece against Oaxaca. Franklin Barreto hit two homers and drove in six runs in the first round, while Orlando Arcia, Jon Singleton, Carlos Perez, and Carlos Sepulveda each got six runners home in the seven-game series.
Trevor Bauer made two starts for the Diablos in the first round, throwing 11 innings and allowing one run on five hits, walking two and striking out 14, while J.C. Mejia has thrown 5 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. The relief corps, which carried the Diablos to the Serie del Rey last year, has struggled, though, with Stephen Nogosek allowing nine runs on 12 hits in four innings of work and Nick Vespi allowing four runs on six hits in three innings.
For Puebla, Henry Ramos and Samar Leyva are the biggest threats in the order, each having two homers in the first round, with Ramos driving in six runs and Leyva driving in five. On the mound, Vladimir Gutierrez is Puebla's best starter, having allowed five runs on 14 hits in 11 2/3 innings with a 1.46 WHIP. If they want to get past the Diablos, the Pericos will need bigger contributions at the plate and on the mound.
The Guerreros de Oaxaca took the defending champs to Game 7 before losing in the first round. They advanced having won the most games in a first round series loss, and will get to face the No. 2 seed Olmecas de Tabasco.
Former Houston Astros first round pick Seth Beer went 13-for-22 with two homers and 11 RBIs in the first round, and has been the biggest factor in the Olmecas' turn-around this season. Jose Godoy and Luis Gonzalez have 11 RBIs between them, and veteran Agustin Ruiz had a pair of homers in the first round.
On the mound, the Olmecas have been rather inconsistent, with Ronnie Williams, one of the league's elite pitchers who was acquired at the deadline, struggling in the first round, allowing nine runs on 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings over two starts. While the starting corps has struggled, the Tabasco bullpen, anchored by Clayton Andrews, Chavez Fernander, and Nolan Blackwood, has provided a steadying presence in the late innings.
Oaxaca has struggled to find consistency on the mound, with starters James Kaprelian, Luis Miranda, William Cuevas, and Radhames Liz posting ERA's over 5.00 in the first round across 28 total innings - meaning they're averaging four innings per start, taxing the bullpen significantly.
Luckily, the Guerreros' offense has produced enough to keep them afloat, with five players - Alexi Amarista, Luis Barrera, Jorge Flores, Mel Rojas Jr., and Ricardo Valenzuela - driving in five runs each in the opening series against the Diablos, and Juan Santana leading the team with two homers and seven RBIs.
Will the Diablos bullpen rebound against Puebla? Will the Guerreros offense be enough to get past Tabasco? We'll soon find out.
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.
LMB Series de Zona Schedule
All times Eastern Daylight Time
* - If Necessary
Tuesday, Aug. 18
Sultanes de Monterrey 6, Caliente de Durango 2 - Game 1
Toros de Tijuana 4, Charros de Jalisco 0 - Game 1
Wednesday, Aug. 19
9 p.m. - Pericos de Puebla at Diablos Rojos del Mexico - Game 1
9:30 p.m. - Guerreros de Oaxaca at Olmecas de Tabasco - Game 1
9:30 p.m. - Sultanes de Monterrey at Caliente de Durango - Game 2
10:35 p.m. - Charros de Jalisco at Toros de Tijuana - Game 2
Thursday, Aug. 20
9 p.m. - Pericos de Puebla at Diablos Rojos del Mexico - Game 2
9:30 p.m. - Guerreros de Oaxaca at Olmecas de Tabasco - Game 2
Friday, Aug. 21
9:30 p.m. - Caliente de Durango at Sultanes de Monterrey - Game 3
10:35 p.m. - Toros de Tijuana at Charros de Jalisco - Game 3
Saturday, Aug. 22
6 p.m. - Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Pericos de Puebla - Game 3
7 p.m. - Olmecas de Tabasco at Guerreros de Oaxaca - Game 3
7 p.m. - Caliente de Durango at Sultanes de Monterrey - Game 4
9:30 p.m. - Toros de Tijuana at Charros de Jalisco - Game 4
Sunday, Aug. 23
4 p.m. - Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Pericos de Puebla - Game 4
7 p.m. - Olmecas de Tabasco at Guerreros de Oaxaca - Game 4
7 p.m. - Caliente de Durango at Sultanes de Monterrey - Game 5*
7 p.m. - Toros de Tijuana at Charros de Jalisco - Game 5*
Monday, Aug. 24
9 p.m. - Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Pericos de Puebla - Game 5*
9 p.m. - Olmecas de Tabasco at Guerreros de Oaxaca - Game 5*
Tuesday, Aug. 25
9:30 p.m. - Sultanes de Monterrey at Caliente de Durango - Game 6*
10:35 p.m. - Charros de Jalisco at Toros de Tijuana - Game 6*
Wednesday, Aug. 26
9 p.m. - Pericos de Puebla at Diablos Rojos del Mexico - Game 6*
9:30 p.m. - Guerreros de Oaxaca at Olmecas de Tabasco - Game 6*
9:30 p.m. - Sultanes de Monterrey at Caliente de Durango - Game 7*
10:35 p.m. - Charros de Jalisco at Toros de Tijuana - Game 7*
Thursday, Aug. 27
9 p.m. - Pericos de Puebla at Diablos Rojos del Mexico - Game 7*
9:30 p.m. - Guerreros de Oaxaca at Olmecas de Tabasco - Game 7*
Photo: Trevor Bauer has a 0.82 ERA and a 0.640 WHIP in 11 innings of work in the playoffs. (Photo courtesy of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico)