Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Yoán Moncada homers in return. Yoán Moncada returned to the Angels’ lineup for Tuesday’s series opener against the Blue Jays after being sidelined for nearly a month due to a right thumb sprain. On Tuesday, Moncada went 1-for-4, hitting a three-run home run in the Angels' 8-3 victory over the Blue Jays. His homer contributed to a six-run eighth inning that secured the game for the Angels. The third baseman has been dealing with a thumb sprain since mid-March, with the recent flare-up sidelining him for almost a month. Moncada is batting .200 (5-for-25) with a home run, seven RBIs, four runs scored, two doubles, and a 6:8 BB:K ratio in his first nine games with the Angels. Remaining healthy will be a major concern for Moncada moving forward, as he played in only 104 games during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homers in multi-hit game. After going hitless in his previous two games, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. delivered a breakout performance with three hits against the Mets on Tuesday, including a two-run homer off David Peterson in the sixth inning, which extended the Diamondbacks' lead. Overall, Gurriel went 3-for-4 with the two-run home run and a double in Tuesday's 5-1 victory over the Mets. Gurriel has achieved four multi-hit games in his last seven outings, going 11-for-27 (.407) with two homers, four doubles, and five RBI during that period. This productive streak is aiding his recovery from a slow season start. The veteran outfielder is hitting .219 with a .668 OPS, six homers, 20 RBI, 13 runs scored, eight doubles, and a stolen base over 33 games. He continues to hold a starting position in left field, and his improved hitting should secure his playing time. Raisel Iglesias secures victory in extra inning. Raisel Iglesias (2-2) secured the win on Tuesday by pitching a flawless inning and striking out two against the Reds. In the 10th inning, Iglesias was assigned the challenge of leaving the ghost runner stranded, which he accomplished effortlessly, retiring the side in just seven pitches. Atlanta then clinched the victory in the bottom of the frame, resulting in a win for Iglesias. He has now achieved four straight scoreless appearances with an 8:0 strikeout-to-walk ratio during this period, though he remains tied for 15th with six saves to date. Daysbel Hernández gave up a run. Daysbel Hernández saw action in the Braves' 2-1 win over the Reds in 10 innings. He pitched the eighth inning, conceding the run that gave the Reds a 1-0 lead. Daysbel allowed a single to Elly de la Cruz, who then stole second base and scored on Santiago Espinal's single. Despite this, Daysbel struck out three batters during his appearance, and after the Braves tied the game in the ninth, he was no longer in line for the decision. Daysbel is having a strong season in Atlanta's bullpen, boasting a 3-0 record and a 2.16 ERA over 16 games this year, even with a K:BB ratio of 12:7. Miguel Vargas and Edgar Quero went hitless on Tuesday. Miguel Vargas and Edgar Quero went 0-for-8 combined in the White Sox's 4-3 loss to the Royals on Tuesday. Vargas drew a walk while Quero struck out three times for the second straight game. The Cienfuegos native, Quero, is on an 8-at-bat hitless streak with six strikeouts that has seen him bat a poor .217 (5-for-23) with 3 RBIs and 8 strikeouts in his last seven games. Adolis García had a perfect 3-for-3 performance against the Red Sox on Tuesday. Adolis García had a perfect 3-for-3 performance, contributing an RBI and a walk in Tuesday's victory over Boston. He hit three singles, earned a walk, and delivered an RBI sacrifice fly in the 6-1 win. This marked his fourth multi-hit game in his last seven appearances, though he didn't manage a hit in the other three games. During this period, his season OPS increased slightly from .643 to .679, and he has only achieved one extra-base hit in his last 12 games. Cionel Pérez continues his poor outings. Cionel Pérez had another poor outing in the Orioles' 9-1 loss to the Twins on Tuesday. He had to throw 16 pitches, eight of them strikes. Cionel was called from the bullpen in the seventh inning and, despite being poorly defended, only got one out, walking a batter and allowing two runs, one earned. It was a fitful outing; after the first batter of the inning reached base on an error, Cionel struck out Trevor Larnach before walking Willi Castro, prompting his substitution. Matt Bowman then allowed a home run to Byron Buxton, allowing two inherited runners to score. Cionel now has a 9.20 ERA in 13 outings and is expected to be sent to the minors, a popular demand among an Orioles team whose fans are eager for better performance, after a 13-21 record in last place in the American League East. Yandy Díaz homered but was removed from Tuesday’s game against the Phillies with right hip tightness. Yandy Díaz began the game as the designated hitter, batting third in the lineup. In his second at-bat, he hit a two-run home run narrowing the score to 3-2, marking his fifth homer of the season. However, in the bottom of the sixth inning, he was replaced by pinch hitter Christopher Morel. Rays manager Kevin Cash informed reporters afterward that they believe Díaz will be fine and is expected to play on Wednesday. It appears that the 33-year-old's early exit was a precautionary measure after his hip tightened during an awkward swing in the sixth inning. Jorge Soler went hitless on Tuesday. Jorge Soler didn't get a hit in any of his four at-bats during the Angels' 8-3 victory against the Blue Jays on Tuesday. He struck out once. Soler is currently on an eight at-bat hitless streak and has only one hit in 15 at-bats, with no home runs or RBIs, over his last four games. Andy Pagés got a hit on Tuesday. Andy Pagés extended his hitting streak to three games by going 1-for-5 in Tuesday's 5-4 defeat against the Marlins. Prior to this, Pagés had experienced thirteen at-bats without a hit, failing to secure any hits in his first two games of May, but he has since gone 4-for-13 in his last three games. His only hit on Tuesday was his fifth double of the season, and he also scored his 17th run. Randy Arozarena returned to the lineup on Tuesday. Randy Arozarena rejoined the lineup on Tuesday as the designated hitter, batting fourth against the A's. The Mariners secured a 5-3 victory. Arozarena didn't get any hits, finishing 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Later in the game, pinch runner Leo Rivas took his place. It's encouraging that he's back in Seattle's lineup without requiring an extended break. Luis Robert Jr. received Tuesday off. Luis Robert Jr. was absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals. He entered the game in the ninth inning to help defensively protect a 3-2 lead. However, the Royals scored twice in that inning, resulting in a 4-3 victory. Luis Robert did not have any at-bats. He had started the previous 16 games and was taking a day off after achieving a .241/.371/.483 slash line with four home runs and nine steals during that period. José Iglesias was out of the lineup again Tuesday. José Iglesias was absent from the Padres' starting lineup against the Yankees on Tuesday. He came in as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and finished 0-for-2. Over his last nine games, Iglesias is now 3-for-28, overshadowing his strong start to the season when he had a .298 average and a .723 OPS in the first 18 games. Néstor Cortés has started playing catch again. The 30-year-old received a PRP injection in his left elbow following his start on April 3rd and has been sidelined since. He began playing catch earlier this week and will gradually progress to long toss, bullpens, and eventually a rehab assignment. It will still be several weeks before he returns to the mound in Milwaukee.

The Ciego de Ávila Tigers concluded the qualifying round of the Third Cuban Elite Baseball League (III LEBC) with a decisive 10-0 win in seven innings against the Cuban national champions, the Las Tunas Lumberjacks. During a game at the José R. Cepero stadium in Ciego de Ávila, Sancti Spiritus right-hander José Isaías Grandales (3-4) pitched a complete game, and 17 hits secured the win. José I. Grandales performed excellently in the Tigres' 40th game of the Third LEBC. (Photo by Diario Digital Jit) Grandales was solid, allowing just four hits in his seven scoreless innings, with four strikeouts and one walk. The right-hander completed his work by retiring 12 of the last 15 batters faced, for his third win of the tournament. Ciego's offense took charge with a decisive five-run second inning against starter Eliander Bravo (3-1) and reliever Wilson Paredes. This inning alone would have sufficed, featuring 10 batters who came to the plate, accumulating four hits, two walks, and an error. Asniel Jiménez hit a bases-loaded single to drive in the first run, followed by Rodolexis Moreno's double that brought in two more. An error allowed the fourth run, and Leo Escalante's sacrifice fly added the fifth. Bravo struggled in that inning, concluding his performance with only 1 1/3 innings pitched, allowing five hits for five runs—three earned—without recording any strikeouts and issuing one walk, resulting in a loss. Alongside the lead reliever, Paredes, Las Tunas also brought in two additional pitchers. Following the five runs in the second inning, the Ciego de Ávila team continued their momentum by adding another run in the third, two in the fourth, one in the sixth, and clinching the game-winning run in the seventh, courtesy of another sacrifice fly by Escalante. The win enabled Ciego de Ávila to secure the home series against Las Tunas with a 5-3 score, a crucial advantage if they end up tied for first place with their opponents after the tournament's qualifying stage is completed. To clinch first place in this qualifying stage of the III LEBC, Las Tunas needs to win just four out of the remaining eight matches: four away games against Santiago de Cuba and four home games against Granma.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. José Barrero homered in a 6-3 win for the Cardinals over the Pirates on Monday. The lower part of the Cardinals' lineup made an impact on Monday night, with José Barrero contributing significantly from the very end of the St. Louis order. He hit a solo home run in the third inning, and a ground-rule double extended a 4-3 lead to a 6-3 advantage in the sixth inning. This home run was the 27-year-old's first in the major leagues since 2023, as he spent the previous year and the start of this season in the minors. Barrero has participated in six games with the Cardinals since his call-up on April 28 and has a 3-for-13 performance during this time. He could stay in the Majors if he manages to maintain some consistency with his batting, but with a MLB lifetime .187/.243/.264 slash line, not much is anticipated from the Havana native. Andy Pagés with multi-hit game. Andy Pagés regained his form with a 2-for-4 showing in Monday's 7-4 victory for the Dodgers over the Marlins. His two hits featured his first triple of the season and the second of his MLB career. He also crossed the plate once. Over 32 games, he boasts a strong .277/.347/.491 slash line, with 16 runs scored, 9 home runs, and 14 RBIs. Miguel Vargas got another hit on Monday. In a 3-0 defeat against the Royals, Miguel Vargas had a performance of 1-for-3, including a walk and two strikeouts. This time, he was placed second in the lineup, a spot that should regularly be his, at least while he continues to bat consistently. After concluding April with a seven-game hitting streak, Vargas has managed to secure at least one hit in four of his five games in May. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went hitless. The Mets were defeated 5-4 by the Rangers on Monday, with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. going hitless in four at-bats. Additionally, he struck out once. Gurriel has a career MLB batting average of .276, and even though he's currently slashing .202/.231/.379, he is expected to return to his usual form soon. Randy Arozarena was not in the lineup for the series opener against the Athletics on Monday. Randy Arozarena informed reporters that he anticipates being back in the lineup on Tuesday after exiting Sunday's series finale against the Rangers due to a minor issue with his right hamstring. Although it doesn't appear to be a major problem, hamstring injuries can be unpredictable. Edgar Quero and Luis Robert Jr. ended the night without any hits. In a 3-0 loss to the Royals, Edgar Quero and Luis Robert Jr. both went hitless, combining for an 0-for-8 performance.Quero struck out three times and fell victim to excellent fielding by first baseman Vince Pasquantino in the 8th inning, who managed to double up Vargas at first base. Meanwhile Luis Robert struck out once. This marked Quero's first game in May without a hit, and he is currently batting .326/.426/.370 with no home runs and 8 RBIs over his last 15 games. Meanwhile, Luis Robert continues to struggle with his batting average, which remains below .200 (currently at .188), but he is on track to improve, hitting .294 in May. The Astros have placed outfielder Yordan Álvarez on the 10-day injured list, effective retroactively from May 3, due to inflammation in his right hand. This was not the result everyone anticipated after Monday when it was mentioned that Yordan was improving and no imaging was required. Yordan is now on the injured list after missing two games over the weekend due to a persistent issue with his right hand. Astros manager Joe Espada didn't appear overly worried over the weekend, so this development is somewhat unexpected. There's no update yet on how long he'll be out, but we don't expect it to be a lengthy absence. Additional clarity on his condition is expected this week after Yordan undergoes further evaluation and imaging to assess the issue's severity. José Iglesias had the evening off. José Iglesias was not included in the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees. He was benched for the series opener as he has been struggling at the plate recently, with a 3-for-26 performance over his last eight games.

The Las Tunas Lumberjacks made a comeback against the Ciego de Ávila Tigers on Tuesday at José R. Cepero Park, scoring six runs in the fifth inning to secure their second victory in the four-game series, thereby extending their lead to two games at the top of the III Elite Cuban Baseball League (III ELCB). The two teams have one more game left to play against each other, scheduled for this Wednesday at the same stadium in Ciego de Ávila. Should Las Tunas secure another win, they will even the season series at four victories each and extend their lead over their rival to three games at the top of the tournament. Left-hander Ariel Zerquera (7-2) from Sancti Spiritus, regarded as the leading pitcher in the current Elite League, faced difficulties against the Ciego de Ávila Tigers, allowing all six runs in the fifth inning after pitching four scoreless innings against the national champions. Zequera, who remains the leader in wins (7) for the III ELCB, experienced a decline in his tournament ERA, which is now 2.88 after 10 appearances. With a 2-0 advantage, the left-hander completely unraveled in the fifth inning. Consecutive hits by Jean L. Baldoquín and Lázaro Ponce, followed by a fielder's choice that got Ponce out at second, and a walk, loaded the bases. Shortstop Luis Pérez then hit a single to right, driving in the tying runs and leaving runners on the corners. A grounder by Yunieski Larduet, that resulted in Pérez being forced out at second, allowed the 3-2 run to score from third, giving Las Tunas a lead they maintained. A walk to Luis V. Mateo and a triple by Leonel Moas expanded the lead to 5-2, with Yosvani Alarcón's single concluding the sixth inning and sending Zerquera off the mound. Ciego took the lead in the bottom of the second inning with a hit by pitch, a walk, a sacrifice fly, and an infield grounder. They widened the gap in the fourth inning with Frederich Cepeda's 376th home run in National Series history, all off Mayabeque right-hander Albert Valladares (3-2). Nonetheless, after Las Tunas scored six runs in the fifth inning, putting Valladares on the road to victory, Valladares demonstrated some momentum by retiring the side in the bottom of that inning, facing the minimum number of batters. When the first three Las Tunas hitters reached base in the sixth inning, including Jonathan Bridón, whose RBI single narrowed Ciego's deficit to 6-3, the Las Tunas' manager remained patient and showed confidence in his starter by securing the first two outs of the inning, until he was replaced by right-hander Keniel Ferráz. Ferráz concluded the sixth inning by dominating the formidable Ronaldo Castillo, maintaining the score as it was. In the seventh inning, he allowed Ciego to score two runs, narrowing the score to a tight 6-5. Ferráz surrendered three hits during this inning, with Leo Escalante and Bridón each driving in a run. This was the last time Ciego scored in the game. In the eighth inning, Ferráz resumed pitching. Jorge Contreras started with a single, and a sacrifice fly advanced the runner to scoring position. However, Ferráz concluded the inning by getting Juan Onofre to pop up to center field. After intentionally walking the dangerous Rodolexis Moreno, Ferráz wrapped up his performance by striking out Greysón Bergery. Las Tunas secured the final score in the ninth inning by bringing in three runs. Ponce hit a single that drove in two runs, and an infield grounder added the third run. Wilson Paredes, took the mound in the ninth inning, gave up one hit, but struck out one batter to secure the win. Following Wednesday's game, Ciego de Ávila, having already secured a spot in the postseason, will wrap up its regular season in this III ELCB. Meanwhile, Las Tunas, also qualified, has eight games left: four against Santiago de Cuba at the Guillermón Moncada Stadium and another four against Granma at the Julio A. Mella Stadium. Santiago and Granma are the two teams still vying for the final postseason spot.

Jonathan Bridón hit two home runs for Ciego de Ávila in their 5-4 win over Las Tunas on Monday. (Photo by ACN) Jonathan Bridón's solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning was crucial in the Ciego de Ávila Tigers' narrow 5-4 win against the Las Tunas Lumberjacks at José R. Cepero Park in Ciego de Ávila on Monday afternoon. The home run ultimately clinched the game, granting the Ciego de Ávila Tigers their fourth victory in six games against the Las Tunas Tigers, ensuring at least a tie in the series between the two teams in this Third Cuban Elite Baseball League (III ELCB). In the seventh inning, Rodolexis Moreno hit a three-run home run off reliever Rubén Rodríguez (2-1), breaking a 1-1 tie and giving the Tigers a lead they maintained, as the opposing team couldn't recover on the scoreboard. Kevin Soto, the right-handed starting pitcher for Ciego de Ávila, pitched six solid innings, preserving a slim one-run lead thanks to Bridón's first of two home runs in the second inning off Las Tunas starter Cristian Rojas. However, in the seventh inning, the right-hander faced a rally from the Leñadores, who tied the game. Soto started the inning by giving up a single to Yosvani Alarcón, and after pitching to his brother, Yordanys Alarcón, a walk to Jean Lucas Baldoquín prompted manager Danny Miranda to turn to the bullpen. Soto exited the game after 6 1/3 innings, having allowed just three hits, with three strikeouts and two walks, but ended up with a no-decision. Reliever Yunier Batista (4-0) was unable to halt the national champions, as he gave up back-to-back singles to Leonel Moas and catcher Lázaro Ponce, with Ponce bringing in the tying run. After Moreno's home run in the seventh inning gave Ciego a 4-1 lead, Las Tunas responded in the eighth inning with two outs, scoring twice by stringing together three hits, including one from Baldoquín that brought in both runs. In the ninth inning, Batista encountered difficulties once more, beginning the inning by letting the first two batters get on base. Las Tunas nearly caught up by scoring a run on a passed ball with a runner on third, but the right-hander managed to avert the danger by getting Yordanys Alarcón out with two men on base, clinching the crucial win for the Tigres. Las Tunas left 10 runners on base. This victory marked Batista's fourth win in the III LEBC and also snapped the Ciego de Ávila team's three-game losing streak in the tournament. The win enabled Ciego de Ávila (23-15) to close in on Las Tunas (20-10), with two games left to be played between the teams.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Raisel Iglesias slammed the door on the Dodgers on Sunday night, working a scoreless ninth inning to preserve a one-run advantage. Iglesias had to tangle with the bottom of the Dodgers’ lineup this time and immediately made things interesting by allowing a leadoff single to Andy Pages. Pinch-runner Hyeseong Kim then swiped second base and advanced to third with one out as Drake Baldwin dropped the third strike to Will Smith and had to throw him out at first base. Not to worry though, as Iglesias rallied to punch out Miguel Rojas and then got Austin Barnes on a swinging third strike to end it. The 35-year-old hurler now holds a 4.85 ERA and a 15/2 K/BB ratio over 13 innings on the season to compliment his six saves. Randy Arozarena left yesterday's game due to a hamstring injury. Mariners manager Dan Wilson mentioned that Arozarena was taken out of Sunday's 8-1 defeat against the Rangers before the bottom of the sixth inning due to "a little bit of a hamstring issue," but assured that the injury is "nothing serious," according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. Arozarena, who began the game in left field, was replaced by Rhylan Thomas after hitting a single in his last at-bat, ending the day 1-for-3. Jude noted that Arozarena appeared to tweak his hamstring while rounding first base on the single, though he managed to remain in the game temporarily. By the time Arozarena was removed in the following half-inning, Seattle was trailing by five runs, which supports Wilson's suggestion that the outfielder's early departure was a precautionary measure. The Mariners are set to play again on Monday in Sacramento against the Athletics. Yandy Díaz returns to form with a game featuring multiple hits. Yandy Díaz snapped a 9 at-bat hitless streak by going 3-for-6 in the Rays' 7-5 victory over the Yankees. Díaz broke his hitless streak in the first inning with a single to right field off Will Warren and went on to gather two more hits. This marked his ninth multi-hit game of the season and his fourth with three hits. He is currently slashing .305/.382/.441 with a home run and 9 RBIs over his last 15 games. This is what the veteran Cuban infielder consistently provides at this level: year-round reliability. Yennier Cano was credited with the loss. In an 11-6 loss to the Royals on Sunday, Yennier Cano was credited with the defeat. Cano came in as a reliever during the seventh inning with the score tied at 5-5 and allowed solo home runs to Bobby Witt Jr. and Vince Pasquantino. Overall the reliever allowed three hits and two earned runs while striking out one batter. These were the first two runs Cano has allowed this season, who has now pitched 11 2/3 innings with a K:BB ratio of 10:1 and an ERA of 1.54. Edgar Quero secures the decisive run. The White Sox defeated the Astros 5-4 on Sunday in a rain-shortened game (7 innings), with Edgar Quero returning to the lineup and delivering the decisive RBI. In the sixth inning with two outs, Luis Robert Jr. tied the game with an RBI single, stole second base, and scored the go-ahead run on a single by Edgar Quero. Quero finished the game with another multi-hit performance, going 2-for-4 with the crucial RBI and a run scored. It was his fifth game with multiple hits out of 16 games this year. The talented 22-year old switch hitter is now slashing .340/.446/.404 with three doubles and 8 RBIs for the season. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on base again. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. did not get a hit in his three at-bats during Sunday's D-backs win 11-9 over the Phillies. Nonetheless, Gurriel reached base twice through walks, struck out once, and scored a run. In 2025, Gurriel has a batting line of .208/.238/.392, with 5 home runs and 18 RBIs for the D-backs. Luis Robert Jr. added two more steals. Luis Robert Jr. went 2-for-3 with two steals, an RBI, and a walk in Sunday's rain-shortened 5-4 win over the Astros. With two outs in the sixth inning, Luis Robert Jr. tied the game with an RBI single, then stole second base and scored the go-ahead run on Edgar Quero's single, leading the Chicago White Sox to a comeback victory over the Houston Astros. The White Sox center fielder surpassed Oneil Cruz to lead the MLB in stolen bases during this game, bringing his season total to 15. Robert stole second base in the first inning and added another steal in the sixth. The 27-year-old has been aggressive on the basepaths over his last eight games, successfully stealing 8 out of 9 attempts while hitting .345 (10-for-29). In 136 total plate appearances, Luis Robert has a slash line of .195/.313/.354 with five home runs, 19 runs scored, 15 RBIs, and a 20:43 BB:K ratio. The issues with Yariel Rodríguez persist. Yariel Rodríguez pitched 1 1/3 innings in relief during the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss to the Guardians on Sunday. He gave up one run, walked one batter, and struck out another, using 25 pitches for his outing. This was another subpar performance for the Cuban reliever, who has struggled to consistently deliver strong performances at the MLB level. Toronto could be a contender for the 2025 postseason, but they will need more from relievers like Yariel or might end up sending him to the Minors to address his issues before making a more drastic decision. José Iglesias hitless again. José Iglesias went hitless once more in Sunday's 4-0 victory over the Pirates. Iglesias finished the game 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. This marked his third consecutive game without a hit, extending his streak to 13 at-bats without a single. Iglesias began the season strongly for the Padres, posting a .286/.342/.343 slash line with 10 RBIs in April. However, he has not recorded any hits in May, bringing his batting line down to .241/.300/.289. Miguel Vargas contributes with a hit. Miguel Vargas went 1-for-4 in a 5-4 victory against the Astros on Sunday. Vargas has now recorded at least one hit in 11 of his last 13 games, raising his batting average to .220 (26-for-118) for the season. His offensive improvements have been attributed to a slight change in his batting stance. Marcus Thames, the hitting coach for the White Sox, assisted Vargas in adjusting his stance at the plate by raising his hands slightly for a better approach to pitches. Before this adjustment, Vargas was hitting .139/.236/.203, but he is now batting .314/.407/.471 with 2 home runs and 6 RBIs in his last 15 games. Adolis García achieves 400 RBIs in MLB. Adolis García ended an 11-at-bat hitless streak by going 2-for-4 during the Rangers' 8-1 victory over the Mariners on Sunday. He hit a single in his first at-bat during the second inning and later, with the bases loaded, delivered a two-RBI single in the third inning, a frame where the Rangers scored six runs. With these two RBIs, Adolis reached 400 and 401 at the MLB level. Jorge Soler went hitless. Jorge Soler had no hits in three at-bats during Sunday's 13-1 defeat to the Tigers by the Angels. He did manage to draw a walk. Recently, Soler has been hitting more consistently, recording hits in 20 of his last 28 games this season, with four of those being multi-hit games. The 33-year-old veteran still displays his power, having hit 6 home runs this year and needing just 3 more to reach 200 in his MLB career. Yosver Zulueta pitched a scoreless inning. In his second appearance since being recalled by the Reds on May 1, Yosver Zulueta pitched a scoreless inning. This was against the Nationals, finishing the ninth inning in a 4-1 defeat. Zulueta did not allow any walks and struck out one batter. Over two outings this year, he has a 3.86 ERA. Andy Pagés' hitless streak has been broken. Andy Pagés ended a 13 at-bat hitless streak during Sunday's 4-3 Dodgers loss to the Braves. Pagés had been hitless in 10 at-bats, and after going 0-for-3 with a strikeout in the game, he finally secured a single against fellow countryman Raisel Iglesias at the start of the ninth inning. His current batting average for May is .083, following a strong .325/.388/.597 in April. Hopefully, this single will get him back in track offensively. Yordan Álvarez remained absent from the Astros' lineup for Sunday's concluding game of the series against the White Sox. It's no shock that Alvarez was removed from Saturday’s lineup due to inflammation in his right hand. In addition, his condition was improving, and the player was feeling better but chose to rest the injury. The Astros are adopting a daily approach to his recovery and don't expect to require imaging. An update on his condition is likely to be available before Monday’s series opener in Milwaukee.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Randy Arozarena with two hits in Mariners victory over the Rangers. Randy Arozarena had a 2-for-4 performance in the Mariners' 2-1 victory over the Rangers. This raised his batting average to .221 (25-for-113) for the season, with 5 home runs and 18 RBIs. Over the last three games, Arozarena has achieved an impressive .444 batting average, hitting one home run and driving in one RBI. His on-base plus slugging (OPS) for these games stands at 1.306, surpassing his season OPS of .776. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hits a two-run home run Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 7-2 defeat against the Phillies. He provided the only two runs for the Diamondbacks with his two-run homer off Carlos Hernandez in the seventh inning. Gurriel has recorded two or more hits in three of his last four games, achieving 8-for-14 with three runs scored, one home run, and three RBI during that period. Over his last 15 games for the Diamondbacks, he is batting .274 with three home runs, seven runs scored, and 10 RBI. Yuli Gurriel chose free agency after declining an outright assignment to Triple-A Reno by the Padres. Yuli Gurriel is almost certainly going to be considering another minor league contract, but he'll explore his options and seek a situation that could lead to another MLB deal. At 40 years old, he's unlikely to find a strong market at this point. In 2025, his offensive stats are .111/.200/.139, with no home runs and 3 RBIs. Adolis García went without a hit once more. Adolis García failed to get a hit once more on Saturday in a 2-1 defeat against the Mariners, finishing 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Over his last four games, Adolis is 0-for-11. Despite hitting 4 home runs and driving in 15 RBIs, he has been struggling lately, posting a .193/.203/.333 slash line in his last 15 games. Yordan Álvarez was removed from Saturday's lineup due to inflammation in his right hand. Not ideal. Astros manager Joe Espada informed reporters that the decision to scratch Yordan before Saturday’s game against the White Sox was due to soreness following pregame batting practice. He mentioned that the key player in the lineup has been experiencing inflammation in his right hand over the past few days. It appears to be a precautionary measure, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Yordan undergoes imaging to rule out any serious issues. Cionel Pérez did not allow any runs on Saturday. Cionel Pérez took the mound on Saturday in the Orioles' 4-0 loss to Kansas City. He pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up one hit, walking one batter, and striking out another. This marked Cionel's twelfth appearance of the season, bringing his ERA down to a still poor 8.79. Cionel has given up 14 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings, and his strikeout-to-walk ratio remains unfavorable at 15:11. Interestingly, the Orioles have lost every game that Cionel has pitched. Yandy Díaz hitless again. Yandy Díaz went 0-for-3 once more in a 3-2 victory over the Yankees. He walked twice and struck out. Yandy is currently in a slump, with nine consecutive hitless at-bats. His last hit was a home run on May 1 during his first at-bat against Kansas City. After posting a respectable .279/.333/.433 with 3 home runs and 12 RBIs in April, he is now 1-for-10 with a .100/.308/.400 slash line, a home run, and one RBI in three games in May. Andy Pagés went hitless. Andy Pagés went hitless in five at-bats on Saturday during a 10-3 win over the Braves, striking out twice. He is currently on a 10 at-bat hitless streak with five strikeouts. Despite this, his season slash line remains solid at .269/.345/.481, with 6 home runs and 14 RBIs, putting him on track to surpass his personal bests of 13 home runs and 46 RBIs from last year. Luis Robert struck out four times on Saturday. During Saturday's 8-3 defeat against the Astros, Luis Robert Jr. went 0-for-4, striking out four times. Despite this poor performance, the Cuban outfielder has recently experienced an upswing in his offensive play. Over his last seven games, he is still hitting .308/.419/.692 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs. Miguel Vargas recorded one hit on Saturday. In Saturday's 8-3 defeat against the Astros, Miguel Vargas went 1-for-3. He walked, struck out, and scored a run. The Cuban third baseman continues to shift positions in the lineup, batting second on Saturday after hitting in the third spot the previous day. Short outing for Yariel Rodríguez. Yariel Rodríguez managed to secure one out on Saturday during Toronto's 5-3 loss to Cleveland, recording a strikeout. Many remain disappointed with Yariel's performance. Last year, he lost his place in the starting rotation after finishing with a 1-8 record and a 4.47 ERA. Starting the 2025 season in the bullpen, Yariel currently has a poor 5.54 ERA over 12 games, with an 11:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Edgar Quero took a break on Saturday. Edgar Quero was not included in the lineup for Saturday's game against Houston. After his performance on Friday, where he went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, Quero had a chance to rest.

The Las Tunas Lumberjacks achieved a shutout victory against the Ciego de Ávila Tigers today at José R. Cepero Stadium, bringing them within two full games of the lead in the Third Cuban Baseball Elite League (III LEBC). The Lumberjacks secured their second victory in five matchups against the Tigers, bringing them nearer to claiming a win in the head-to-head series between the two teams. This result is vital in the event of a tie during this qualifying round. The right-handed duo of Jesús E. Pérez (1-0) and Rodolfo Díaz (2) restricted the Ciego de Ávila team to only four hits, with two contributed by second baseman Jorge L. Contreras. In just his third start in this III LEBC, Pérez delivered a flawless performance against Ciego de Ávila, retiring all fifteen batters he faced over five innings, striking out three and allowing no walks. His outstanding effort secured him his first win of the tournament. Rodolfo Díaz backed up the perfect performance of starter Jesús E. Pérez to complete the 8-0 shutout of Ciego de Ávila. (Photo by Periódico26) To secure the victory and complete the shutout, Rodolfo Díaz's four-inning shutout relief, during which he allowed all of his opponents' hits, was crucial to the win, complemented by a Las Tunas offense that racked up 15 hits and scored eight runs. Interestingly, of the four hits Díaz allowed, three occurred in the sixth inning when the right-hander took the mound. Consecutive singles by Jorge Contreras, Josiel Mojena, and pinch-hitter Ronaldo Castillo loaded the bases with just one out, but Díaz, who already had a 4-0 lead, managed to retire the next three batters to maintain the lead, including getting Contreras out at the plate on a grounder by Greysón Bergery. This was the most perilous situation encountered by the pitching staff of the reigning Cuban national champions, as their offense gradually accumulated runs to clinch the win. In the first inning, against starter Leonardo Reyes (who replaced Luis A. Marrero before the game started), three consecutive hits, including an RBI from Luis V. Mateo, brought in the first run. The second run was scored in the third inning, following a walk to Héctor Castillo, a single by Yuniesky Larduet that advanced him to third, and a double play grounder by Yunier Rondón that allowed Castillo to score from third. In the fifth inning, a single by Larduet, coupled with an error and a sacrifice fly by Mateo, increased the lead to 3-0. In the next inning, a triple by Leonel Moas and a double by catcher Lázaro H. Ponce pushed the lead to 4-0, prompting the first reliever, Liomil González, to enter the game. In the seventh inning, Las Tunas combined four hits, including an RBI double by Yordanis Alarcón and an RBI single by Moas, with a walk and a sacrifice fly by Ponce, to extend their lead to 7-0. An inning later, a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Jean L. Baldoquín finalized the score. The win marked Las Tunas' 20th in 29 games, keeping them two games ahead of their rivals, Ciego de Ávila (22-15). The III ELCB has already seen three teams secure spots in the postseason: Las Tunas, Ciego de Ávila, and Industriales. The fourth spot is up for grabs between Santiago de Cuba (16-20) and Granma (15-21), who are currently in fourth and fifth place in the tournament, respectively.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Edgar Quero with multi-hit game. In a 7-3 victory over the Astros on Friday, Edgar Quero had a strong performance, going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, a run scored, and a walk. Since being promoted from the minor leagues two weeks ago, Edgar Quero has consistently performed well at the plate. His first-inning double against Framber Valdez put the White Sox ahead, a lead they maintained throughout the game. Quero currently boasts a .326 batting average and an .837 OPS over his initial 15 games in the major leagues. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with multi hit game. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had a successful game against the Phillies on Friday, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. The out was his most powerful hit; he drove Johan Rojas to the center field wall in a one-run game during the ninth inning, but Rojas managed to make the catch and was winded in the process. Despite this, it marked Gurriel’s first three-hit game of the season, raising his average above .200 for the first time in four weeks. Luis Robert Jr. hit another home run. Luis Robert Jr. went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks in Friday's 7-3 victory over the Astros. The home run was his 500th hit in the Majors and also marked the seventh consecutive game in which Robert has gotten a hit. During this period, he has gone 9-for-26 (.346) with three home runs, eight RBIs, seven runs scored, and six stolen bases out of eight attempts. This is a promising stretch for the outfielder, suggesting he is overcoming his early difficulties. Despite this, he is still batting just .189 with a .668 OPS, five home runs, 13 steals, 14 RBIs, and 17 runs scored over 30 games this season. Robert's career high in steals is 23, achieved last year. He could surpass that record if he remains healthy and continues to draw walks frequently. José Iglesias hitless on Friday. José Iglesias went 0-for-4 in the Padres' 9-4 victory over the Pirates on Friday. Despite maintaining a decent slash line of .263/.325/.316 this season, he is currently experiencing a rough patch, going 5-for-22 in his last seven games with no home runs and 4 RBIs. The veteran Iglesias was a crucial player for the Mets in 2024, and the Padres believe that a player of his caliber is essential for a team that has faced challenges despite having numerous superstar talents in recent seasons. Randy Arozarena hits his seventh double of the season. Randy Arozarena had a successful game on Friday, going 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and a walk in the 13-1 victory over the Rangers. Although his strikeout rate of 28.9 percent isn't perfect, he has still managed to provide solid contributions with a .211/.363/.413 slash line, 18 RBIs, 16 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in his first 135 plate appearances this season. Yordan Álvarez did not get any hits. Yordan Álvarez went hitless in four at-bats, including a strikeout, during a 7-3 defeat against the White Sox on Friday. In April, Yordan demonstrated some progress with 3 home runs and 16 RBIs, achieving a slash line of .238/.327/.381. However, his power remains lacking, so May should be a month where he begins to perform better and gains momentum heading into the summer. Miguel Vargas's hitting streak has come to an end. Miguel Vargas had his 8-game hitting streak snapped on Friday during the White Sox's 7-3 victory over the Astros. Vargas went 0-for-3 but managed a walk and scored a run. He also executed an outstanding play at third base. Recently, the third baseman has improved his offensive performance, going 10-for-25 in his last seven games, with a home run and 5 RBIs. However, maintaining consistency will be crucial for his success at this level. At 25, this season is essential for Vargas to prove that his talent is suited for the Majors, which remains to be seen. Adolis García with no hits Friday. Adolis García went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in Friday's 13-1 defeat against the Mariners. He was substituted during the game. García had multiple hits in two of his last four games but is now 0-for-7 in the past three games. He's eager to move past April; Adolis hit .204/.250/.312 over 25 games in April and was recently moved to seventh in the batting order. However, he is starting May on the wrong foot, going 0-for-5 with a strikeout. Yenier Cano secures another hold. Yenier Cano secured his seventh hold of the season by delivering a scoreless inning in a 3-0 win over Kansas City. During his outing, Cano gave up a single and struck out one batter. His ERA remains untouched after 10 2/3 innings, with 9 strikeouts and a 0.94 WHIP across 12 games for the Orioles. Jorge Soler was hitless against the Tigers on Friday. Jorge Soler went 0-for-4 in a 9-1 loss to the Tigers on Friday, striking out once. Although Soler is known for his tremendous power at the plate, he continues to provide the same value as in his previous years in the Majors. His Batting Run Value (76) for the year is above average, but he still faces challenges when we look at his K% (9) and BB% (21), both parameters hovering near the lower end. With six homers already this year, his bat is expected to heat up during the summer, though predicting a 30+ homer season for the veteran player remains challenging. Adrián Morejón pitched a scoreless inning. Reliever Adrián Morejón pitched a scoreless inning during Friday's 9-4 victory over the Pirates. Morejón gave up a single and recorded neither strikeouts nor walks. The left-hander is enjoying an excellent season with a 1.65 ERA over 16 games, demonstrating a 13:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio, along with 4 holds and two save opportunities, converting one. Yandy Díaz hitless against the Yankees. Yandy Díaz went 0-for-3 with a strikeout against the Yankees. It was a challenging night for the Tampa hitters, as they faced Max Fried, currently the hottest pitcher in baseball. Tampa managed only one single in the game. With a .276/.348/.414 slash line over his last 15 games, along with a homer and 8 RBIs, the Cuban infielder is on a promising path after experiencing a decline in form in 2024 following his standout 2023 season, where he hit 22 homers, drove in 78 RBIs, and had a .330 batting average. Ernesto Martínez Jr. sustained an injury with Triple-A Nashville. Ernesto Martínez Jr. began the season with a .303/.390/.485 performance for Nashville before an injury on April 22, positioning him as a potential candidate to eventually replace Jake Bauers in Milwaukee. However, Bauers has been performing well in his part-time role, and although Martínez might be stronger offensively, he lacks Bauers' versatility in the outfield.

The Third Elite League of Cuban Baseball (III ELCB) wrapped up its regular season with three games on the final day. Industriales clinched a 3-2 win against Ciego de Ávila, virtually guaranteeing their third-place finish in the regular season. In contrast, Pinar del Río lost to Santiago de Cuba 14-6, thereby knocking themselves out of the postseason contention. Granma kept its hopes alive for the last postseason spot in this III ELCB by defeating the leader Las Tunas 6-3, maintaining its competition with Santiago de Cuba. Industriales 3, Ciego de Ávila 2 One inning was sufficient for Industriales to secure a 3-2 victory over Ciego de Ávila in a game played this Thursday at Latinoamericano Park in Havana, compelling Santiago de Cuba to win all four remaining games to contend for third place in the race to the III ELCB postseason. Should Santiago win all four, Industriales would end up in fourth place in the qualifying stage. Although the series between the two teams was tied with four wins each, as clarified by our colleague Yirsandy Rodríguez, the TQB (+0.113) does not favor the capital team, as they have fewer runs scored between them (59-56). Rookie Dayron Miranda drove in two of Industriales' three runs against Ciego de Ávila this Friday. (Photo by Boris Luis Cabrera) In today's game, during the first inning after starter Kevin Soto left due to illness and with two outs, José I. Grandales struggled to stop a streak of four hits. This included a single by Denis Laza, doubles by Roque Tomás and rookie Dayron Miranda, with Miranda driving in the game's first two runs, while a single by Yasiel Santoya added the third. That was all the Blues managed to produce, and even though they got four more hits off Grandales and drew two walks, they couldn't score again in the next three innings he pitched. However, they didn't need more. Industriales starter Leodán Reyes (2-0) and two relievers combined efforts to limit the Ciego de Ávila team to two runs and eight hits, overcoming situations that could have led to more runs. A similar scenario unfolded in the fourth inning when Ciego had two hits and runners positioned at the corners with two outs, but Reyes ended the threat by striking out Alfredo Ramos. An inning later, the Tigers scored their two runs after Reyes got into trouble by hitting a batter and issuing a walk; a grounder advanced the runners, and a passed ball brought in the first run. The second run came on Frederich Cepeda's RBI single to right. That was Reyes' final inning, ending with five hits allowed for two runs – one earned – with six strikeouts and two walks. In relief, right-hander Fher Cejas excelled, allowing two hits over three innings with four strikeouts and no walks. Cejas overcame his only challenging moment in the seventh inning when, with one out, Rodolexis Moreno singled to left and stole second, putting the tying run 180 feet from home. However, the Azul reliever struck out shortstop Greysón Bergery and then got the dangerous Leo Escalante to ground out. In the ninth inning, closer Armando Dueñas Jr. (7) began by giving up a single to Ronaldo Castillo to center field. However, he stayed calm and retired the next three batters, securing the win and earning his seventh save of the tournament. The save places him alongside José A. García from Pinar del Río as the leader in that category. Yoelkis Guibert continues his unstoppable offensive streak, hitting two home runs in one inning today against Pinar del Río, bringing his total to 10 in the III ELCB. (Photo by Radio Bayamo) Santiago de Cuba 14, Pinar del Río 6 A huge nine-run fifth inning allowed Santiago de Cuba to secure a 14-6 victory over Pinar del Río at Guillermón Moncada Park. This crucial win is significant for the eastern team as they continue to compete for the final postseason spot in the III ELCB. Conversely, the defeat eliminated Vegueros, led by coach Alexander Urquiola, from any chance of securing the last qualifying position. It was a day to forget for the Vegueros' pitching staff, who, despite an early 4-0 lead in the first inning after crushing veteran starter Danny Betancourt, failed to maintain their lead and ended up conceding 14 runs—10 of them earned—including the disastrous fifth inning that sealed the game. During that inning, four Pinar del Río pitchers attempted to halt an offense that delivered six hits, including four extra-base hits with two home runs by Yoelkis Guibert—now the tournament leader with 10—and one by Eduardo García, who ultimately drove in three runs to solidify his RBI lead with 43. For Santiago, right-hander Yosiel Serrano (1-0) came in during the first inning to relieve Betancourt and completed six solid innings, conceding the other two Pinar del Río runs with 7 hits, 3 strikeouts, and two walks, securing his first win of the season. The victory gives the Santiago team a strong chance of advancing to the postseason in a tight race with Granma, and the four remaining games on the schedule, all against Las Tunas, will be crucial. With a great effort, right-hander Sammy Benítez kept Granma's hopes of advancing to the III ELCB postseason alive. (Photo by Radio Bayamo) Granma 6, Las Tunas 3 Granma managed to hold their ground against Santiago de Cuba in the race for the final postseason spot, defeating Las Tunas 6-3 at Mártires de Barbados Stadium. Right-hander Sammy E. Benítez (4-2) delivered an impressive performance, keeping the Leñadores scoreless for seven consecutive innings and perhaps should not have started in the eighth. Through seven innings, Benítez gave up only five hits, recorded two strikeouts, and issued two walks. However, in the eighth inning, he allowed three consecutive hits, including a two-run double by Yunier Rondón, which led to his departure from the game. Ultimately, Benítez allowed three earned runs, but a nearly flawless relief effort by Juan D. Pérez (1), who issued just one walk over two innings, secured the win, his fourth of the season. Benítez received backing from an offensive surge that clinched the game in the initial third. Facing starter and losing pitcher Raidel Alfonso (1-1), Andrés de la Cruz and Osvaldo Abreu opened the first inning with singles, and a hit by pitch to Alexander Pozo loaded the bases. Yordanis Samón brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly to right. Although there was potential for more runs, Alfonso regained his composure, helped by his catcher who caught Pozo trying to steal. In the third inning, Alfonso's fortune changed. Abreu hit a single, Pozo was walked, and after two outs, Andy Cosme, Alexquemer Sánchez, and Pedro Almeida each hit consecutive singles, bringing in three runs and extending the lead to 4-0, which secured the victory. Almeida's hit resulted in Alfonso's departure, who concluded with 2 2/3 innings pitched, allowing seven hits and five earned runs, along with two strikeouts and two walks. Granma scored an additional run in the inning due to a wild pitch and another in the eighth inning to complete the scoring. Despite the defeat, Las Tunas kept its lead in this III ELCB. Meanwhile, the win moved Granma (15-21) to within one game of Santiago de Cuba (16-20), as both teams are set to compete in a decisive series of four games against Las Tunas.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Yandy Díaz hit a solo home run in Thursday's loss to the Royals. Yandy Díaz began the game with a solo home run against Seth Lugo. After a challenging start to the season, he's improving his batting performance, bringing his stats to a decent — though not yet ideal for the team — .254/.299/.413 slash line. He's finding his rhythm at the plate following a slow beginning to the year, going 15-for-44 with just four strikeouts over his last 11 games. Jorge Soler hits another home run on Thursday. Jorge Soler went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's defeat against the Tigers. Soler's two-run shot in the third inning gave the Angels an early advantage, but a late bullpen collapse resulted in the team's sixth consecutive loss. Soler started May as he ended April, with a home run, and he has now driven in at least one run in three straight games. However, the veteran slugger has not had a multi-hit performance in 13 consecutive games and is hitting just .180 with a 28.8 percent strikeout rate during this period. Miguel Vargas hits a three-run home run. Miguel Vargas went 1-for-3 with a walk and a three-run homer in Thursday's 8-0 victory over the Brewers. Vargas increased the White Sox's lead to four runs in the sixth inning with a three-run homer to left field off Craig Yoho. Vargas began with a .139/.236/.203 slash line in 89 plate appearances. However, he has recently improved and is currently on an eight-game hitting streak, going 13-for-29 with four walks, five runs scored, two home runs, and six RBI during this period. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. contributes with a hit. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. recorded one hit in four at-bats and struck out once during the D-backs' 4-2 victory over the Mets. Gurriel has encountered difficulties this season, and following his recent performance of 6-for-27 (.222) with only one RBI in the last seven games, he might take a break. Since the season began, Gurriel's struggles continue, with a current batting average of just .183 and a .205 OBP. Despite hitting four home runs and driving in 15 runs, his inconsistent contact and production make his spot in the regular lineup uncertain. Edgar Quero recorded one hit. In Thursday's 8-0 victory over the Brewers, Edgar Quero went 1-for-4, scored a run, and struck out. He returned to the lineup after a day off on Wednesday. This season, across 14 games, he is slashing .300/.417/.350 with 5 RBIs, but his power is lacking, as he has only two doubles and no home runs. Adolis García went hitless. Adolis García went 0-for-3 in Thursday's 3-0 defeat against the A's. This year, Adolis has a batting line of .218/.275/.391, with just 4 home runs, 15 RBIs, and 4 stolen bases. The 32-year-old power-hitting corner outfielder is still likely to surpass 25 home runs, but reaching double-digit steals may become less frequent as he nears his mid-30s. Luis Robert Jr. contributes four RBIs and a stolen base in the victory. In Thursday's 8-0 win against Milwaukee, Luis Robert Jr. recorded two hits in four at-bats, drove in four runs, and stole a base. Robert opened the scoring for the White Sox in the first inning with an RBI single to left field and then stole second base in the subsequent at-bat. He added three more runs in the seventh inning with a bases-clearing double to center field, marking the seventh occasion in his career with four RBI in a single game. Robert has accumulated 13 stolen bases this season (seven in his last five games), leading the American League and tying with Elly De La Cruz for the most in the majors. He is currently on a six-game hitting streak, going 8-for-24 (.333) with four walks, six runs scored, two home runs, and seven RBI during this period. The Reds have called up right-handed pitcher Yosver Zulueta from Triple-A Louisville. Yosver Zulueta is set to join Cincinnati's bullpen after recording a 5.79 ERA with a 10/5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 9 1/3 innings for Louisville. The former Blue Jays prospect posted a 4.96 RA over 16 1/3 innings with the Reds during his MLB debut last season.

The Leñadores tallied 22 runs in Wednesday's doubleheader against Granma, clinching their playoff spot. It remains uncertain if they will maintain their lead. Industriales came back from a 4-0 deficit to also secure a postseason position, while the Wasps showcased their powerful offense. Discover all the details in our game-by-game recap!   Industriales 5, Ciego de Ávila 4 Ariel Sánchez delivered a crucial double, Raymond Figueredo pitched for seven innings, and the Lions secured a 5-4 victory in the second game of a doubleheader against the Tigers at Estadio Latinoamericano. The Blues' 19th win ensured their spot in the postseason of the III Cuban Elite Baseball League. The Tigers jumped to a 4-0 lead following a three-run burst in the first inning. Successive singles by Josiel Mogena, Jonathan Bridón, and Fernando De La Paz put pressure on Figueredo. However, manager Guillermo Carmona kept his faith in him. Just as it appeared Raymond was regaining control, the Tigers scored their fourth run in the top of the fourth inning, thanks to a double play grounder by Jorge Luis Contreras, the standout player of the day's first game. With left-hander Álex Guerra pitching, the lead became secure. Guerra induced a double play in the third inning off Denis Laza, marking his third straight scoreless inning. However, he faced challenges against the Blues' 4-5-6 hitters. Yasmani Tomás began the fourth with a single to center, and Dayron Miranda followed with a two-run homer, narrowing the gap to 4-2. Yasiel Santoya, who had been 3-for-22 in his last 30 plate appearances at the start of this series, hit a shot to center. Guerra let out a sigh when Roberto Álvarez popped out, but then Pedro Roque hit a grounder to the left. Guerra staying on the mound made sense, as the Tigers were ahead by two runs. However, the left-hander from Sancti Spiritus couldn't finish the task. Yuri Fernández hit another single to left, loading the bases. If the baserunner hadn't been Santoya, the Blues might have narrowed the score with two outs. The bases were loaded as veteran Ariel Sánchez approached the plate, marking the game's pivotal moment. The left-hander vs. left-hander matchup ensured Guerra remained on the mound. Ariel had previously reached base twice against Guerra, once via a hit-by-pitch and then with a single to left. Historically, Álex had dominated Ariel in seven out of nine encounters. However, this time was different. Ariel Sánchez hit a double to left that cleared the bases, giving the Lions a 5-4 lead. The decisive moment came with a five-run rally. After that, the Tigers managed only 2 hits in 10 at-bats against Raymond Figueredo, with no baserunners advancing to scoring position. This win ensured the Blues of the Capital clinched their playoff spot, likely setting up a matchup against the team in second place in the standings.   Las Tunas has been a nightmare for the Granma Alazanes. (Photo by István Ojeda/Las Tunas Newspaper) Las Tunas 9, Granma 8 (extra innings) Alexquemer Sánchez hit an infield single to shortstop, allowing the Alazanes to tie the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth inning. However, the excitement at Mártires de Barbados Stadium was brief. In the top of the eighth of extra innings, Yordanis Alarcón quieted the fans with a three-run homer against reliever Yanielquis Duardo. After left-hander Geiler Gracial pitched five innings, Duardo took over for the remainder of the game. The five-inning relief pitch was more than usual for Duardo, who typically doesn't pitch beyond two innings or around 35 pitches. Although he hadn't pitched since last Sunday, he ended up throwing 61 pitches and, at the critical moment, couldn't hold back the Leñadores. Granma tried to equalize the score with singles from Osvaldo Abreu (who went 4-for-4 and brought in four runs) and Andrés De La Cruz. However, Julio Figueredo and Dairon Blanco grounded out, leaving the potential tying run and the lead on bases. Right-hander Rodolfo Díaz pitched 4 ⅔ innings and secured the win, even though he gave up four unearned runs.   Santiago de Cuba 9, Pinar del Río 2 Fueled by an 11-hit offense, which featured five doubles and a home run from Eduardo García, two four-run rallies led the Wasps to a 9-2 win. This victory sustains Santiago de Cuba's chances of qualifying, as they aim to even the series with the Vegueros. Tailon Sánchez hit a home run against left-hander Islay Sotolongo, giving Pinar del Río an early 2-0 advantage in the top of the third inning. However, right-hander Mario Luis Valle's control didn't last long. The Wasps scored once in the third and then mounted a four-run rally in the fourth. All the runs were scored after two outs. Maikol Poll started with a double, Francisco "Paky" Martínez drew a walk, and following the fourth wild pitch, Poll advanced to third. Jeison Martínez hit a single to left, tying the game, and an error by the left fielder allowed Paky Martínez to score. José Antonio Sánchez replaced Valle (3-4), and after intentionally walking Guibert, Eduardo García hit a line-drive double to right field, clearing the bases. Eduardo García delivered the decisive hit during his next at-bat, launching a grand slam off Sánchez in the bottom of the sixth inning. This swing allowed García to match Guibert in home runs (both have eight, equaling the Elite League record) and regain the lead in RBIs with a total of 40. After giving up two runs in the third inning, Sotolongo (1-1) delivered four consecutive scoreless innings and, despite facing challenges with his command, completed seven innings to secure his first win in this Elite League. The action will continue next Friday, with Granma, Pinar del Río, and Santiago de Cuba needing victories to remain in the hunt for a postseason spot.