Stretch Run for Cuban Baseball Playoff Spots

Industriales fans are gearing up for the playoffs if their team wins two or three of their final six games.
Industriales fans are hoping their team can hang on to fourth place and a ticket to the playoffs.

HAVANA TIMES — With six games left in the regular Cuban baseball season six teams still have a chance to obtain one of the four playoff spots.

Matanzas, on top of the league for most of the year is cruising with a 51-30 record, followed by the red hot Ciego de Avila and Granma (48-33) at three games back.

In fourth place, after a four-game winning streak, is the capital’s Industriales (46-35), five games back from the leader.

Isla de la Juventud and Pinar del Rio (last season’s league champs) are tied for fifth with identical 43-38 records, eight games back. Either team will need a near perfect final run plus some luck to catch Industriales.

The two teams without a chance to make the playoffs are Artemisa (38-43) and Holguin (35-46).

The three game series starting today through Sunday have: Isla de la Juventud hosting Holguin; Industriales hosts Granma; Matanzas travels to Artemisa, and Pinar del Rio welcomes Ciego de Avila.

The final series of the season takes place from next Tuesday-Thursday. Artemisa hosts Pinar del Rio; Industriales hosts Isla de la Juventud; Ciego de Avila hosts Matanzas, and Holguin hosts Granma.

The playoffs are tentatively scheduled to run from March 24 to April 12.