Splitting series against Granma and Santiago de Cuba—both teams with the potential to advance to the next stage—can be considered a solid result for the Holguin “Cubs” in the first eight games of the 65th National Baseball Series.
A record of four wins and four losses shows that realizing their goal of reaching the postseason in the highly competitive eastern division will be no easy task. Nevertheless, the squad managed by Lugdis Pineda has distinguished itself through its commitment and team cohesion in every matchup.
At this stage of the championship, the Holguin team’s defense and offense—both performing above the tournament average—stand out. However, the pitching staff shows concerning gaps that could hinder their chances of securing one of the four playoff spots.
The hitters from the northeastern province have posted a collective batting average of .316. Including 26 extra-base hits (14 of which are home runs) and 102 RBIs—figures that place them among the top five teams in the series in each of these categories.
Moreover the defense has been exceptional, boasting a stellar .984 fielding percentage with only five errors across eight games—averaging less than one error per contest. This provides a significant boost in confidence for a pitching staff that has had a shaky start to the competition.
The weakest link for the Cubs so far has been their pitching staff. Which currently holds a 6.94 team earned run average (ERA) while allowing opponents to bat .314. A performance that falls short of the team’s true potential. This lackluster performance persists when evaluating starters and relievers separately: the former have posted a 6.81 ERA with only two quality starts. While the latter have recorded a 7.09 ERA and just one save.
Maintaining consistency at the plate and reliability in the field—along with a positive turnaround in pitching—will be key for the Holguin “Cubs” to stay on course in their pursuit of a coveted postseason berth. Their next challenge begins this Wednesday against the Guantanamo “Indios” (Indians) at the Nguyen Van Troi Stadium in the city of Guantanamo.
With information from CNA
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