Despaigne will open for Yucatán

Every game left in the regular season is like a Game 7 for the Yucatan Lions, and Odrisamer Despaigne knows it.

The Cuban may have the opportunity today to erase some of the difficulties that have plagued his 2025 season with the Veracruz Eagles, by starting the second game of a vital series for both his team and the Veracruz Eagles.

Despaigne hasn't had it all. The numbers speak for themselves: a 3-5 record and an 8.71 ERA, which isn't encouraging for either him or the team. His opponent on the mound will be Dominican Dinelson Lamet, who has a 6-5 record, a 5.20 ERA, and has struck out 82, placing him among the best in the latter category.

The Lions, who were managed for the first time yesterday by Venezuelan Eliézer Alfonzo, need Despaigne to walk at least five innings to minimize the use of their battered bullpen.

The León bullpen, incidentally, received two relievers labeled as closers during the LMB's final trade window. They had already announced Jake Sánchez, protected a few days earlier, and on Monday they acquired Héctor Pérez, in a deal that brought Yucatecan Saúl Vázquez to Caliente de Durango.

Vázquez, according to the numbers, was one of the best-looking players in the bullpen before, for some reason, he was discontinued and deactivated from the roster. The reason(s) for his departure have not been officially announced. He posted a 2-0 record, with a 4.96 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings.— Gaspar Silveira