The Spanish Division de Honor is on their way to a pretty interesting season. Four clubs, MARLINS, SANT BOI, BARCELONA and EL LLANO separated themselves a bit from the pack. However also the newly formed NAVARRA showed some good games.
This week the 2007 champion PUERTO CRUZ (4-2) is travelling to SANT BOI (5-1) for a duel between second and fourth. The MARLINS already have lost two games, both in extra-innings. Leslie Nacar (ERA 0.72, 25 IP, 27 SO) and Ivan Granados (ERA 1.73, 26 IP, 38 SO) are going to start. SANT BOI lost their first game of the season last weekend, getting pounded 3-13 by NAVARRA. Yoel Hernandez, who had missed his last start, is also questionable for Sunday. The teams hope that he can pitch against his former club, but it is not sure. Albert Vargas (3-0, ERA 0.36, 25 IP, 24 SO) will square off with Nacar in game one.
The other 5-1 club EL LLANO hosts BASEBALL NAVARRA (2-2) in Gijon. There is some uncertainty in EL LLANO about the second starter. Elvis Polanco (ERA 3.72) got the call on opening day, but was replaced by Fidel Torres Mane (ERA 2.20) in the following two starts. Miguel Rizo (3-0, ERA 1.71) is set for game one. NVARRA counters with German Arroyo (ERA 4.35) and Alberto Espanol (ERA 6.00), who both struggled at the beginning of the season.
BARCELONA faces the ASTROS without the injured infielder Sergio Roman and left-handed pitcher Jordi Valles. Homer Baez (7 IP, 6 SO) and rubber arm Remigio Leal (last week: 11.1 IP in two games) will start. VALENCIA maybe switches the pitcher in game one, after two bad appearances by Edgar Aineto (0-2, ERA 11.12). Norman Cowes (ERA 4.50, 10 IP, 11 SO) is the second starter.
CB VILADECANS hopes for their first victory of the season on the road against CD PAMPLONA. Both teams had massive problems defensive wise, combining for 30 errors in ten games. SAN INAZIO BILBAO got the bye in week four.
Schedule for week four:
{mrb-schedule:2008-04-19|2008-04-20|ES}
Complete Results
{mrb-standing:spain-2008}