This weekend’s top matchup in the Spanish Division de Honor involves the FC Barcelona and the Astros Valencia. The Catalonian is coming fresh from two statement wins in Tenerife against reigning champions Marlins. The Astros, which had won just one game in the past two years, is currently in third place in the standings with a 4-2 record thanks to a heavily improved team.
In game one of the doubleheader it is going to be interesting if Jason Friedman remains the first option for Barcelona after two impressive starts or if Delio Miguel Martinez, who made his first appearance in relief last week, gets the nod. Valencia’s number one starter is a no-brainer, as USC alumni John Scott Dunn is 3-0 with an ERA of 2.35 so far. In the second part Pedro Belmonte takes the mound for Barca and we would guess that Jordi Valles returns to a starting role for the Astros after Jorge Gomez got hit hard last weekend.
Already on Saturday, as the live-play-by-play matchup on the RFEBS website, Baseball Navarra hosts the Marlins, which are eager to return to the winning lane. The local rivalry between CB Viladecans and the undefeated leaders CB Sant Boi will be split over both days. After a tough schedule at the start of the season San Inazio Bilbao hopes to make up ground at home against CD Pamplona on Sunday. The only winless team in Spain, El Llano, takes on Halcones de Vigo.
Schedule Week 4:
Saturday, March 20:
12.00 Baseball Navarra – Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz (DH)
13.00 El Llano – Halcones de Vigo (DH)
18.00 CB Viladecans – CB Sant Boi
Sunday, March 21:
11.00 San Inazio Bilbao – CD Pamplona (DH)
11.00 CB Viladecans – CB Sant Boi
11.30 FC Barcelona – Astros Valencia (DH)
(DH)…doubleheader
Standings Division de Honor:
- CB Sant Boi 6-0
- FC Barcelona 4-0
- Astros Valencia 4-2
- Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz 4-2
- Baseball Navarra 3-3
- CD Pamplona 3-3
- CB Viladecans 2-4
- Halcones de Vigo 1-3
- San Inazio Bilbao 1-5
- El Llano 0-6
Photo: © Diego Lazaro