Artemisa vs Matanzas: Three key questions for Game 1 of the Final Series

Artemisa Hunters or Matanzas Crocodiles? Who will be the new champion of the Cuban Elite Baseball League? We have a best-of-seven series to find answers. But first, there are some key questions you're probably trying to answer. Here I have some perspectives before playball!

1. Will we again see a series with greater impact for hitters?

What I'm thinking: I think it's almost certain, but not at the level of both teams like it was during the regular season. Let's start by remembering several interesting notes that were recorded in the eight-game series between Matanzas and Artemisa during the regular season: 12.6 runs were scored per game, and the offense recorded .806 OPS, which indicates an OPS+ of 107 compared to the league average.

Yes, the pitching was literally bombed. The starters pitched to a 4.73 ERA with 4 ¹/₃ innings of durability, and the relievers got the worst of it, allowing a 5.76 ERA. Of course, there were exceptions such as the performances of Erlys Casanova (he shut out Matanzas in seven innings), José Ignacio Bermúdez (he threw a five-inning shutout and earned a victory) and Yoel Mogena, among the most outstanding pitchers for both teams. These were the final results of each game:

1. MTZ 7, ART 6

2. MTZ 0, ART 10

3. MTZ 12, ART 15

4. MTZ 5, ART 3

5. ART 9, MTZ 14

6. ART 5, MTZ 2

7. ART 2, MTZ 5

8. ART 5, MTZ 1

As you can see, even though the offense made itself felt, there were four games where the winner scored a maximum of five runs, and the impact of the pitching was more notable. The Hunters' offense led in runs scored 55-46, but the most striking trend was the production of 13 home runs, while the Crocodiles hit only four.

If we were guided by those numbers, and if what happened in the regular season was really decisive, we should offer the offensive advantage to the Hunters. However, we know that the story in the playoffs is usually very different: the Crocodiles of Matanzas will have an offensive version that has hit 13 home runs in six games against the Lumberjacks. While the Hunters scored an average of 5.0 runs against the Lions' poor pitching, Matanzas bombed the Lumberjacks with 7.7. Obviously, home runs do not decide every game, but the frequency produced by the Crocodiles creates a latent danger against each pitcher. We'll see what happens.

2. Can offensive power become a key factor?

What I'm thinking: I have no doubts!