Mexico City Diablos Rojos looking for third consecutive LMB title
The Mexico City Diablos Rojos will host the Puebla Pericos at the Alfredo Harp Helù Stadium, the home of the Baseball Champions League 2026, at 20:00 (local time) on Thursday, April 16, for the Mexican Baseball League (LMB) 2026 opening game. Friday, April 17, will be the first full day of competition, with the 20 teams taking the field.
The 20 teams, split into the Northern and Southern Divisions, will compete in a 93-game regular season through August 6. Monterrey will host the All-Star Game at Walmart Park from June 26 to 28.
The top six finishers of each Division will advance to the postseason. The best-of-seven final series, or Serie del Rey, will start on September 9.
The full schedule
Mexico City is the two-time defending champion and remains the favourite. Their biggest asset is the middle of the batting order with WBSC Premier12 star Julian Ornelas and former Major League Baseball (MLB) superstar and 2013 World Baseball Classic winner Robinson Cano representing the main threats. Venezuelan right-hander Ricardo Pinto is the ace of a deep pitching staff, which includes former Big Leaguers Humberto Castellanos and James Kaprelian, and has its bullpen as the main weapon. Japanese left-hander Tomohiro Anraku had 22 saves in 2025. Nick Vespi is another left-hander who can provide some heat out of the bullpen.
The Yucatan Leones may prove to be the Diablos Rojos' strongest contender in the Southern Division. First-year manager Sergio Gastéleum will count on a pitching staff responding to the team's definition of Artistas del Picheo (pitching artists). Cuban right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne is 39, and LMB legend Yoanner Negrin is 41 but still among the top arms in the league. César Valdez has represented the Dominican Republic in two World Baseball Classics. Yucatan also relies on former Major Leaguer Dario Agrazal. WBSC Premier12 Cuban veteran Yadir Drake will provide power in the middle of the batting order.
According to the Mexican press, the Tijuana Toros are the team to beat in the Northern Division. First-year manager and former MLB All-Star Roberto Kelly will count on a veteran pitching staff, including starters David Reyes, Jorge Perez and added Canadian Noah Skirrow and former Big Leaguer Zac Lowther. Dominican right-hander Domingo German is the pitcher who threw the most recent MLB perfect game on June 28, 2023. Sam McWilliams is projected as the closer.
Tijuana added to stellar third baseman Hernan Perez, who posted a .312 batting average with 19 home runs in 2025, a power bat of the calibre of former MLB superstar Justin Turner.
Monclova Acereros confirmed manager Juan Gabriel Castro, who won 23 of the last 37 regular season games in 2025. They look like the Toros' main competitor in the Northern Division.
Monclova brought Dominican slugger Ramon Hernandez back from the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Venezuelan second baseman Josè Peraza and shortstop Alan Trejo, who will make his LMB debut, add MLB experience to the infield. Big Leaguer Luis Gonzalez will bring his left-handed power to the outfield, which also counts on LMB 2025 Rookie of the Year Juan Mora. Wilmer Rios, the LMB 2025 pitcher of the year, will be the ace of the staff.