Havana, June 3 (RHC)- The leader Santiago de Cuba will seek to increase the half-game lead that separates it from Las Tunas, when the antepenultimate sub-series of the Cuban baseball tournament begins today.

The Avispas will host at the Guillermón Moncada Park the representative team of Isla de la Juventud, which they dominate in the historical matchup by 112 wins against 52.

Las Tunas have five wins and the same number of losses in their last ten games, while the Piratas de La Isla have only won two games during the same period, a result that keeps them out of the classification zone.

Las Tunas, which has the best winning streak of the moment with eight wins, will face Pinar del Río, one of the most historic teams in the island's baseball.

The two teams have met 149 times and the Vegueros have a 79-70 advantage, but their recent 4-6 performance obliges them to improve their performance to stop the momentum of the Leñadores.

In the central city of Santa Clara there will be a duel of utmost importance for Mayabeque and Villa Clara, since the former have six losses in a row and the latter remain slightly below the qualification zone.

The Leopards of Ramón Moré, mentor who led the villaclareños to their last national title in 2013, are ahead in the historical balance (25-15), but in recent years the Hurricanes have shown greater strength in the particular subseries.

One team that should take advantage of the next five games is Industriales, as it will face Cienfuegos, a team that is almost out of playoff options as it is in 15th place. The Leones are 170-97 in the lifetime standings.

The team from the Cuban capital is in ninth place, just one point behind Holguín in terms of win-loss average, although both are four points behind the Avispas. Holguin's own Cachorros will have a battle against Sancti Spíritus, which could not only define the fate of both with a view to the quarterfinals, but is tied at 111 wins apiece.

The Gallos have just one more win than their opponents, who need to change the dynamic of three wins in their last ten games in one of the most evenly matched baseball competitions of recent times in Cuba.

Reigning runner-up Matanzas will try to get into the top of the standings at the expense of bottom-placed Guantánamo, a team it dominates 71-63.

The Camagüey Toros will play everything starting this weekend against their neighbor Ciego de Avila, inspired by the advantage shown against the Tigres in the historical match (134-123) and the need to win in order not to say goodbye to the postseason.