Havana, April 25 (RHC)-- The duel of leaders between Matanzas and host Artemisa at 26 de Julio stadium will fulfill the highest expectations starting today, at the beginning of the second third of the LXII National Baseball Series.

Both teams have a 15-10 record, similar to that of Pinar del Río and Santiago de Cuba, which has led to a four-way tie at the top.

As a group, the national runner-up Matanzas is in the lead in pitching, among other reasons due to the presence in its roster of international left-hander Naykel Cruz, leader in average of clean runs (0.84), strikeouts (31) and victories (4, shared with three other pitchers).

In addition, mentor Armando Ferrer's Yumurinos are third in batting (320) and third in defense (972, tied with two other teams).

Meanwhile, the Cazadores Artemiseños, who are in an excellent campaign, are second in offense (338, surpassed by the 340 of Las Tunas) and also in the use of their gloves (972); but their pitching staff is in 12th place (5.95).

In another interesting duel, Pinar del Río will receive the team of Ciego de Ávila (14-10), located just half a game behind the four leaders, at the Capitán San Luis Park.

And the Avispas santiagueras, third in pitching (4.27) and defense (972), will receive the visit of Villa Clara (13-11) at the Guillermón Moncada stadium.

The remaining games will be based on Cienfuegos-Mayabeque, Camagüey-Las Tunas, Sancti Spíritus-La Isla, Holguín-Granma and Industriales-Camagüey, always on the grounds of the latter.

When the second third of the campaign begins today, the leader of the hitters is Osmel Solano (445), the Pinar del Río native who plays for Artemisa.