Chivas opened Liga MX Femenil with a 2–0 win over Atlético San Luis, and Tigres began their title defense by beating Necaxa 4–1.
In winter ball, Escogido beat Águilas 5–2 and Toros outslugged Gigantes 10–6 in the LIDOM round robin, while Puerto Rico’s semifinals saw Ponce win 5–2 at Carolina and Santurce take a 6–2 road win at Caguas.
In Venezuela, LVBP’s playoff schedule was disrupted after the Maduro capture, with games suspended and travel issues piling up.
In the transfer market, River finalized a loan deal for Flamengo left back Matías Viña. Mexico’s LMP playoffs also moved, with Algodoneros edging Jaguares 5–4 in 12 innings and Cañeros blanking Tomateros 5–0.
1. Chivas start Clausura with a 2–0 win over Atlético San Luis (Liga MX Femenil)
Key facts: Chivas opened the new season with a clean-sheet win at Estadio Akron. The match mattered because it set an early pace in a short-format league where momentum is everything.
It also gave Chivas three points without the defensive wobble that often shows up in opening-week games.
Why picked: It was the league’s kickoff match and it landed as a controlled statement.
2. Tigres begin their title defense by beating Necaxa 4–1 (Liga MX Femenil)
Key facts: Tigres handled the opener with a three-goal margin and avoided any early-season panic.
10 Key Sports Developments in Latin America (January 4, 2026). (Photo Internet reproduction)
Necaxa scored, but Tigres kept generating chances and stretched the game with superior depth. Winning by multiple goals also matters for confidence and table optics in the first week.
Why picked: The champions looked like champions on day one.
3. Escogido beat Águilas 5–2 to reach six wins in the LIDOM round robin
Key facts: Escogido’s pitching and timely hitting carried the game in Santiago. Conner Greene earned the win and Stephen Nogosek got the save, keeping Escogido’s run rolling.
The standings impact is direct, because every round-robin win narrows the path for the teams chasing behind.
Why picked: It reinforced who is controlling the Dominican playoff race early.
4. Toros del Este outscore Gigantes 10–6 in a homer-heavy LIDOM game
Key facts: Toros turned the game into a slugfest and won with sustained offense, not just one inning. Gigantes hit a homer, but Toros answered with multiple long balls and kept scoring pressure on. A result like this can swing tiebreaks and bullpen usage for several days.
Why picked: A four-run win in this phase is rare and it moves the table fast.
5. Leones de Ponce win 5–2 at Gigantes de Carolina to level Puerto Rico’s semifinal
Key facts: Ponce got an early lift from Emmanuel Rivera, who homered and drove in runs in a 3-for-3 night.
Starter Brady Tedesco worked into the sixth without allowing a run, giving Ponce a foundation before the bullpens took over. The win tied the series 1–1 and shifted home-field pressure back onto Carolina.
Why picked: It was a road win with clear series-shape consequences.
6. Cangrejeros de Santurce win 6–2 at Criollos de Caguas to square the other Puerto Rico semifinal
Key facts: Santurce broke the game open late, scoring five runs in the eighth after a tight pitchers’ duel.
The hit sequence mattered because it turned a close game into a comfortable finish in two innings. The series moved to Hiram Bithorn with momentum and confidence now on Santurce’s side.
Why picked: One late inning changed the entire tone of the matchup.
7. LVBP postseason disrupted as Venezuela’s situation halts travel and suspends games
Key facts: Reporting on Sunday described LVBP taking a day-by-day approach, with playoff games suspended and teams struggling to travel amid airport shutdowns.
The fallout extended beyond local clubs, because MLB teams were trying to confirm the status of players who were in Venezuela for winter ball. It also added uncertainty around the schedule for Venezuela-hosted events planned later in the winter.
Why picked: It is the biggest “sports operations” story in the region right now, and it affects multiple leagues.
8. River Plate finalize a loan deal for Flamengo left back Matías Viña
Key facts: Reports said River completed the agreement for Viña on a one-year loan structure tied to fees and conditions.
River’s urgency is practical, because preseason planning and squad integration start immediately in January. For Flamengo, the move clears space in a crowded position group.
Why picked: It is a high-impact, cross-border South American transfer that can matter in continental play.
9. Algodoneros edge Jaguares 5–4 in 12 innings (LMP playoffs)
Key facts: Guasave won a long extra-inning game that stretched bullpens and tested late-game execution. The margin stayed thin, and one decisive sequence broke it at the end.
In a short playoff series, wins like this can decide the matchup as much as pitching matchups do.
Why picked: Extra-inning playoff wins shift both momentum and bullpen availability.
10. Cañeros blank Tomateros 5–0 to take a 2–1 series edge (LMP playoffs)
Key facts: Los Mochis won with a shutout, which is the clearest possible message in postseason baseball.
The game plan was built around starting pitching and a bullpen that gave Tomateros no breathing room. Taking a 2–1 lead also changes how both managers handle leverage arms in the next game.
Why picked: A shutout in January playoff baseball is a power play, not just a result.
