Where they stand:  Magallanes leads Anzoategui by 2.5 games.  La Guaira is third, 3 back.  Then comes Caracas, 4 behind; Aragua, 4.5 out; Zulia, 5 back; Lara, 6 out; and Margarita, 6.5 games back.  Assuming they've made no changes to the playoff procedures since last year, the first five teams will go to the playoffs, which are in a round-robin format.

Who's hot:  Deolis Guerra is 1-0, 2.57, 1.29 WHIP in 7 innings (5 appearances) for Magallanes.  Pedro Guerra is 0-0, 2.00, 0.67 WHIP in 9 innings (4 appearances) for Magallanes.

Who's in the middle:  Joe Benson is hitting .216/355/.373 in 51 at-bats for Aragua.  Jairo Perez is hitting .231/.375/.269 in 26 at-bats for Lara.

Who's cold:  Rene Tosoni is hitting .195/283/.195 in 41 at-bats for Lara.

Who's barely played:  Oswaldo Arcia is 0-for-2 for Aragua.  Josmil Pinto has played in two games for Aragua and walked in his only plate appearance.  Cesar Ciurcina is 0-0, 2.08, 0.92 WHIP in 4.1 innings (3 appearances) for Aragua.  Lester Oliveros is 0-0, 3.86, 2.14 WHIP in 2.1 innings (2 appearances) for Anzoategui.  Junior Subero is 0-0, 9.00, 3.00 WHIP in 1 inning (1 appearance) for Caracas.

Note:  I wonder if Andrew Baldwin has signed with someone, as I don't see him listed as one of the Twins players in winter ball any more.  I'll try to track that down for This Week in Ex-Twins Friday.