Cancun World Series Preview: North Japan Samurai vs. New York Mest

The 2025 Cancun World Series kicks off Wednesday, October 29th from Cancun Dome.

By @mlbonfax Staff

🌴 FROM CHAOS TO PARADISE: HOW WE GOT HERE

Two teams. One trophy. Mariachi, taiko drums, and mayhem under the Cancún Dome roof.

The North Japan Samurai clawed their way here through a gauntlet of dominance and disaster. They swept the White Sox (2–0), dismantled the Orioles (3–0), and outlasted the Astros in a seven-game epic that featured Tony Ohtani hitting ten home runs in a single game, Ippei Mizuhara escaping from prison then getting arrested again, and a walk-off grand slam that made Cancún history.

The New York Mest, meanwhile, took the long road — and somehow kept Mesting forward. They edged the Portland Pickles (3–2) before surviving a seven-game slugfest with the Atlanta Braves that featured a Mr. Mest-Blooper brawl, Juan Soda committing 67 errors in right field, and ended with Hawk Tuah's backfoot spitball.

Now, the Samurai and the Mest — two of the most chaotic franchises in the Cancún Baseball Universe — meet for all the chips, guac, and glory.

⚔️ EXPECTED LINEUPS

North Japan Samurai:

1. Tony Ohtani – DH/SP (best player on Earth, also moonlights as god)

2. Clarc Olsen – 1B (Marc Olsen's brother)

3. Ippei Mizuhara – 2B (gambler, fugitive, folk hero)

4. Eric Sim – C (YouTuber turned Cancún slugger)

5. Yasiel Puig – RF (has the speed of a wild horse, and also owns a wild horse)

6. Munetaka Murakami – 3B (pure power from Tokyo)

7. Masataka Yoshida – LF (on-base machine)

8. Lil Moto – SS (son of Yoshinobu Yamamoto)

9. Seiya Suzuki – CF (defensive wizard, smile assassin)

The North Japan Samurai acquired slugger Eric Sim specifically for the Cancun World Series.

New York Mest:

1. Francisco Lindor – SS (the captain)

2. Pete Alfonso – 1B (power and postgame chaos)

3. Frank the Tank – DH (jean shorts, fanny pack, heart of the team)

4. The Rizzler – 3B (9 years old, limitless confidence)

5. Juan Soda – RF (the most expensive liability in baseball)

6. Brandon Nimmo – CF (pure hustle, even on walks)

7. Mark Vientos – LF (quiet slugger, loud bat)

8. Francisco Alvarez – C (raw power, no fear)

9. Jeff McNeil – 2B (the glue guy who actually tries)

⚾️ EXPECTED ROTATIONS

North Japan Samurai Rotation:

1. Tony Ohtani

2. Ippei Mizuhara

3. Lil Moto

4. Mini Moto

   
   

New York Mest Rotation:

1. Bartolo Colon

2. Kodai Senga

3. David Peterson

4. Jonah Tong

   
   

🧃 BULLPENS

Samurai bullpen: Led by closer Roki Sasaki, the 21-year-old Japanese phenom whose splitter defies gravity and human decency. When he’s locked in, hitters swing and miss before he even throws. When he's not, Emmanuel Clase is waiting in the wings.

Mest bullpen: Anchored by Hawk Tuah, whose infamous spitball broke the Braves’ spirits in Game 7. She’s backed by Edwin Diaz and a collection of “emotional support relievers.”

🔍 EDGE BY CATEGORY

Lineup: Advantage: Mest.

The Rizzler, Juan Soda, and Frank the Tank give the Mest constant meme energy and legit clutch power. Soda can destroy or implode a game depending on his Wi-Fi connection.

Rotation: Advantage: Samurai.

When Tony Ohtani can throw 203 and hit five home runs in a single at-bat, that’s the end of the discussion. Add Ippei’s redemption arc and the Moto family dynasty — it’s the most unholy depth chart in baseball.

Bullpen: Slight Advantage: Samurai.

Roki Sasaki has looked human only once in his career (and even that was when Yordong bent the laws of physics). Hawk Tuah’s raw chaos keeps her dangerous, but the Samurai pen is pure precision.

🗣️ PLAYER REACTIONS

Tony Ohtani (Samurai): “Cancún is loud. I plan to make it louder.”

Ippei Mizuhara (Samurai): “The police can’t arrest me if I’m in the World Series.”

Lil Moto (Samurai): “My parents grounded me after the ALCS. This is my revenge.”

Juan Soda (Mest): “I’m bringing five chains and zero errors this time. Maybe.”

Frank the Tank (Mest): “Not feeble anymore. Cancun Series feeble-proof.”

The Rizzler (Mest): “I’m nine. They’re grown men. I don’t care.”

📅 CANCÚN WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE

• Game 1: Wednesday, Oct. 29 — Samurai at Mest

• Game 2: Thursday, Oct. 30 — Samurai at Mest

• Game 3: Friday, Oct. 31 — Mest at Samurai

• Game 4: Saturday, Nov. 1 — Mest at Samurai

• Game 5: Sunday, Nov. 2 (if necessary) — Mest at Samurai

• Game 6: Monday, Nov. 3 (if necessary) — Samurai at Mest

• Game 7: Tuesday, Nov. 4 (if necessary) — Samurai at Mest

  
  

🧠 SERIES PREDICTIONS

Holly Baylor (Fax Sports Insider):

“If Juan Soda doesn’t start washing his Porsche mid-game again, the Mest have a chance. But Tony Ohtani’s supernatural energy feels unstoppable. Samurai in 6.”

Thick Papi (Fax Sports Analyst):

“I love the Rizzler’s swag, man. He’s nine years old but built for the moment. Daaaaaaaa Samurai lose! Mest in 7, baby!”

Alex Fraudriguez (Fax Sports Analyst):

“Tony Ohtani’s the face of baseball. But Bartolo Colon is the soul of baseball. It’s destiny vs. cholesterol — I’m riding with the Mest.”

Derrick Skeeter (Fax Sports Analyst):

“I’ve seen dynasties, I’ve seen collapses… and I’ve seen Frank the Tank run the bases. I’m scarred. Samurai in 7.”

📺 WHERE TO WATCH

Catch every pitch, punchline, and Golden Taco homer LIVE on FAX+ and @mlbonfax Twitter — your home for chaos baseball.

Daily recaps, memes, and behind-the-scenes from Cancún Dome at @mlbonfax Instagram.

The world’s loudest, weirdest, most expensive baseball tournament continues…

Who will claim the crown in Cancun? Drop your take in the comments.

#CancunRelentless