Just weeks after Canada fell to the United States in both the men’s and women’s Olympic hockey finals, another chapter in the North American rivalry is about to unfold.
On Friday night (March 13), Team Canada will face Team USA in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals, a historic moment for Canadian baseball. It marks the first time Canada has reached the knockout stage in the tournament’s 20-year history.
Standing in their way, however, is a heavily favored American squad — and a newly added pitcher with ties to Toronto.
That pitcher is Blue Jays reliever Tyler Rogers.
Rogers joins Team USA for knockout stage
Team USA added Rogers to its roster ahead of the knockout round, giving the Americans another experienced arm in the bullpen.
Rogers signed with the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason on a three-year, $37 million contract after spending the 2025 season with the New York Mets. Before that, he spent the first six years of his major league career with the San Francisco Giants, who drafted him in the 10th round of the 2013 MLB Draft.
His late arrival to Team USA gives the Americans an intriguing bullpen option for the tournament’s most important games.
An awkward moment for Blue Jays fans
Rogers’ presence creates a strange dynamic for Blue Jays supporters.
Many Toronto fans will naturally be rooting for Team Canada, but Rogers is also a key addition to their favorite team’s bullpen heading into the 2026 MLB season.
That means every pitch he throws could generate mixed reactions.
If Rogers performs well, he could help eliminate Canada from the tournament — a frustrating outcome for Canadian fans. But if he struggles, it might raise unnecessary concerns about how he’ll perform in Toronto’s bullpen this season.
In reality, judging a pitcher based on a single WBC appearance would likely be an overreaction.
Canada hopes to avoid seeing Rogers
From Canada’s perspective, the ideal outcome may be avoiding Rogers altogether.
If the Canadian offense builds a comfortable lead early, Team USA might not need to deploy Rogers in a high-leverage situation.
Even if he enters the game and delivers a quick inning, it would matter far less if the outcome has already been decided.
Such a scenario would allow Canada to advance while still giving Blue Jays fans confidence in their new reliever.
Rogers expected to strengthen Toronto bullpen
Regardless of what happens in the WBC, Rogers was brought to Toronto for a specific purpose.
The veteran right-hander features a distinct submarine delivery, making him one of the most unusual pitchers in baseball. His ability to induce weak contact and disrupt hitters’ timing made him a valuable bullpen piece throughout his career.
The Blue Jays bullpen improved significantly during the second half of 2025 after acquiring Louis Varland and Seranthony Domínguez at the trade deadline. Tommy Nance also emerged as a reliable option down the stretch.
With closer Jeff Hoffman occasionally inconsistent, the addition of Rogers is expected to further stabilize the relief corps heading into 2026.
A rivalry moment with extra intrigue
The Canada–USA matchup already carries plenty of historical and competitive tension.
Now, with a new Blue Jays reliever potentially playing a pivotal role, the game carries an extra layer of intrigue for Toronto fans.
Whether Rogers ends up on the mound or not, his presence adds another storyline to what is already one of the most significant games in Canadian baseball history. ⚾
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