Glew: Canadians in MLB Division Series

Chilliwack Cougars and Junior National Team grad Cade Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.) will be closing games for the Cleveland Guardians in this year’s MLB postseason.

October 2, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

And then there were eight.

The MLB Division Series are set.

And of the eight teams still alive in the MLB postseason, four are certain to have Canadian players on their rosters, while the other four have Canucks working prominently in their organizations.

Here’s a summary of the remaining Canadian content in the MLB postseason:

Cleveland Guardians relievers Cade Smith (Abbotsford, BC) and Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.) celebrate together after the Guardians clinched the AL Central title on Saturday. Photo: Erik Sabrowski\X

1. Cleveland Guardians

In 2024, the Guardians became the first major league team to have four Canadians on a postseason roster.

Since then, Josh and Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) have moved on, but the Guardians will still have two Canucks suiting up for them in the American League Division Series — and those two are arguably the team’s best relief pitchers.

On Sept. 22, Guardians closer Cade Smith (Abbotsford, BC) became the first Canadian to record 40 saves in a season since John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) had 46 with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2011. Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.) is the only other Canuck to accomplish this feat, doing it for three consecutive seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2002 to 2004.

In 69 appearances in his first full season as the Guardians closer, Smith was 6-1 with a 1.95 ERA and had 107 strikeouts in 74 innings. For his efforts, he earned his first All-Star Game selection.

But it’s unlikely Smith would’ve been able to rack up 41 saves this season (tied for the AL lead with Tampa Bay Rays’ closer Bryan Baker) without the assistance of left-hander Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.). A key middle reliever for the Guardians, Sabrowski was 1-0 with a 0.63 ERA in his final 15 regular season appearances. During that span, he permitted just four hits and fanned 19 batters in 14 1/3 innings.

Overall, in 60 relief appearances this season, Sabrowski was 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA and had 76 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings, while picking up 28 holds.

The Guardians will begin their AL Division Series against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field at 1 p.m. E.T. on Saturday.

Players: LHP Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.), RHP Cade Smith (Abbotsford, BC)

Minor league players: RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.), C Deiten Lachance (Sherbrooke, Que.), 1B Riley Nelson (Toronto, Ont.), LHP Adam Tulloch (Toronto, Ont.), RHP Jacob Zibin (Richmond Hill, Ont.)

Executive: Dr. Stephen Osterer (Ottawa, Ont.), director of pitching development

Victoria Eagles and Junior National Team grad Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) will likely start Game 3 of the San Diego Padres’ National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

2. San Diego Padres

No big-league team has drafted more impact Canadian big league players over the last decade than the Padres.

How’s this for a list of Padres’ draft selections?

- RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.), first round 2016

- LHP Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.), 14th round 2018

- RHP Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.), fourth round 2019

- OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.), second round, 2020

And they added to this list when, on the recommendation of Canadian scout Chris Kemlo, they selected infielder Elliot Lascelles (Toronto, Ont.) in the second round this summer.

On top of all of this, their Opening Day starter was right-hander Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC), whom they signed to a four-year, $56-million contract prior to the 2025 campaign. The 6-foot-5 Canuck went 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA, with 19 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings, in four regular season starts after being activated from the 60-day injured list on September 7. He had been sidelined with right elbow inflammation.

Pivetta started Game 2 of the Padres’ Wild Card series against the Chicago Cubs and allowed just one run, while striking out four in 3 1/3 innings. The Padres won 4-1 to complete a sweep of the Cubs.

The Canuck righty will likely start Game 3 of the Padres’ NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers, which begins on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. E.T. at American Family Field in Milwaukee.

Player: Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC)

Scouts: Chris Kemlo (Bowmanville, Ont.), Lou Pote (Okotoks, Alta.), Geoff White (Kelowna, BC)

Minor league players: RHP Garrett Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.), C Lamar King (Vancouver, BC), INF Elliot Lascelles (Toronto, Ont.), RHP Brandon Langley (New Glasgow, PEI), RHP Jack Pineau (Thunder Bay, Ont.), RHP A.J. Rogers (Dartmouth, N.S.).

Toronto Mets grad Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) has been a productive hitter for the Tampa Bay Rays since being acquired from the Miami Marlins on Aug. 3.

3. Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays are in the postseason for the 10th time, but this will be the first year they will have a Canadian on their October roster.

The American League East division-winning Rays acquired catcher Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) from the Miami Marlins on Aug. 3, and Hicks has been a key part of their offence ever since. In 41 regular season games with the Rays, he had a .288/.379/.440 slash line with four home runs and 20 RBIs. And he had already been enjoying a breakout campaign with the Marlins.

In total, the Toronto Mets alum batted .284 with 18 home runs and 82 RBIs in 142 regular season games in 2026. He also finished the season as one of a select group of MLB hitters with more walks (56) than strikeouts (55).

In September, Hicks regularly batted cleanup behind slugger Junior Caminero, who socked 41 home runs this season.

The Rays, who finished with a 98-64 record, will battle the New York Yankees in their American League Division Series that’s set to begin on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. E.T. at Tropicana Field.

Player: C Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.)

Minor league players: OF Slater de Brun (Bend, Ore., mom, Julie, lived in Toronto), C Nathan Flewelling (Innisfail, Alta.), INF Jack Lines (Okotoks, Alta.), INF Taj Marchand (Charleston, N.C., father, Hugo, from Montreal), OF Noah Myers (Wyoming, Ont.), OF Tom Poole (Winnipeg, Man.), LHP Jeremy Pilon (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que.)

Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.) has amassed seven division titles since taking over as general manager of the Atlanta Braves. Photo: MLB.com

4. Atlanta Braves

It was just over 11 years ago that Blue Jays fans were chanting “Thank you, Alex!” to their GM, Alex Anthopoulos, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, as the Blue Jays clinched their first American League East division title since 1993. The Montreal native has since moved on to the National League and his Braves have won a World Series (2021) and seven division titles (2018 to 2023, 2026) during his reign as general manager and president of baseball operations.

Though they don’t have a Canadian on their major league roster, the Braves are well-stocked with Canucks in their organization.

On Thursday, they eliminated the Philadelphia Phillies in a best-of-three Wild-Card Series that went the distance. Their reward is to play the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in a National League Division Series that will begin on Saturday at 4 p.m. E.T. at Dodger Stadium.

Executives: Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.), president, baseball operations and general manager; Mike Shaw (Oakville, Ont.), vice-president, team travel.

Minor league players: OF Carter Beck (Carnduff, Sask.), C Archer Brookman (Pointe-Claire, Que.), RHP Cedric De Grandpre (St-Simon, Que.), RHP Cole Dorland (Langley, BC), OF Eric Hartman (St. Albert, Alta.), RHP Ryan Heppner (Richmond, BC), RHP Adam Maier (North Vancouver, BC), INF David McCabe (Oshawa, Ont.)

Minor league coaches: Mike Steed (Beamsville, Ont.), pitching coach, double-A Columbus Clingstones

Off-field Canadian talent: Michael Copeland (Whitby, Ont.), lead developer, baseball systems

Okotoks Dawgs alum Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) is the first Canadian to play for the Chicago White Sox in the postseason since 1993.

5. Chicago White Sox

The last Canadian to play for the White Sox in the postseason was Kirk McCaskill (Kapuskasing, Ont.) when the right-hander made three scoreless relief appearances in the club’s 1993 American League Championship Series’ loss to the eventual World Series champion Blue Jays.

That changed when Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) started in centre field for the Sox in their Wild Card series against the Houston Astros. Peters went 2-for-7 and scored a run in the White Sox sweep of the Astros.

The White Sox couldn’t have predicted how good Peters would be in his first full big league season after they purchased him from the Rays last December. Peters had a reputation as an excellent fielder, but the Okotoks Dawgs grad also quickly showed he could handle himself at the plate. He finished the regular season with a .265/.337/.437 slash line with 12 home runs, 31 doubles, four triples and eight stolen bases. Statistician Neil Munro also points out that Peters did not ground into a single double play in 491 plate appearances this season.

On July 10, he became just the second Canadian big leaguer - joining George Kottaras (September 3, 2011 with the Milwaukee Brewers) - since 1900 to hit for the cycle when he accomplished the feat against the A’s. That same month, Peters was selected to play in the All-Star Game.

Peters and the White Sox will begin their ALDS against the Guardians on Saturday at 1 p.m. E.T. at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Player: Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.)

Scout: Josh Krstulovich (Brampton, Ont.)

Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team alum Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) was acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 1. Photo: Brewers

6. Milwaukee Brewers

When Doug Melvin (Chatham, Ont.) was the general manager of the Brewers from 2002 to 2015, and Gord Ash (Toronto, Ont.) was his assistant GM, the Brewers seemed to consistently have the most (or close to the most) Canadian players in their system. This changed under more recent regimes, but it has rebounded somewhat in the past five years when thanks to input from the club’s director of international scouting and player personnel, Taylor Green (Comox, BC), and area scout Pete Orr (Newmarket, Ont.), the Brewers selected Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) 33rd overall in the 2021 MLB draft and INF Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.) 102nd overall in 2022.

The Brewers also added catcher Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) from the Guardians on August 1. Naylor played with the Brewers’ triple-A Nashville Sounds in August before being called up and going 2-for-7 in three games with the Brewers in September. With catchers William Contreras and Gary Sanchez ahead of him, Naylor is unlikely to be on the Brewers’ postseason roster when it is announced on Saturday morning.

Also, former Okotoks Dawgs right-hander and ex-Brewers closer Jim Henderson (Calgary, Alta.) is the Brewers’ pitching coordinator.

The Brewers finished with 103 wins this season - the most in MLB - and they will play the Padres in a Division Series that will begin on Saturday night.

Player: Bo Naylor (Mississauga,Ont.)

Minor league Players: INF Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.), INF Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.), LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.)

Coach: Jim Henderson (Calgary, Alta.), MLB pitching coordinator

Executives: Doug Melvin (Chatham, Ont.), special assistant to the general manager; Gord Ash (Toronto, Ont.), vice-president, baseball projects; Taylor Green (Comox, BC), director of international scouting and player personnel

Minor league coaches: Brad McKay (Fredericton, N.B.), lead strategist, skill acquisition

Scouts: Tyler Hollick (Calgary, Alta.), Doug Mathieson (Langley, BC), Pete Orr (Newmarket, Ont.), Taylor Frederick (Ottawa, Ont.)

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman played for Canada at the 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classics. Photo: Baseball Canada

7. Los Angeles Dodgers

The two-time reigning World Series champion Dodgers don’t have a player born in Canada on their roster, however, first baseman Freddie Freeman’s parents were born north of the border, and he played for Canada in the 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classics. Prior to the 2022 season, Freeman inked a six-year, $162-million contract with the Dodgers. And he certainly hasn’t disappointed. He has been an All-Star in each of his five seasons with the club. In 2026, he batted .288 and had a .362 on-base percentage with 16 home runs and 70 RBIs in 153 games.

Freeman will face his former team - the Atlanta Braves - in a National League Division Series that will commence on Saturday afternoon.

The Dodgers also employ Beeton, Ont., native Ellen Harrigan, who is one of Major League Baseball’s most respected executives. After beginning her career with the Blue Jays as an administrative aide in player development in 1981 and later becoming the general manager of the club’s New York Penn League affiliate in St. Catharines, Harrigan moved on to the Dodgers and has risen through the organization’s ranks to hold a number of key executive positions. Now in her 27th season with the club, she is currently the team’s vice-president, baseball administration.

Player: Freddie Freeman (Villa Park, Calif.), WBC eligible

Executive: Ellen Veronica Harrigan (Beeton, Ont.), vice-president, baseball administration

Minor league players: OF Charles Davalan (St-Bruno-De-Montarville, Que.), RHP Cam Leiter (Bayville, N.J., lived for part of his youth in Vancouver, BC), RHP Lucas Wepf (Georgetown, Ont.)

Doctor: Dr. Keith Pyne (Niagara On The Lake, Ont.), medical consultant

Langley Blaze and Junior National Team grad Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC) was selected in the second round of the 2026 MLB draft by the New York Yankees. Photo: Sean Duncan/Instagram

8. New York Yankees

There isn’t a Canadian on the Bronx Bombers’ postseason roster, but there’s no shortage of Canucks working in the organization. The club employs a trio of Canadian scouts in Steve Wilson (Victoria, BC), Shawn Hill (Georgetown, Ont.) and Denis Boucher (Lachine, Que.). They also boast a Canadian broadcaster in Nancy Newman (Toronto, Ont.), who works for the YES Network and sits in the same chair Mel Allen once sat.

And this year they added another Canuck to their organization in left-hander Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC), a Langley Blaze and Junior National Team grad, whom they selected in the second round of the MLB draft in July.

Duncan marks the fourth Canuck player added to the Bombers’ organization over the past two years. In 2025, the Yankees chose infielder Core Jackson (Wyoming, Ont.) and right-hander Blake Gillespie (Arva, Ont.) in the fourth and ninth rounds of the MLB draft respectively. They also signed right-hander Tyler Boudreau (Sylvan Lake, Alta.) as an amateur free agent.

The Yankees outscored the Boston Red Sox 18-2 in their two-game Wild Card Series sweep earlier this week. They will now face the Rays in an American League Division Series that will begin on Saturday evening at the Trop.

Minor league players: RHP Tyler Boudreau (Sylvan Lake, Alta.), LHP Kyle Carr (father, Darcy, is from Sydney, N.S.), LHP Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC), RHP Blake Gillespie (Arva, Ont.), INF Core Jackson (Wyoming, Ont.), OF Tyler Wilson (father, Steve, is from Victoria, BC)

Scouts: Steve Wilson (Victoria, BC), Shawn Hill (Georgetown, Ont.), Denis Boucher (Lachine, Que.), Cory Melvin (Doug Melvin’s son)

Broadcaster: Nancy Newman (Toronto, Ont.) New York Yankees Magazine, host, YES Network

Off-field Canadian talent: Jessica (Lack) Ventura (Calgary, Alta.), class-A Tampa Yankees, director, partnership and community activation; Isiah McDonald (Kelowna, BC), minor league strength and conditioning coach