Team Canada will be taking the field today for their first game in Pool A action, facing a tough Colombian squad that will be throwing out a veteran hurler to kick off the tournament.

This is one of the strongest teams that Canada has assembled in quite some time, boasting Major League talent across the entire lineup. They also brought with them some experienced starters for this tournament, which is a change of pace from previous versions where some minor league talent was depended on in big-time situations, such as Mitch Bratt against Team USA in 2023.

The Canadians have a bit of a Wild Card in their bullpen, with some key names like Cade Smith, Erik Sabrowski, and Matt Brash skipping the WBC this year. Manager Ernie Whitt has called upon some first-timers and some retired stars to don the Maple Leaf in the relief corps, and it will be interesting to see how they fare in Pool A play.

Team Canada has an easier draw this time around, in that they won’t need to face a powerhouse club like Team USA or Mexico, and their one big threat in Puerto Rico is missing some key figures due to insurance issues and a suspension at the international level. Canada has never advanced out of Round Robin play before, and this seems like their best opportunity to get the job done.

Michael Soroka will take the hill for the Canadians while veteran Julio Teheran has been tabbed as the starter for Colombia.

Soroka split the 2025 campaign between the Nationals and the Cubs, where injuries limited him to just 89 2/3 innings. He was a starter in the NL East, posting a 4.87 ERA across 16 outings, and he made just one start post-trade in the NL Central with five relief outings mixed in, to better results (four hits and one earned run allowed across 8 1/3 innings).

The Arizona Diamondback has not appeared for Team Canada at the WBC but has represented the country at other events through the years.

Teheran is a 13-year veteran of the big leagues who hasn’t appeared at the MLB stage since 2024. He spent most of last season in the Mexican League with Toros de Tijuana, where he made 14 appearances and pitched to a 6.95 ERA with 38 punchouts.

This will be the right-hander’s second time representing his home nation. He pitched five innings against Canada in 2017 to help log their first-ever win at the WBC, and while he was named to the 2023 roster, he did not pitch. With Colombia needing to qualify for the WBC in 2025, Teheran started against Brazil and went six scoreless innings, helping secure their spot in Pool A.

On the diamond, manager Whitt will be turning to Edouard Julien to kick things off at the top of the lineup while Mariners slugger and Canadian Captain Josh Naylor slots in right behind him. Tyler O’Neill will occupy right field and work the three-hole while Milwaukee Brewers slugger Tyler Black is today’s DH and hits cleanup. Otto Lopez (SS), Abraham Toro (3B), Bo Naylor (C), Owen Caissie (LF), and Denzel Clarke (CF) round out the group against Colombia.

Team Colombia will be looking to rebound after dropping their opening contest yesterday against Puerto Rico, where they lost 5-0.