Canada has never advanced past the group stage at the World Baseball Classic, but has a prime opportunity to do so over their final two games in group play.
Canada takes on Puerto Rico Tuesday night in San Juan and then will wrap up the preliminary round on Wednesday against Cuba. With a 3-0 start, Puerto Rico has already advanced, leaving Canada and Cuba to battle for the other Group A quarter-final spot. Only the top two teams from each of the four WBC groups will advance to the knockout round.
Because of the way the standings sit, the winner of Wednesday’s game between Canada and Cuba will advance. Even if Canada loses to Puerto Rico Tuesday night, they can still finish second by beating Cuba since they would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. If Canada can win each of their next two games, they would take first place in Group A.
| Team | Record |
|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | 3-0 |
| Cuba | 2-1 |
| Canada | 1-1 |
| Colombia | 1-3 |
| Panama | 1-3 |
Both Colombia and Panama are officially eliminated after going 1-3 in the group stage. Canada beat Colombia 8-2 Saturday afternoon in their first game of the tournament and lost 4-3 to Panama Sunday evening.
According to BBWAA member Francys Romero, Cuba will go with ace pitcher Livan Moinelo for Wednesday’s do-or-die game against Canada.
Cuba will go with Livan Moinelo on Wednesday against Canada in a do-or-die game.
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) March 10, 2026
Moinelo was the best pitcher in Japan in the 2025 season and is Cuba’s ace. pic.twitter.com/RBIVeHmi9S
The 30-year-old was lights-out for the Fukuoka-based Softbank Hawks of Japan’s NBP league last season, going 12-3 with a 1.46 ERA in 24 starts. He went 3.2 scoreless innings for Cuba earlier in the tournament and did not allow a run in four WBC appearances as a reliver in 2023.
Canada will start right-hander Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) in Tuesday’s game against Puerto Rico. The 27-year-old had a 3.75 ERA in 37 games split between two minor league levels last season in the Detroit Tigers’ system.
Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) will start Canada’s group stage finale against Cuba. He had a 6.04 ERA in 26 starts split between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves in 2025.
