October 3, 2019

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Some news and notes about Canadians in this year’s major league post-season:

- The Los Angeles Dodgers unveiled their National League Division Series roster on Thursday. It does include Canadian Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) who will be participating in the MLB playoffs for the 10th time in his career. This will mark his fourth post-season appearance with the Dodgers. Despite his numerous trips to the post-season, Martin has never played a World Series game. The Canuck veteran ranks first among Canadians in many all-time statistical playoff categories, including games, hits, doubles and at bats. The Dodgers will open their series against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium tonight.

- Langley Blaze and Junior National Team alum Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) is not on the St. Louis Cardinals’ National League Division Series roster. The Cardinals released their roster prior to the first game of their NLDS match-up against the Atlanta Braves this afternoon. The last Canadian to suit up for the Cardinals in the post-season was Larry Walker in 2004 and 2005. He, of course, is also from Maple Ridge, BC.

- The Atlanta Braves announced on Wednesday that PBF Redbirds and Junior National Team alum Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) will start Game 3 against the Cardinals. He last pitched on Sunday and finished his first full big league season with a 13-4 record and a 2.68 ERA in 29 starts which makes him both a strong National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award contender.

- The New York Yankees announced on Thursday that James Paxton (Ladner, BC) will start Game 1 of their American League Division Series against the Minnesota Twins that will begin on Friday night. It will be the first playoff start of Paxton’s major league career. The 30-year-old left-hander registered a career-best 15 wins - including registering victories in his last 10 decisions - and struck out 186 batters in 150 2/3 innings during the regular season, but he left his final start with “glute tightness,” so there was some concern he wouldn’t be ready for Game 1.

- On Friday, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame tweeted out that Paxton will become the sixth Canadian to start a playoff game. See the tweet below.