Expansion Blues

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - June 1 to 7, 2026

Week 4 in Maple Leafs baseball brought the highest of highs and lowest of lows.

The boss is back: On Sunday at Christie Pits, Wilgenis Alvarado made his first start of the season and earned his first win.

After winning on Opening Day, the Toronto Maple Leafs fell into a terrible funk.

Entering Week 4 of the 2026 CBL season with a 1-5 record, they continued to lose in soul-puncturing ways.  

A roster that showed promise suddenly failed to click.  If the Leafs scored runs, the pitching let them down.  If the pitching held steady, they couldn't score.  Costly errors had fans and coaches alike looking on in dismay.

This past week, as I was watching one of these depressing games at Christie Pits, the club's rogue scorekeeper approached.

"This is an expansion team," he said.

I was puzzled.

"Are you talking about the Leafs?  What do you mean?  Sure, this is a bunch of young guys, most of them teaming up for the first time and without much experience in the league, and the club signed a big name from the past to draw eyeballs, and... oh..."

"This is an expansion team," he concluded.  

And he had a point.  During the last offseason, the Leafs underwent a huge roster turnover not seen for many years.  A true generational shift.  Some veterans returned but for the most part the Opening Day roster was new, new, new.  On top of that, it took a long time for all of the club's import players to arrive.  This was all in sharp contrast to other clubs with established rosters that hit the ground running.

If there is reason for optimism, the imports are now all here and the roster is complete.  As if to mark the occasion, the Leafs won again.  Their opening month losing streak is over.  Is it a turning point, or a blip?  We will find out soon enough.

For now, here's the recap of Week 4 in Maple Leafs baseball.

Wednesday, June 3, 2026 - Guelph Royals vs Toronto Maple Leafs

(rescheduled rainout)

Rob and Rich Butler watch the Leafs squander an early lead to the Royals.

Rob Butler whipped his helmet off in frustration.  Several times.

From his spot at the third base line, the Toronto Maple Leafs skipper watched his charges build a 7-1 lead over the Guelph Royals, then squander it in the late innings for a 14-7 loss.

During the golden hour at Christie Pits, the Leafs had pounced on starter Edgar Garcia.  They bullied him for eight hits in the first two innings including big flies by DH Yasiel Puig and third baseman Matt Fabian.  Seven runs went on the board and it looked to be a short evening for Garcia.

Then the sun set and everything changed.

From the third inning onward, the Leafs' offence closed up shop.  They recorded four hits and zero runs and Garcia received a stay of execution.  He remained on the mound and battled through seven innings, long enough to be rescued by his teammates for an improbable win.

For the Mapes it was death by a thousand cuts.  After starting off well, they were undone by the cooling of the bats, misplays in the field and on the basepaths, and a bullpen implosion.

Nick Veselinovic had a good start.  He pitched the first four innings and gave up three runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out seven.  He, and the rest of us, enjoyed watching his teammates go to town on Garcia.

Puig's solo home run in the first inning was his third of the season and tied the game 1-1.

In the second, the game looked to be breaking wide open.  The Leafs sent ten men to the plate and opened the frame with five singles in a row.  Left fielder J.J. Dutton and catcher Matt Brandt started the rally, and shortstop Yordan Manduley drove them both in.  Second baseman Spenser Ross singled next, and first baseman Cooper Tomkinson followed with an RBI single.  Fabian then delivered the biggest blow, a three-run homer that made it a 7-1 ballgame after two innings.

Veselinovic gave up two more runs in the third, and departed after four innings.

Kyle Poapst was the first Toronto reliever of the night.  He pitched a scoreless fifth, but gave up a two-run homer two Victor Mascai in the sixth.  He was replaced by Rolando Hermida, who gave up a walk and two doubles to score two more runs.  After six innings, the game was tied 7-7.

The shift in momentum continued into the top of the seventh.  Reinaldo De Paula made his Leafs debut on the mound.  He gave up a double and hit two batters to load the bases.  Deivis Nadal then hit a fly ball that was misplayed by centerfielder Dennis Dei Baning and all three baserunners romped home.  Nadal scored on a wild pitch and the Royals jumped ahead 11-7.

Alex Lanigan took to the mound in the eighth.  He gave up a single and two walks to load the bases, and another single to let in a run.  Frankie Gulko came in to try and put out the fire, but a two-run double by Garrett Takamatsu made it a 14-7 game.

By then, Butler was whipping his helmet off repeatedly.  Everyone looking on shared his frustration.  What began as a laugher for the Leafs saw the visitors have the last laugh.  Garcia got the win in a 14-7 FINAL and De Paula opened his Toronto career with a loss.

Guelph 14 15 1

Toronto 7 12 1

W - Garcia (1-1, 7.20)

L - De Paula (0-1, 0.00)

BOXSCORE

Friday, June 5, 2026 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Hamilton Cardinals

My god.

This was the worst game in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Certainly the worst one I've witnessed since launching this website in 2013.

The Leafs went to Hamilton and got destroyed 23-1.

I attended the game and bore witness to the horror.  As the old saying goes, only one team showed up.  

It was "Murder Mystery Night" at Bernie Arbour Stadium and the Cardinals were all complicit in the killing.

At the plate they racked up 21 hits including four home runs, bludgeoning three Toronto pitchers for 17 earned runs.

On the mound they strangled the visitors with eight innings of shutout baseball.  A solo home run in the ninth by left fielder Dennis Dei Baning was the only time in the game a Toronto runner made it beyond second base.

In the field, the Leafs succumbed to a form of psychosis.  They attempted some catches as if hallucinating that the baseball was coated with lethal acid.  Routine catches were dropped and five errors were recorded.

The boxscore reads like a mass casualty report.  

The Cardinals scored in every inning but the fourth. 

Starter Yadian Martinez was battered for nine runs (seven earned) off nine hits and a walk.

Alex Lanigan could not get through the fifth inning, giving up six runs (five earned) off two hits and two walks without recording an out.

Ben Sitarenios took one for the team and pitched the final 3 2/3 innings.  He was mauled for eight runs (five earned) off ten hits and three walks.

Third baseman Spenser Ross hit a fifth inning double, which was the Leafs' only highlight at the plate until Dei Baning's ninth inning homer.  

It was awful to watch.  I left before the seventh inning stretch, trudging back to the parking lot with my soul dragging behind like the remnant of a punctured balloon.

The murder ended with a 23-1 FINAL score.  It now stands as the worst loss in Mapes history, surpassing a 20-1 pasting inflicted on them in Ottawa, by the expansion Fat Cats, on Victoria Day 2010.*

Hamilton starter Freisis Adames won his third game of the season and Martinez took his third loss as the Leafs' losing streak reached seven games.

* Historic data provided by the club's rogue scorekeeper.

Toronto 1 6 5

Hamilton 23 21 0

W - Adames (3-1, 2.12)

L - Martinez (1-3, 8.84)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, June 7, 2026 - London Majors vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Brando Leroux gets the smoke machine treatment after hitting his first home run as a Toronto Maple Leaf.

Fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs love to see their team CLICK and THROW and HIT and RUN and SCORE.

Sunday at Christie Pits, they were treated to all of those things.

The Leafs snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 7-2 victory over the London Majors.

Venezuela's Wilgenis Alvarado made his first start of the season and pitched six dominant innings.  He gave up just one run on four hits and a walk while striking out three.

In the top of the second inning, the Majors got on the board first thanks to a solo home run by Christian Inoa.

Alvarado's opposite, Dominican Cesilio Pimentel held the Leafs scoreless until the bottom of the fourth.  Left fielder Marcus Knecht led off with a single and DH J.J. Dutton walked.  Second baseman Yordan Manduley followed with a double to score one.  Catcher Matt Brandt hit a sacrifice fly to score the other and the Leafs moved ahead 2-1 through four.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Leafs broke the game open.  Right fielder Yasiel Puig and centerfielder Dennis Dei Baning both singled off Pimentel.  With two out, Dutton and Manduley both stroked RBI singles.  Shortstop Brando Leroux was up next, and he put an exclamation point on the rally by knocking a three-run jack over the fence in left.  It was Leroux's first home run as a Leaf and made the already festive atmosphere at the Pits even more so.  The home side went up 7-1 through five.

Toronto relievers Graham Sim, Reinaldo De Paula and Luis Florentino combined to pitch the final three innings.  London scraped out one more run but nothing else.  The FINAL score was 7-2.  

At the plate, Leroux led with three RBIs.  Manduley went 3-for-4 with a pair of ribbies, and Dutton and Brandt each drove in one.  Dutton also leads the team in batting with a .450 average.

Alvarado took his first win of the season, Pimentel his first loss.  Alvarado's performance dropped his ERA to 3.14, best among Toronto starters.

London 2 8 3

Toronto 7 11 1

W - Alvarado (1-0, 3.14)

L - Pimentel (2-1, 4.58)

BOXSCORE

It's great to end the week with a win, but the Leafs' 2-7 record has them sitting in the CBL basement, 5.0 games behind the Barrie Baycats.

The week ahead:

Wednesday, June 10 - Guelph Royals vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits

Friday, June 12 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Kitchener Panthers, 7:05 pm at Jack Couch Park

Sunday, June 14 - Brantford Red Sox vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits

**POST-CREDITS SCENE**

With the Guelph Royals in town twice in two weeks, it's appropriate to congratulate their manager Dino Roumel on his induction to the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame this year.

Roumel occupies an important place in the Dominico Cinematic Universe.  He was manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs the last time they won the IBL championship in 2007.

He is also the only man to win the championship as manager of three different clubs: Toronto, Guelph and Brantford.

Congratulations Dino!

From the Annex Gleaner: Free Seats, Scoresheets and Athletes

A new season of Maple Leafs baseball launches at Christie Pits

Pitcher Wilgenis Alvarado stares down a Hamilton base runner as thousands of fans take in the action at Christie Pits on May 17.

The world is going to hell, but we still have Maple Leafs baseball.

As the cost of living skyrockets, baseball at Christie Pits remains free for everyone.  This is one of the last unspoiled pleasures of our times.

The 2026 season has gotten under way and the Leafs have upped their game.  They are part of the newly-christened Canadian Baseball League, a professional circuit with clubs in nine Ontario cities.

Thousands flocked to the Pits for the Leafs' season opener.  Many more are expected in the months ahead.

Every ballgame is someone's first ballgame.  Taking inspiration from the Gleaner's annual "Grading Our Greenspaces" park reviews, here follows a kind of gazetteer for newcomers who may find Toronto's sunken ballpark a curious place.  Which corner of Dominico Field is best for you?  Let the degree of your fanhood be your guide.

Street Level.  Recommended for: the unadventurous.

At the park but barely in the park.  Well away from the action, but with a view that takes in everything.  Players' parents will often sit on the lip of the Pits, content to watch without being involved.  This is also a favourite roost for less-mobile fans who don't want to have to climb back up from field level.

The Hillsides.  Recommended for: the good-timers.

These are the all-embracing slopes that surround most of the diamond.  Find a spot, throw down a blanket and set your cares aside for a few hours.  Families, friend groups and spontaneous communities sprawl across the hillsides.  Kids romp, dogs frolic.  It's a summertime idyll.

The Bush.  Recommended for: the party animals.

This dense cluster of trees and scrub sits on the east slope of the park.  It is home to the Leafs' famous fan group, The Bushmen.  Founded by three hardcore fans over a decade ago, the group has swollen in numbers and is famous for relentlessly cheering the home side and heckling opposing players.  Always funny, never vulgar.

The Seats.  Recommended for: the diehards.

Three modest tiers of bench seating wrap around the infield.  Here you will find the regulars, those fans who know all the players and know their stats, their slumps and their triumphs.  Fan-player intimacy is at its peak here.  You are closest to the action and hear every interaction on the diamond.

The Members' Zone.  Recommended for: the status seekers.

Behind the third base fence is the only paid seating in the park.  Members get reserved seats, food and drink, and other VIP perks.  The pizza is great.  Single game passes are also available.  It's an exclusive bubble for people who prefer not to rub elbows with the hoi polloi.

The Fences.  Recommended for: the associates.

Two long fences stretch from the infield to the outfield corners.  Onlookers drape their arms over these fences, happy to stand and watch the entire game.  This is where you will often find teams' front office staff, clusters of photographers, or ex-teammates who stop by to visit and chat.

The Outfield and Beyond.  Recommended for: the distant observers.

Furthest from home plate, but still a great view of the entire diamond.  A nice vantage point to watch plays unfold with no obstructions.  Fans set up blankets, folding chairs, even tents from which to sit and watch.  Also conveniently close to the snack bar and restrooms.

On the diamond, there has been a huge turnover.

Fans arriving at Christie Pits will want to grab one of the free program sheets that are handed out by club staff.

As of this writing, the Leafs have signed 17 new players for the 2026 season.  That’s well over half of the 28-player roster.

Among the players who have departed are long-time veterans Greg Carrington, Jordan Castaldo, Marek Deska, Ryan Dos Santos, Connor Lewis, and all three Marra brothers, Adam, Dan and Justin.

Some returning favourites include pitchers Wilgenis Alvarado and Luis Florentino, and outfielders Marcus Knecht and Dennis Dei Baning.

Returning for his fourth season at the helm is field manager Rob Butler, joined by assistant coaches Rich Butler and Brian Sewell.

The Leafs go from being one of the league's oldest teams to one of the youngest.  The newcomers bring plenty of youth and energy.  This summer, fans can start getting attached to the next generation of Maple Leaf stars

As well as Yasiel Puig.

Yes, that Yasiel Puig.  In late April, social media erupted over a Toronto Star report that the Leafs had signed the ex-MLB All-Star to the Canadian Baseball League's largest-ever contract.  The report turned out to be true.

In the Leafs’ season opener, Puig made his Toronto debut in style.  Before an estimated crowd of 4,000, he hit a pair of home runs to lead his new club to an 8-6 victory over the Kitchener Panthers.

If Puig sticks around for the entire season, he will continue to be a huge draw.  Even if he doesn’t, there is still plenty of baseball to be had as the Leafs pursue their first league championship since 2007. 

The regular season continues to the end of August.

More information about the Leafs and their schedule can be found at mapleleafsbaseball.com.

[This story was originally published in the June 2026 edition of the Annex Gleaner.]

Crash! Bang! Wallop! (negative connotation)

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - May 25 to 31, 2026

Week 3 in Maple Leafs baseball was tough sledding.

The Leafs were back in action and found beating the league leaders no little task.

After a rained out week caused a 10-day layoff, the Toronto Maple Leafs faced three of the CBL's top teams.

In all three games, the Barrie Baycats, London Majors and Welland Jackfish gave the Leafs a big dose of reality in this new professional league.

The Leafs were swept and a five-game losing streak sees them sink to a tie for the bottom of the standings.

After showing promise in an 8-6 opening day victory, the Leaf offence has gone colder than yesterday's pizza.  Since their only win of the year, they have scored ten runs in five games.

On the mound, the club continues to roll out its arsenal of new arms.  Most of the hurlers put in decent performances so far.  It's the lack of offence and failure to get runners home that is costing the team.

On the plus side, fans continue to flock to Christie Pits in great numbers.

The club also rolled out some cool new short-sleeve hoodies, modeled by some of the guys below.

And now, here's the recap of Week 3 in Maple Leafs baseball.

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 - Barrie Baycats vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Newcomer Nick Veselinovic's first home start resulted in a no-decision.

The Barrie Baycats chose violence.

This week, the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted their first Wednesday Nighter of the season.

The Baycats came to Christie Pits and hit five home runs, including a grand slam, to win a 13-3 laugher.

Early on, it didn't look like the game would go that way.

In the bottom of the first inning, right fielder Marcus Knecht worked a full count off starter Frank Garces, then deposited the next pitch over the fence with a solo swat.  The Leafs banged out three more hits including a double by DH Yasiel Puig, and roared out to a 3-0 lead.

There was barely time to enjoy the advantage.  In the top of the second, crash!  Barrie roared back with three runs off starter Nick Veselinovic, including a homer by Francisco Hernandez.  The game was tied 3-3 after two frames.

Veselinovic pitched one more scoreless frame, then departed.  

In the top of the fourth, reliever Rolando Hermida took the mound for the home side and surrendered back-to-back home runs to Noah Hull and Canice Ejoh.  That put the 'Cats ahead 5-3 and there they would stay.

In the top of the sixth, Hull hit his second home run of the day off reliever Ben Sitarenios to make it a 7-3 game.

Wilgenis Alvarado and Graham Sim each pitched a scoreless inning for Toronto, as fans hoped for a late rally.  After that big first inning, the Leafs were unable to bring any more runs across the plate.  Not for lack of trying.  They recorded 10 hits on the night and stranded nine runners. 

Instead, it was the visitors who capped off the night with a rally.  In the ninth inning, reliever Ryan Capuano gave up four hits and a pair of walks.  Barrie scored six runs and Nolan Machibroda delivered the final blow with a grand slam.  

In the bottom of the ninth, pinch hitter Ben Sterritt doubled off of the ageless Brad Grieveson but that would be the final futile action for the Leafs who went down in a 13-3 FINAL.  Garces went five-plus innings for the win.  Veselinovic escaped with a no-decision while Hermida took the loss. 

One bright spot in the evening was the first glimpse of new sleeveless hoodies sported by Leafs players.  Baby blue with royal blue trim, they are a reverse-retro-city-connect kind of thing.

Barrie 13 12 1

Toronto 3 10 3

W - Garces (2-0, 3.38)

L - Hermida (0-1, 10.80)

BOXSCORE

Friday, May 29, 2026 - Toronto Maple Leafs at London Majors

Ducks on the pond? Leafs shortstop Yordan Manduley is backed up by some feathered friends. (image: London Majors YouTube)

Friday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs hit the road to Labatt Memorial Park and didn't hit much else.

The Mapes recorded a pair of singles and a double by shortstop Yordan Manduley in a 6-2 loss to the London Majors.

Newcomer Frankie Gulko made the start for Toronto against Victor Payano for the home side.

In the bottom of the first, bang!  The Majors jumped to an early lead thanks to a two-run home run by Tucker Zdunich.

They added a run in the second and another in the fourth to build a 4-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth the Leafs showed signs of life.  A hit-by-pitch and a single by second baseman Spenser Ross put two men aboard.  Left fielder Matt Fabian cashed in both runners with a line drive to centerfield.  That cut London's lead in half, 4-2.

Payano hunkered down and completed seven innings on the mound.  The Leafs went hitless the rest of the way, racking up 12 strikeouts on the night.  

Toronto relievers Ben Sitarenios and Kyle Poapst each gave up a run and the Majors made off with a 6-2 FINAL.  Payano with the win, Gulko with the loss.

Toronto 2 3 1

London 6 14 0

W - Payano (1-1, 3.31)

L - Gulko (0-1, 6.75)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, May 31, 2026 - Welland Jackfish vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Justin Gideon opened the scoring with a first inning homer.

Another game of lost opportunities.

On a sunny afternoon at Christie Pits, the Leafs hosted the Welland Jackfish.  The pitching gave up an early lead and the bats could not rally until it was too late.

Home runs continue to hurt.  Top of the first inning, wallop!  Justin Gideon launched a Yadian Martinez pitch over the fence.  Two batters later, Brendan Luther hit a two-run bomb.  Just like that, the visitors were off to a 3-0 lead.

They would need little else.  

Yoilan Quinonez pitched five shutout innings for the Jackfish, scattering 6 hits and walking none.  He struck out three.

The Leafs were frustratingly consistent across those first five:

1st: single, runner stranded

2nd: single, runner stranded

3rd: 2 singles, runner stranded

4th: single, runner stranded

5th: single, runner stranded.

It was a rough outing for Martinez.  He also went five but gave up five runs (four earned) off of seven hits and no walks.  He struck out four.

Through five, the Jackfish enjoyed a 5-0 lead.  The rest of the game belonged to Wilgenis Alvarado.  He pitched the last four innings for Toronto, giving up five hits and a walk while striking out three.  

In the bottom of the eighth, the home side finally put together some action.  Catcher Matt Brandt led off with a solo blast over the Solazzo Wall, his second of the season, off reliever Danny Howat.  First baseman Matt Fabian followed with a double.  The next man up was centerfielder J.J. Dutton and he also doubled to bring home Fabian.  Fans liked this action!  Owen Ozanich took to the mound to put out the fire, and the score was 5-2 after eight innings.

In the top of the ninth, the 'Fish grabbed one more run to make it a 6-2 game.

Bottom nine, the Leafs gave it the old college try.  Second baseman Spenser Ross and Fabian both hit singles, but in keeping with the pattern of the day they both remained stranded after three outs.  Welland took the 6-2 FINAL and Quinonez got the win.  Martinez, who has claimed the "Sunday starter" role at the Pits, suffered his second loss of the season.

And that makes it a five-game losing streak for the Leafs.

Welland 6 12 1

Toronto 2 11 2

W - Quinonez (1-0, 0.00)

L - Martinez (1-2, 7.20)

BOXSCORE

The Leafs' record drops to 1-5 and they are tied with the Guelph Royals for eighth place in the CBL standings, 3.5 games behind the Barrie Baycats and Welland Jackfish.

The week ahead:

Wednesday, June 3 - Guelph Royals vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits (rescheduled rainout)

Friday, June 5 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Hamilton Cardinals, 7:35 pm at Bernie Arbour Stadium

Sunday, June 7 - London Majors vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits

That's a Wash

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - May 18 to 24, 2026

Week 2 in Maple Leafs baseball was completely rained out.

(image: StockCake)

No action for the Toronto Maple Leafs this week.

Both of their scheduled games - Saturday in Welland and Sunday at home - were rained out.

The Jackfish have not yet announced when the Leafs will head to Welland Stadium for the make up game.

The Leafs have announced that Sunday's postponed matchup against the Guelph Royals will now take place on Wednesday, June 3 at 7:30pm at Christie Pits.

While the team looks ahead to the next slate of games starting this Wednesday night, there is also an update on outfielder Yasiel Puig's status with the club.  For the time being, there is no change.

Puig was scheduled to be sentenced on May 26 for obstruction of justice and making false statements in an investigation into illegal gambling.

However, an acquittal motion filed by the defence has resulted in a postponement of the sentencing, which is now scheduled for June 30.  The delay means that Puig can play over one-third of the Leafs' scheduled regular season before learning his legal fate.

At the sentencing, Puig faces a possible prison term, fines or probation.  Prosecutors have asked for an 18-month prison sentence followed by three years of parole.  The defence has asked for parole.

The Cuban ex-MLB All-Star opened his tenure with the Leafs with a bang, hitting two home runs on opening day.  

Yasiel Puig

Saturday, May 23, 2026 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Welland Jackfish

This game was rained out.

Sunday, May 24, 2026 - Guelph Royals vs Toronto Maple Leafs

This game was rained out.

The Leafs' record remains 1-2 and they are tied for sixth place in the CBL standings, 1.5 games behind the Kitchener Panthers and London Majors.

The week ahead:

Wednesday, May 27 - Barrie Baycats vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits

Friday, May 29 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Brantford Red Sox, 7:05 pm at Labatt Memorial Park

Sunday, May 31 - Welland Jackfish vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits