The ALCS finale promises high drama tonight, with history on the line. The Mariners are chasing their first-ever World Series berth, while the Blue Jays aim to return for the first time since 1993. But the pressure’s heavier on Toronto — as Canada’s only MLB team, the Jays carry the hopes of an entire nation.

That said, not everyone feels the same. For former Montreal Expos fans, it’s complicated as they are torn between rooting for the Canadian team and holding on to that old Toronto rivalry. And with Game 7 looming, that mix of pride, nostalgia, and rivalry makes the moment even more electric.

“As a diehard Montreal fan, Habs fan, Expos fan, it’s hard to root for a team from Toronto.” ctvnews.ca quoted an Expos fan.

Well, even if it sounds surprising, the Blue Jays-Expos rivalry could even take over the national pride. Their interleague games were known as the Canadian Series, and those might not be as intense as the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, but they were a significant symbol of provincial pride.

When the Expos relocated to Washington, D.C. in 2005, the rivalry disappeared. Many Canadian baseball fans shifted their loyalty to the Blue Jays by default, though some Expos loyalists never made the switch. Even today, you’ll find fans in Quebec who refuse to root for Toronto, keeping that rivalry spirit alive in quiet defiance.

However, now that the Blue Jays are on the verge of history, the Expos fans are in a dilemma about how to support Toronto. Still, again, it’s next to impossible to root for the Mariners against their own country’s team. However, for a few Expos fans, that’s still possible.

“In this circumstance, being at the game for the excitement and the experience, I’d like to see the Jays win. And then when they play the Dodgers in the World Series, I could cheer for them to lose!” another fan quoted.

The only connection point for the Expos fans is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Jays. While the Blue Jays are all betting on their superstar slugger to get over Game 7, Expos fans view him differently.

Reportedly, his father, Guerrero Sr., played for the Expos, so rooting for Guerrero Jr., a Montreal native, is still viable for a few Expos fans. “When Junior started playing for Toronto…it just gave me this connection to his dad,” another fan said.

The Blue Jays are all set to rewrite history

The Blue Jays are back in the ALCS for the first time since 2016, when they fell short against Cleveland. And guess what, this year’s run has been nothing short of electric… They took down the Yankees in the ALDS and now find themselves in a winner-take-all showdown with the Mariners for a trip to the World Series.

And honestly, this Jays team has looked as dominant as they’ve been in years. They owned the Yankees all season long, even sweeping them in one regular-season series, and they’re smashing records along the way.

For instance, utility man Ernie Clement has been on fire, racking up 17 hits this postseason. For reference, that’s more than the entire Brewers lineup managed in their NLCS. Meanwhile, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has etched his name into team history with six postseason home runs, breaking Jose Bautista’s old mark.

Well, it’s been a story of resilience, too. Notably, the Jays became just the 14th team in MLB history to go from last in their division to first in a single season. So now, with Game 7 on deck, all eyes are on who’ll earn the right to face the Dodgers in the World Series.