Canada' Leroux, Hill and Mathieson starting pitchers at World Baseball Classic

The Canadian Press

TORONTO - Canada has named its three starting pitchers for the first round of the World Baseball Classic.

Baseball Canada's Greg Hamilton says Chris Leroux, Shawn Hill and Scott Mathieson will take the mound next week against Italy, Mexico and the United States.

Montreal's Leroux is coming off an injury-shortened season as a reliever with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Hill, a native of Mississauga, Ont., who won gold with Canada at the 2011 Pan Am Games, made 15 starts with the Toronto Blue Jays' triple-A affiliate last season. He's with the Detroit Tigers now.

Vancouver's Mathieson, a former Philadelphia Phillies reliever, helped Japan's Yomiuri Giants win the Nippon Professional Baseball championship last season.

Canada opens the WBC against Italy on March 8 in Arizona.