Game 2 between the Dodgers and Blue Jays had it all—Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s brilliance on the mound, a lukewarm Jonas Brothers performance, and a mysterious man in white behind home plate who looked straight out of a KFC ad. The Blue Jays’ bats went cold, but fans couldn’t help wondering if it was Yamamoto’s pitching or that eerie white suit that cursed their night.

When cameras captured the Colonel Sanders lookalike behind the plate, baseball superstitions kicked in. Fans directly thought of the renowned “Curse of the Colonel” from Japan.

Well, in 1985, fans of the Hanshin Tigers tossed a KFC monument into Osaka’s Dotombori Canal to celebrate. The Tigers won that championship, but they didn’t win again for 38 years.

The curse felt true.

The club lost games in 2003 and 2005, and they didn’t win again until 2023. So, when the Colonel showed up at the WS, it created a little tension among the Dodgers fans. And why not? They are the logical target because their team has significant ties to Japan. But LA won the game by 5-1, leaving Blue Jays fans wondering if the curse had moved to the other side.

Wendy’s wasn’t about to let this moment pass. The fast-food chain, which has deep ties with Canadian baseball fans and the Blue Jays, jumped on social media platform X with a pointed message: “Sorry, Colonel. You’re bad luck.” The tweet hit like a fastball coming from Yammaoto’s glove—a hard one to ignore. Wendy’s effectively called out their competitor while defending their home team, transforming a baseball superstition into a full-blown fast-food feud.

That tweet got attention because it joined the debate fans were already having. Wendy pointed out the superstition that had everyone talking as Canadian baseball fans dealt with a tough loss.

Later, KFC confirmed that the Colonel was their representative and that he was there to promote a clever marketing approach. The chain changed the name of their ‘Zinger Sandwich’ to the ‘Dinger Sandwich’ just for the World Series, to celebrate Canadian baseball.

“When the nation’s baseball fever hit new heights, we knew we had to step up to the plate with something just as bold,” said Azim Akhtar, KFC Canada’s interim chief marketing officer.

It was a bit of both. KFC’s clever campaign to celebrate Canadian baseball backfired when fans tied the Colonel to the loss, while Wendy’s seized the moment with sharp timing, turning marketing into playful brand warfare that fueled the World Series buzz.

Still, for the Blue Jays, the real challenge lies on the field. With all the superstition and social media noise swirling, their focus now has to be on execution, not the chatter surrounding them.

The company wanted to show support for Canadian baseball fandom and the moments that bring fans together. Instead, they became scapegoats for a loss. Well, that’s what the followers seem to believe.

Whether Colonel Sanders was behind the Blue Jays’ Game 2 loss to the Dodgers is all speculation. But the skipper, John Schneider, is all set with his strategies as they go to Dodger Stadium for Game 3.

Schneider’s Game plan: Starter through the inning, relievers on reserve

It’s still up in the air whether the Toronto Blue Jays lost Game 2 because of the famous Colonel or just terrible luck. What matters most right now is that John Schneider, the team’s captain, has a clear plan for Game 3.

Schneider said that Bo Bichette should be back in the lineup at second base on Monday for this vital game, with the series at 1-1. Schneider remarked, “He’s working out here today.” “Felt good coming out of yesterday. I think with each day that goes on, he’ll probably get as close to normal as he can at this stage of the year. But the fact that he’s out here working out today is a good sign, and I expect him to be in there tomorrow.”

The manager also pointed out the bullpen as a problem for Toronto. The Blue Jays’ relievers had an ERA of 5.52  during the postseason before starting the WS. Schneider stressed that “it starts on the mound with the starter. If you can churn through some innings and even if it’s just saving one, winning here or there for one of your bullpen guys, that’s huge.”

As the Jays head to Los Angeles Dodgers territory for Game 3, Schneider’s advice is clear: trust your starter, keep the bullpen fresh, and don’t let the relief corps get too much exposure too soon. Bichette’s return strengthens their lineup, but the plan’s success now depends on how effectively the pitching staff executes it.

Will the Rogers Center’s Warriors be able to take the lead and let the curse be just speculation?