Canadian Tire is giving thousands of employees time off to cheer on Canada's team in the major league baseball playoffs.

It says it's closing its head offices on Friday, so its staff can watch the Blue Jays.

Canadian Tire says 5,000 employees will get the day off because of the closure in Toronto, including the Sport Chek head office, and Mark's Work Wearhouse head office in Calgary.

The Jays open the first two games of the American League divisional series at home tomorrow.