National Sports

The NHL Players' Association says its executive director and assistant executive director are in Columbus, Ohio, to investigate reports of Blue Jackets head coach Mike Babcock invading players' privacy.

VANCOUVER — For the second time in his career, Richie Laryea is returning to a former club.

HENDERSON, Nev. — Brady Tkachuk knows eyebrows were raised. The Ottawa Senators signed defenceman Jake Sanderson — a player with just 77 games of NHL experience — earlier this month to an eight-year, US$64.

OAKVILLE, Ont. — The Toronto Rock won't be booted out of their home arena during the upcoming season because of renovations.

Ronald Acuña Jr. has the kind of numbers that make the young Atlanta Braves star a no-doubter for the National League MVP award. Then again, so does Dodgers standout Mookie Betts and his teammate, Freddie Freeman.

TORONTO (AP) — Texas right-hander Max Scherzer will miss the rest of the regular season, and likely wouldn't be able to pitch in the playoffs if the Rangers make the postseason, because of a strained muscle in his shoulder.

Wednesday's Scoreboard MLB American League Tampa Bay 5, Minnesota 4 Seattle 3, L.A. Angels 2 Toronto 10, Texas 0 Houston Brown 6, Oakland 0 N.Y.

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros were certainly disappointed to see their combined no-hit bid against the Oakland Athletics broken up with one out in the ninth on Wednesday night.

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays aren't happy about getting blown out in three critical games either. Fans booed the Blue Jays off the field after a lacklustre 10-0 loss to the Texas Rangers on Wednesday.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves clinched their sixth straight NL East title, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 on Wednesday night behind Spencer Strider's major league-leading 17th win and Austin Riley’s two-run homer.