Sports Express | October 8, 2026 — Rays Sweep Yankees to Reach First ALCS Since 2020

1. Rays Sweep Yankees in Three Straight, Return to ALCS for First Time Since 2020

Source: Sportsnet (AP)

Victor Mesa Jr. hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning to lift the Tampa Bay Rays over the New York Yankees 4-3 on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, completing a three-game sweep of their AL Division Series. It sends the Rays to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2020. They will host the Chicago White Sox or Cleveland Guardians in the opener on Monday.

The 25-year-old Mesa defected from Cuba in 2018 and was designated for assignment by Miami just before spring training before being traded to Tampa Bay. Ryan Vilade also homered for the Rays. The sixth inning featured a controversial moment: Anthony Volpe appeared to hit a two-run shot with two outs, but a fan reached over the left-field wall; replay umpire Malachi Moore ruled the ball would neither have cleared the wall nor been caught by Mesa, so Volpe was awarded an RBI double.

Rays reliever Bryan Baker struck out Trent Grisham in the ninth to become the first pitcher in postseason history with three saves and no hits allowed in a three-game sweep. Yankees starter Max Fried said: “We played a good game and did enough to win, and unfortunately I didn’t do enough to hold up my end of the bargain.”

Source

2. Dodgers Beat Braves 4-1 to Reach a Second Straight NLCS

Source: Sportsnet (AP)

Andy Pages drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the seventh inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Wednesday night in Atlanta to clinch their NL Division Series 3-1 and advance to the NLCS, as they chase the first three-peat in National League history.

A year ago, Pages went 4 for 51 (.078) in the postseason and lost his starting job; in this clincher he contributed two hits. Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow, making his first start since Sept. 24, allowed only one hit but walked five in 4 2/3 innings. Atlanta drew 18 walks in the series and none scored, finishing 1 for 23 with runners in scoring position.

Max Muncy hit a solo shot off Raisel Iglesias in the ninth, giving him 19 postseason homers with the Dodgers and extending his franchise record. Closer Edwin Díaz recorded his second save of the series, and his second in two nights. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said: “That’s the reason why we got him.”

Source

3. Trump Says Roger Clemens Will Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom, Calls for Hall of Fame Entry

Source: Yahoo Sports

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday at a rally in San Antonio, Texas, that former pitcher Roger Clemens will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Clemens stood nearby and introduced Trump. Trump said he had played golf with Clemens earlier this year, which prompted him to call MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to lobby on his Hall of Fame case.

Trump said: “He won seven Cy Youngs!” Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, two more than any other pitcher, along with two World Series titles, 11 All-Star selections, an AL MVP, two 20-strikeout games and two triple crowns. But induction is decided first by voters from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, and the MLB commissioner has no power over it; Clemens never received more than 65.2% of the BBWAA vote, due to long-standing steroid allegations. Because of Hall of Fame rule changes, he will not be considered again until at least 2031.

Clemens said: “I’m stunned, number one. Twenty-four years, y’all, this supersedes anything I’ve done in my playing career. To get it from this man, this president, there wouldn’t be another president I’d want to get it from.”

Source

4. MLB Sends Memo to Teams Outlining Lockout Procedures

Source: MLB Trade Rumors

MLB sent a memo to teams last week outlining procedures and guidelines for team personnel during the expected offseason lockout, according to Evan Drellich of The Athletic. “Our commitment has been and remains to exhaust every realistic option to achieve our goal of reaching an agreement with the Players Association,” MLB negotiator Dan Halem wrote in the memo. “However, clubs need to be prepared for the possibility that an agreement will not be reached by then and the clubs are left with no realistic alternative but to implement a lockout of major league players.”

The current collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Dec. 1, and there is virtually no chance a new CBA will be in place by then; the league will immediately implement a lockout to freeze offseason activity. As with the 2021-22 lockout, team personnel will essentially be barred from interacting with players on a 40-man roster. In a lighthearted example, MLB said club personnel can attend a player’s wedding during a lockout so long as they don’t discuss work, but must send any holiday cards or gifts before Dec. 2.

The most notable aspect of the report is that the status of the Rule 5 draft is to be determined in negotiations. The Rule 5 draft is scheduled for mid-December but cannot take place mid-lockout; MLB canceled the 2021 edition. Minor league transactions are not affected, and minor leaguers who are not on the 40-man roster will play the 2027 season regardless.

Source

5. Bouchard’s Historic Start Powers Oilers Past Ducks 5-2

Source: TSN (AP)

Evan Bouchard had two goals and an assist to become the second defenseman in NHL history with at least six goals through the first four games of a season, and the Edmonton Oilers used a five-goal second period to beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 on Wednesday night. Bouchard leads the league with six goals; Harry Cameron had eight goals in four games for the Toronto Arenas during the NHL’s inaugural 1917-18 season.

Leon Draisaitl had four assists, Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists, and Kasperi Kapanen and Vasily Podkolzin also scored. The Oilers won their third straight game, with Devon Levi making 28 saves. Bouchard is also the fifth defenseman in league history with at least 10 points through the first four games, last done by Morgan Rielly of the Maple Leafs in 2018-19.

For Anaheim, Beckett Sennecke scored twice, both on the power play, and Leo Carlsson had two assists. Nikita Klepov, the No. 15 pick in the 2026 draft, made his NHL debut at 18 years, 102 days, becoming the youngest player in franchise history.

Source

6. Connor’s Last-Minute Goal Lifts Jets Past Avalanche 3-2

Source: CBS Sports (AP)

Kyle Connor broke a tie with a minute left with his second goal of the game, Stuart Skinner made 32 saves, and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory.

Mark Scheifele sent a pass from near the boards to a charging Connor, who beat goalie Mackenzie Blackwood. Connor has five goals in four games, and he and Cole Perfetti scored in the second period to give Winnipeg a 2-1 lead.

Colorado’s Fedor Svechkov tied it with 7:25 left in the third. Jaden Schwartz opened the scoring in the first for the Avalanche, and Blackwood stopped 16 shots. Colorado visits Calgary on Thursday night, while the Jets host Anaheim on Friday night.

Source

7. A Drained Gauff Falls to Mertens at China Open Days After Racist Abuse

Source: NBC Sports (AP)

Coco Gauff said she had “no energy” in a 6-3, 6-3 loss to Elise Mertens at the China Open on Wednesday in Beijing, missing the quarterfinals. It came days after Gauff received what she described as an “insane” amount of racist comments on social media, and against a player she had beaten in all five previous meetings.

In Monday’s match against home player Sun Xinran, the fourth-ranked Gauff stopped a rally late in the first set when electronic advertising boards lining the court flickered; the chair umpire ordered the point to be replayed. Gauff, who is Black, responded on X: “Hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist. The amount of racist comments/dms I’ve received in the last few hours is insane. Lastly, I’m not a cheater or a thief.” Later Wednesday, the Wuhan Open announced the defending champion Gauff had withdrawn, quoting her as saying: “After a long year, my body needs some time to rest and recover.”

Against the 19th-ranked Mertens, Gauff was broken four times and committed 34 unforced errors to Mertens’ 11, with eight double faults to her opponent’s two. It sent Mertens to her first quarterfinal at a WTA 1000 event in five years; she will next face Iga Swiatek. “She’s an incredible player, of course. I knew it was going to be a very tough match,” Mertens said. “But I had motivation. My coach/boyfriend, it’s his birthday tomorrow. So this win is dedicated to him and all the work we do.”

Source

8. Rahm’s Lawyer Says His Client Will Not Return to LIV Golf

Source: Golf Channel

Jon Rahm will not be returning to LIV Golf next season, per his attorney. Lawyer John Beck, appearing Wednesday in a LIV bankruptcy hearing, said his client “has independently reviewed the proposed terms of LIV 2.0 … and has determined that those terms are unacceptable to him, and he will not be participating going forward.”

LIV moved its player-commitment deadline for next season back two weeks to Oct. 25, though reports noted Rahm was given a later deadline of Nov. 5. Beck added that Rahm and the league are working on a separation agreement with the goal of finalizing it by Oct. 15. LIV lost its funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund this year and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month; according to The Athletic, Rahm would be the largest creditor, with more than $100 million owed to him.

The 31-year-old Spaniard isn’t the only player leaving: his countryman Sergio Garcia was recently granted a release from his contract by a New Jersey bankruptcy court. On Monday, LIV and BC Partners announced a restructuring support agreement that includes a $300 million investment in LIV 2.0, which will feature a smaller schedule and purses but offer players a 52.5% equity share. Since signing with LIV in December 2023, Rahm won three straight season-long individual titles.

Source

9. CFL Week 19: B.C. Lions, Calgary Stampeders Can Clinch Playoff Berths

Source: 3DownNation

The B.C. Lions and Calgary Stampeders can officially clinch playoff berths in Week 19, the CFL confirmed Tuesday. To secure a postseason spot, the Lions must beat the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday night. The teams last met in late August at TD Place Stadium, where B.C. won 45-24 as Zander Horvath rushed 24 times for 164 yards and four touchdowns.

The Lions have made the playoffs four straight seasons, winning last year’s West Semi-Final over Calgary before losing the West Final to Saskatchewan. The club has the longest Grey Cup drought in the West, having not appeared in or won the CFL’s championship game since 2011. The Stampeders can also clinch with a win this week, visiting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday; the teams have split two meetings this season.

The Montreal Alouettes, Edmonton Elks and Toronto Argonauts have each clinched, while the Redblacks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats have been eliminated. The Lions (9-6) host the Redblacks (0-15) on Friday night, while the Stampeders (8-8) visit the Blue Bombers (7-8) on Saturday.

Source

10. Odell Beckham Jr. Joins Vikings, Starting on the Practice Squad

Source: Bleacher Report

Following his release from the New York Giants, Odell Beckham Jr. has found a new home with the Minnesota Vikings, the team announced Wednesday. Beckham will initially join Minnesota’s practice squad while Justin Jefferson continues to nurse an ankle injury.

Beckham signed with the Giants in June for a reunion with his old team and made the 53-man roster, but it quickly became apparent he wouldn’t be a big part of the offensive game plan. He played just a handful of snaps with one target through the first few games, and the team released him on Sept. 29; the decision was reportedly mutual as Beckham eyed a bigger role elsewhere.

At 33, Beckham isn’t the All-Pro caliber player he once was, but he has the potential to make an impact. He didn’t play in 2025, got limited reps with the Miami Dolphins in 2024, but hauled in 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. The Vikings are 4-0 and face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Source