Sports Express | October 9, 2026 — MLB Proposes 154-Game Season, Best-of-Seven Division Series

1. MLB Proposes 154-Game Season, Best-of-Seven Division Series

Source: Bleacher Report

Amid the ongoing playoffs, MLB unveiled new elements of its proposal to the MLB Players Association in collective bargaining talks. The plan would cut the regular season to 154 games and expand the Division Series from best-of-five to best-of-seven. If approved, the changes would take effect in 2029.

Another part of the proposal, starting in 2027, would let higher-seeded clubs in the Wild Card and Division Series rounds pick their opponents. The union said Thursday it will respond at the bargaining table, noting the plan remains "contingent on players' agreement to a salary cap." The current CBA expires Dec. 1.

The Division Series has been best-of-five since the wild-card era began in 1995, and the 162-game season has been in place leaguewide since 1962.

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2. Guardians Beat White Sox 9-5 to Force Decisive Game 5

Source: Sportsnet

CHICAGO — José Ramírez homered and drove in three runs as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox 9-5 on Thursday night to force a winner-take-all Game 5 in their AL Division Series. Patrick Bailey also went deep, and Game 2 starter Gavin Williams came out of the bullpen to get the final three outs.

After losing the first two games at home, Cleveland has won two straight in Chicago. Jo Adell hit a two-run single in a six-run sixth inning. The road team has won all four games in the only Division Series to go the distance this year. Game 5 is Saturday night in Cleveland, with the winner opening the ALCS at Tampa Bay next Monday.

Cleveland is trying to become the first team to erase a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five series since the 2017 Yankees did it — against Cleveland. Teams leading 2-0 have won 83 of 93 such series.

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3. MLB Sends Owners a Memo on Lockout Conduct

Source: Yahoo Sports

With the CBA set to expire, MLB reportedly sent a 34-page memo to owners and executives on Oct. 1 detailing how they should act and operate during a lockout, per The Athletic.

If a lockout begins, teams and players are barred from discussing business. The memo urged teams not to send holiday cards to players — unless before a lockout; executives may still attend player weddings but cannot talk business there; and if they run into a player unexpectedly, they may "be cordial." The league website will again remove player videos and images, including names and pictures from article headlines — a tactic used in 2021.

Executives were also given talking points, including that they expect the 2027 season to go off as planned and that season-ticket holders would be credited or refunded if games are canceled. The current CBA expires Dec. 1.

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4. Buccaneers Beat Sloppy Cowboys 24-16 for First Win

Source: Sportsnet

ARLINGTON, Texas — Bucky Irving ran for 165 yards, including a 72-yard burst that set up the go-ahead touchdown, and scored twice as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Dallas Cowboys 24-16 on Thursday night for their first win of the season. Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, filling in for the injured Baker Mayfield, finished 19 of 25 for 189 yards with a TD pass and no turnovers.

Mayfield is expected to miss at least one more game with a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand. Irving averaged 7.9 yards on 21 carries as Tampa Bay improved to 1-4. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was 24 of 42 for 316 yards with a TD pass to George Pickens and his first two-interception game of the season.

Dallas dropped to 2-3. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said he didn't plan on the start but added, "there's a lot of football left."

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5. Maple Leafs Blow 3-0 Lead, Lose to Golden Knights in Shootout

Source: Sportsnet

LAS VEGAS — Rookie Trevor Connelly scored in the fifth round of the shootout and the Vegas Golden Knights erased a three-goal deficit to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 on Thursday night. Connelly beat Sergei Bobrovsky with a backhand-forehand move, then Vegas goalie Adin Hill denied John Tavares.

Toronto led 3-0 in the first period on goals by Jack Roslovic, Easton Cowan and Nick Paul. Roslovic scored 34 seconds into his 600th career game for his 300th career point. Vegas answered through Mark Stone, Brett Howden and Jack Eichel, the latter on a penalty shot.

Hill made 21 saves; Bobrovsky made 40 as Vegas outshot Toronto 43-24.

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6. Yakemchuk's Power-Play Winner Lifts Senators Over Flyers

Source: Sportsnet

OTTAWA — Carter Yakemchuk's first regular-season goal was the game-winner as the Ottawa Senators beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 on Thursday night. Yakemchuk broke the tie on the power play with seven minutes left in regulation; he made his NHL debut in last spring's playoffs.

The Flyers (0-3-2) are still seeking their first win. Matvei Michkov was the lone Flyer to beat Linus Ullmark, who made 29 saves; Joseph Woll stopped 24 for Philadelphia. Ottawa's Nick Cousins opened the scoring midway through the first. Philadelphia's William Eklund left in the first period after a hit and did not return.

The Senators improved to 3-1-0, finishing 1-for-5 on the power play and now 2-for-18 on the season.

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7. Clark Left Off 19 MVP Ballots as Wilson Wins Fifth Award

Source: Fox News

The WNBA announced Thursday that A'ja Wilson won a record fifth MVP award, receiving 65 of 74 first-place votes. Minnesota rookie Olivia Miles finished second with 442 points, followed by Indiana's Kelsey Mitchell (287) and Caitlin Clark (212).

Clark appeared on 55 ballots but received just one first-place vote, while 19 voters left her off entirely. She averaged 22.3 points and 8.3 assists, becoming the first WNBA player to average at least 20 points and eight assists in a season. Combining her own scoring with points created by her assists, she averaged 41.2 points per game — the highest in league history, per the WNBA's end-of-season review.

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8. LeBron James Shines in 76ers Preseason Debut

Source: Sportsnet

NEW YORK — LeBron James had 10 points, five assists and four rebounds in the first half of his Philadelphia 76ers debut, an exhibition game against the Brooklyn Nets, helping his new team to a 58-56 lead. The 41-year-old forward joined the 76ers this summer on a two-year, league-minimum deal for an NBA-record 24th season.

Philadelphia debuted its rebuilt lineup, with James and fellow newcomer Jaylen Brown starting alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Maxey scored 14 points. Coach Nick Nurse praised James as "a great, great passer."

The 76ers have two preseason games left, both against the Celtics, and open the season Oct. 20 in New York, where the Knicks will raise their championship banner.

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9. Rogers' $11B NHL Deal Ends Hockey Night in Canada on CBC

Source: Yahoo! Finance Canada

Hockey Night in Canada has ended its run on CBC after Rogers' sublicensing agreement with the public broadcaster expired at the end of last season's Stanley Cup playoffs. On Oct. 3, the first Saturday of the NHL season, CBC viewers at 7 pm saw cricket instead of hockey — the first time since 1952 the network gave up that slot.

The games moved behind a paywall on Sportsnet, and fans who want every national broadcast now must pay Rogers and Amazon. Rogers holds a 12-year, $11-billion national NHL rights deal. CBC's cricket drew about 27,000 overnight viewers, while Sportsnet's 7:15 pm national game drew about 1.45 million.

The HNIC brand isn't gone, though: CBC will revive it Dec. 5 with eight primetime PWHL games.

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10. PWHL Unveils Jerseys for Four Expansion Teams

Source: SportsLogos.Net News

With about two months until the 2026-27 season, the Professional Women's Hockey League rolled out the jerseys its four expansion teams will wear, launching them on its website and social channels on Thursday, Oct. 8. Like other PWHL clubs, the new teams will wear jerseys with city names spelled out diagonally across the front in their first season, with nicknames and logos to come later.

The four teams are Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose. The jerseys follow the color schemes unveiled in May 2026, with Las Vegas adding navy blue to its green and gold palette. The PWHL's 2026-27 Opening Weekend is set for Dec. 5-6.

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