Blue Jays hope to share park of another team

The Blue Jays are talking to several teams about sharing a major league ballpark this season after Canada’s government barred Toronto from playing in its home stadium amid the coronavirus pandemic, general manager Ross Atkins said Monday.

“We would much rather be in a major league facility,” Atkins said.

He declined to identify the teams but said the Blue Jays have more than five contingency plans.

Canada denied the Blue Jays’ request to play at Rogers Centre because the regular-season schedule would require frequent travel back and forth from the United States, where COVID-19 cases are surging

Atkins said if the Blue Jays can’t find a major league park, their triple-a affiliate in Buffalo, New York, would be their most likely site for home games.

Carlson, Hedman, Josi named finalists for NHL top defenseman

Washington’s John Carlson, Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman and Nashville’s Roman Josi have been named the finalists for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL’S top defenseman.

The finalists were announced Monday, and voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Led by Carlson’s 75 points (15 goals, 60 assists), the three were the NHL’S top point-producers among defensemen. Carlson and Josi, who had 65 points (16 goals, 49 assists), were the only two blue-liners to lead their team in points.

Hedman, who finished third among defensemen with 55 points (11 goals, 44 assists), is a finalist for the fourth consecutive year.

The NHL also said centers Patrice Bergeron (Boston), Sean Couturier (Philadelphia) and Ryan O’reilly (St. Louis) are the finalists for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, honoring the league’s top defensive forward.

New York City finally wins, still needs help to advance

Ismael Tajouri-shradi scored midway through the second half, and New York City FC kept alive its slim hopes of advancing in the MLS is Back tournament with a 1-0 victory over Inter Miami on Monday morning in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

NYCFC won for the first time in the 2020 season and guaranteed itself a third-place finish in Group A with three points. But NYCFC, with a minus-2 goal differential, will need help from others to move on in the tournament as one of the top four third-place finishers.

Inter Miami, an expansion club, was eliminated from the tournament and became the first team in MLS history to lose the five games of its first season. Only four clubs overall had started a season 0-5-0.

Sounders secure spot in MLS knockout round with victory

Nicolas Lodeiro scored on a penalty kick early in the first half, Jordan Morris added to the lead with his third goal of the season, and the Seattle Sounders beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 in the MLS tournament on Sunday night.

Seattle clinched a spot in the knockout round of the tournament, rebounding from a disappointing loss to Chicago earlier in the group stage. Seattle will finish either second or third in Group B, depending on Chicago’s final group stage match. At worst the Sounders have clinched one of the top-four thirdplace spots.

Earthquakes beat Fire, clinch top spot in group

Cristian Espinoza scored his first goal of the season early in the second half, Chris Wondolowski provided the clincher moments after coming on as a substitute, and the San Jose Earthquakes beat the Chicago Fire 2-0 on Sunday night to clinch a spot in the MLS tournament’s knockout round.

San Jose earned the top spot out of Group B after going unbeaten in its three matches. Chicago can still advance to the knockout stage with a win over Vancouver in its final group match on Thursday.

Players express concerns as NFL training camps start to open

NFL players are publicly pleading with the league to address several health and safety concerns on the eve of training camp.

The league informed teams on Saturday that training camps will open on time even though discussions with the players union regarding testing for the coronavirus and other health and safety protocols are ongoing.

Rookies for the Houston Texans and

Kansas City Chiefs were set to report Monday, and rookies for other teams are due today. Players for all teams are scheduled to report by July 28.

Many prominent players expressed their concerns on social media Sunday, including star quarterbacks Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson’s wife, Ciara, is pregnant.

International Skating Union cancels junior Grand Prix

The International Skating Union has canceled the Junior Figure Skating Grand Prix for the upcoming season.

Citing increased travel and entry restrictions, the international governing body for the sport said the potential extensive sanitary and medical care measures, including possible quarantine, “would put an unsustainable burden on the organizers.”

The ISU has not made a decision on the senior series, which features the top skaters, including current world champion Nathan Chen and two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu.

Potential international junior events could be held if “the pandemic developments and situation change and allow for the safe organization” of them, the ISU said.

Head of Bolivian soccer dies of COVID-19 complications

Cesar Salinas, the president of the Bolivian soccer federation, has died from complications linked to COVID-19. He was 58.

The federation announced the death on Sunday.

Salinas had been admitted to a private clinic in La Paz this month for treatment after contracting the coronavirus.

Salinas became president of the national federation in 2018.

From wire reports