National Sports

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays have optioned infielder Santiago Espinal, left-hander Thomas Pannone and right-hander Jacob Waguespack to triple-A Buffalo.

Taken seventh overall in the 2020 NBA 2K League draft by Lakers Gaming, Calgary teenager Sten (Sav) Valge-Saar was looking forward to honing his esports skills.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The morning dawned bright and sunny over Kauffman Stadium, just to the east of downtown Kansas City. The outfield grass was a perfectly manicured ocean of green, the infield dirt brushed as if by a fine-toothed comb.

DÜSSELDORF, Germany — Four German soccer clubs have pledged a combined 20 million euros ($21.9 million) to support other teams struggling to stay afloat after games in the country were suspended because of the coronavirus outbreak.

TOKYO — The Tokyo Olympics need new dates for the opening and closing ceremonies in 2021. Nothing much can get done until those dates are worked out by the International Olympic Committee, the Japanese government and Tokyo organizers.

DÜSSELDORF, Germany — Even if it takes an extra year, Nino Salukvadze will still be aiming for an Olympic record. The Georgian shooter has competed at every Olympics since 1988, where she won a gold medal for the Soviet Union.

TORONTO — From anti-doping to coaching education to most recently the Canadian team's bold move to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada has historically been a leader on the global sports landscape.

NEW YORK — The NHL has postponed three of its events in June, including the 2020 draft.

TORONTO — Randy Ambrosie hasn't forgotten about CFL fans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The league's commissioner will hold a video town hall question-and-answer session with football supporters Friday at noon ET on the league's website.

The National Allied Golf Associations wants its member courses to listen to authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic.