National Sports

NEW YORK — Justin Verlander has a second AL Cy Young Award — and a clear path paved toward Cooperstown. Verlander beat out Houston Astros teammate Gerrit Cole in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America revealed Wednesday night.

Canadian women's basketball coach Lisa Thomaidis is undecided on whether she's a fan of FIBA's new Olympic qualifying format. "Ask me next week when we've gone through this next one," Thomaidis said this week from Edmonton.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The New York Islanders’ depth paid dividends once again. Anthony Beauvillier scored twice, Derick Brassard had a goal and two assists, and the streaking Islanders held off the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 Wednesday night.

REGINA — Cody Fajardo was back practising with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Wednesday. Fajardo missed Saskatchewan's 23-13 home win over Edmonton on Nov. 2 with an oblique injury.

Toronto FC have sent Canadian midfielder Jay Chapman to expansion Inter Miami FC for US$100,000 in general allocation money. The 25-year-old Chapman signed as a homegrown player in January 2015 after two years with the Toronto FC academy.

TORONTO — While the MLS Cup final loss in Seattle still stings, Toronto FC players and staff spoke confidently Wednesday about the club's place in Major League Soccer and the prospects of going after more trophies.

CALGARY — The City of Calgary and members of its sports community are teaming up to fund an air-supported shelter for one of the turf fields at Shouldice Athletic Park.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gabe Kapler might need years to match the popularity of his predecessors with the San Francisco Giants. Farhan Zaidi believes he will get there eventually.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Eskimos eviscerated the Montreal Alouettes through the air last week — but in Sunday's CFL East final against the league-leading Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the passing game may well be won in the trenches.

WINNIPEG — Zach Collaros will be fuelled by more than playoff excitement on Sunday.