Opening

The Dodgers just got shellacked 6-2 by the Reds, then turned right around the next day and returned the favor 8-2, punching their ticket to a fifth straight NL West title. This episode, we'll look at how Tigers' Taiwanese standout Lee Hao-yu launched his 9th homer of the season, how Chinese Taipei's women's volleyball team fought its way into the Asian Games quarterfinals despite losing to Thailand and now faces host nation Japan on Sunday (we'll tell you what the key matchup is), plus Yankees ace Aaron Judge landing on the injured list with a calf strain and what that means for the playoff picture.

This Week's Top Sports Stories

1. Lee Hao-yu's 9th Homer of the Season, Tigers Rout Blue Jays

• What happened: In the September 15 game against the Blue Jays, Tigers' 23-year-old Taiwanese infielder Lee Hao-yu hit a solo homer in the top of the ninth, extending the lead to 9-1, his 9th home run of the season. He only got his call-up to the majors on April 17 after teammate Torres went down with an injury, and he's since locked down the starting second base job.
• Why it matters: For a rookie who first stepped onto a major league field this past April, closing in on double-digit home runs within a matter of months shows he's no flash-in-the-pan fill-in, he's earned his starting spot on merit.
• Source: MLB.com

2. Chinese Taipei Women's Volleyball Falls 0-3 to Thailand, Still Advances to Asian Games Quarterfinals

• What happened: In the final Group C match of the Asian Games women's volleyball tournament on September 18, Chinese Taipei fell to Thailand in straight sets, 22-25, 22-25, 20-25, losing the first two sets by just three points each in a tightly contested battle. Fortunately, a second-place finish in the group was enough to send them through to the quarterfinals.
• Why it matters: A loss, but not elimination, and the next matchup carries real weight: on Sunday at Komaki Park Arena, they'll face group-stage powerhouse and host nation Japan, a quarterfinal clash worth watching closely.
• Source: Asian Volleyball Confederation

3. Asian Games League of Legends Groups Revealed, Taiwan Gets Seeded Bye Past Qualifiers

• What happened: On September 17, the Asian Games organizing committee announced the League of Legends group draw. Eight teams will compete in group play at Sky Expo in Aichi, with four advancing to the playoffs, running from September 29 through October 2. Taiwan (competing under the name Chinese Taipei) and South Korea are the only two teams to receive a direct invite, skipping qualifiers entirely.
• Why it matters: A direct bye past qualifiers signals that Taiwan's team is being treated as one of the top medal contenders based on seeding, while the other six teams will need to fight through the open bracket just to reach the main event.
• Source: Sheep Esports

4. Dodgers Go From Defeat to Champagne Showers in a Single Day, Clinch NL West Five-Peat

• What happened: The Dodgers beat the Reds 8-2 on September 17 to officially clinch the NL West title, marking their fifth consecutive division crown and their 13th in the past 14 years. Just the day before, they'd lost 6-2 to the same Reds team, only to turn it around with a blowout win the very next day and pop the champagne.
• Why it matters: Going from getting beaten down to popping champagne in just 24 hours, and doing it for a fifth straight year atop the same division, that kind of sustained dominance is a rare feat in Major League Baseball.
• Source: MLB.com

5. Aaron Judge Lands on IL With Right Calf Strain, Regular Season Likely Over

• What happened: The Yankees placed Judge on the 10-day injured list on September 18 with a right calf strain. He was pulled mid-game during extra innings against the Twins after feeling tightness in his calf. He might not return until the season finale on September 27 at the earliest, but the Wild Card Series starts September 29.
• Why it matters: Despite playing in just 66 games this season, Judge is hitting .241/.360/.511 with 18 home runs and 41 RBIs. Losing him at this point in the season poses a real challenge for how the Yankees construct their lineup heading into the playoffs.
• Source: NBC Sports

6. Curry Says No to a LeBron-Style Free Agency Tour, Wants to Be a Warrior for Life

• What happened: On September 18, Curry appeared on CNBC and was asked whether he'd want teams to bid for his services the way LeBron let them do this past summer. According to Bleacher Report, his answer was a flat "not at all." He's been eligible since August 29 for a two-year, $136.7 million max contract extension, and he's said he plans to have it signed before the season opener on October 21.
• Why it matters: Curry has been extension-eligible since August 29, so this statement effectively puts the offseason's biggest lingering question to rest early.
• Source: Bleacher Report

Closing

The most memorable image from this episode has to be the Dodgers popping champagne for their five-peat just one day after getting shellacked, along with Lee Hao-yu cementing his place in the majors with that 9th home run. Next week, the women's volleyball quarterfinals kick off with Chinese Taipei's tough test against host nation Japan, and the League of Legends main event schedule will start rolling out too. We'll catch you in the next episode.