After a dramatic 18-inning Game 3 marathon that lasted into Tuesday morning, Game 4 of the 2025 World Series had its own share of drama… at least for the first six innings of the game.
The Toronto Blue Jays came alive in the seventh inning, scoring four runs to break open a 2-1 game en route to a 6-2 decision over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Toronto’s win tied the World Series at 2-2 and ensured the Fall Classic would shift back to Canada for Game 6 on Halloween night.
Did Toronto Blue Jays steal Game 4?
On paper, the Dodgers had a lot of advantages heading into Tuesday. Toronto leadoff hitter (and Dodger killer) George Springer was not in the lineup after experiencing “right side discomfort” in Game 3 and undergoing an MRI. Additionally, starting pitcher Shane Bieber had thrown fewer than 4.0 innings in two of his three postseason starts, an ominous sign after Tuesday’s bullpen-filled game.
However, none of these potentially negative possibilities affected the Blue Jays on Tuesday, with Bieber beating Shohei Ohtani on the mound and Toronto finding plenty of offense without Springer in the lineup.
Add to that the fact that the Dodgers had the momentum after taking a 2-1 lead in Tuesday’s instant classic and things seemed to be stacking up against Toronto on paper. But as they have shown throughout the postseason, the Blue Jays find a way to rally when their backs are against the wall.
Both starting pitchers saved their bullpens
Ohtani and Bieber should both get credit for the one thing they absolutely had to do Tuesday night: dive deep into the game to make sure their taxed bullpens didn’t have to return to action too early.
After the bullpens took up much of Game 3’s 18-inning stretch, Ohtani and Bieber not only ate up the early innings, but did their jobs efficiently and effectively.
Bieber threw 81 pitches in 5.1 innings, striking out Ohtani in both at-bats they faced. Acquired from the Cleveland Guardians at the MLB trade deadline, Bieber showed why the Blue Jays wanted him, giving up just four hits and one run while working his way around the three walks he also issued.
Ohtani went 6.0 innings and gave up six hits, including back-to-back bunts from Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement to start the seventh inning and chase him off the mound. Both would eventually score in what was a crucial frame for Toronto, as four runs scored against the Dodgers’ relievers would increase the lead to 6–1.
Chris Bassitt continues solid bullpen run
Speaking of bullpens, Toronto’s Chris Bassitt has made the transition from starter to reliever look effortless this postseason.
After making all but one of his 153 regular-season appearances over the past five seasons, Bassitt has settled into the bullpen for Toronto this postseason and has become a weapon. In five combined appearances in the ALCS and World Series, Bassitt has pitched 6.2 scoreless innings (including 2.0 innings on Tuesday), striking out eight in that span while allowing just one hit (an eighth-inning single to Mookie Betts in Game 4).
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