Blue Jays had to win a game Tuesday, with their backs against a wall and a starting pitching matchup that was not in their favour. Toronto lost Game 3 in the 18th, a game that was demoralizing. They were now behind in the World Series. But if there’s one thing this 2025 Blue Jays team excels at, it’s proving everyone wrong. Here are my key takeaways. Vladdy Makes Ohtani Pay (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Vladimir Guerrero Jr. fouled off a 97 mph fastball from Shohei Ohtani that fell into the middle of the strike zone. In the top of third inning, the Blue Jays were trailing the Dodgers by a 1-0 score. Guerrero had been a few seconds late in catching a pitch that was a perfect hit. He then saw it: a hanging sweeper. Shohei Ohtani?! Guerrero Jr. wasn’t going to miss an opportunity like that. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. slams a 2-run homer off Shohei Otani and gives Blue Jays an advantage over Dodgers Guerrero slammed the ball over left-center for a 2-run homer and a Toronto 2-1 lead. Ohtani appeared to be recollecting himself on the mound. On Aug. 27, Ohtani gave up a home run to Reds utilityman Noelvi Marte, who hit a middle-middle cut. Ohtani’s rare mistake shows how rarely he makes one on the mound. Guerrero was not the person who hit the home run. Ohtani’s First World Series Start (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photo via Getty Images). Ohtani was a sputtering mess after his 18-inning win in which the Japanese pitcher reached nine bases. Though it wasn’t ideal, Ohtani took on more than everyone else when he started anyway in Game 4. He held up well until the 7th inning, despite all the fatigue. He held the Jays scoreless for six innings (that dreaded Guerrero Jr. dinger), and struck out six batters while walking only one. Ohtani allowed Daultsho Varsho and Ernie Clement to get a few hard hits to start the seventh. This put runners at the corners for Anthony Banda who then let both his inherited runners score. The last time Ohtani had four or more runs earned was August 20th, against Colorado. Still, his teammates would agree that this loss wasn’t on him. However, the Dodgers offensive power, which it showed in October, was not enough to save Ohtani. Jays’ Pesky Offense Wears L.A. No George Springer? No problem. The Blue Jays were in desperate need of a rebound on Tuesday, after their disappointing Game 3 loss. It seemed that the Dodgers would make a big comeback despite their 2-1 lead in the seventh inning. Toronto, however, never allowed them to have the chance. Instead, they put up a four run rally in the only way that they knew how, by wearing down the opposing pitchers with old-school contact baseball. Like we’ve seen countless times this postseason, the bottom of the Blue Jays order came through with the big hits in the form of small ball. Single. Double. Single. RBI groundout. Single. Single. Just like that, the Blue Jays stormed ahead to a 6-1 lead and took the flailing Dodgers offense, perhaps still emotionally spent from Monday night’s marathon, out of the game. Bo Bichette, Addison Barger, and others also had clutch hits in that seventh inning. As usual, the Blue Jays passed the baton through the lineup — and it led to a crucial World Series win.4. Bieber picks up Blue Jays bullpen. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images. Shane Bieber was aware that he would have to pitch for as long as possible in Game 4, after the Blue Jays had emptied their Bullpen in Game 3. Toronto’s relievers had been exhausted and it would have been a problem for John Schneider to go back into the bullpen on Tuesday. This was Bieber’s game, and he had to own it. So he did. Bieber limited the Dodgers’ offense to just one run earned on four hits in 5.1 innings. He struck out three batters, and walked three. Only a sacrifice in the 2nd inning marred his final stats. Blue Jays acquired the right-hander at trade deadline to be ready for such moments. A former Cy Young award winner with a decorated career in Cleveland, Bieber returned to form after his Tommy John surgery to make the Jays’ sneaky and under-the-radar summer pickup look that much more clever. Bieber wasn’t a known quantity, but he was an unknown. But the Jays were willing to take the risk, and it led to a high reward.4 ½. What’s next?Blue Jays score four runs in 7th inning to extend lead to 6-1 over Dodgers in Game 4 of World Series On Wednesday night, the World Series returns to the pitching matchups from Game 1. The final game of the season at Dodger Stadium will feature Toronto rookie Trey Yesavage taking on veteran southpaw Blake Snell. Snell was beaten by the Blue Jays during the Fall Classic opener, allowing five runs and eight hits over five innings. The Dodgers are hoping he’ll bounce back in Game 5, which is arguably a must-win game for them while they still have home-field advantage.Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She was a Mets beat reporter at the New York Daily News. Deesha, the daughter of Indian immigrants who grew up in Long Island now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for a FOX Sports account or create one to follow teams, leagues and players. You’ll receive a daily newsletter!
2025-10-29 03:21:24
4 Takeaways From the Blue Jays’ World Series Game 4 Win over the Dodgers
