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At least one of the League Championship Series is turning out to be interesting. That is thanks to a future Hall of Famer turning in a performance that recalled his halcyon days. The AL Championship Series has swung momentum 180 degrees, while the NL Championship Series is all but decided.
What a night for Max Scherzer 👏
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Vintage Scherzer, Blue Jays Tie ALCS
Final score: Blue Jays 8, Mariners 2
Series: Series tied 2-2
Next game: Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman vs. Mariners RHP Bryce Miller, today, 6:08 p.m. ET (FS1)
In a series that has been controlled by the road teams, Max Scherzer dipped into the Fountain of Youth for perhaps the last time to come up with another big-time big-game performance that has defined his career. The 41-year-old right-hander turned in a fiery 5⅔ innings, while Andrés Giménez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered for the second straight game as the Toronto Blue Jays rolled to an 8-2 win over the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series. After losing the first two games at home, the Jays have now evened things at 2-2 and turned a best-of-seven series into a best-of-three.
Everyone knows how intense Scherzer is — it is his calling card. But as the three-time Cy Young Award winner was preparing to face Randy Arozarena, the Mariners’ leadoff hitter in his third plate appearance, with two outs in the fifth, manager John Schneider came out to the mound to check in on the veteran who hadn’t pitched since Sept. 24. Scherzer was surprised by Schneider walking out and went viral with his reaction.
Hang it in The Louvre
Scherzer obviously stayed in the game and struck out Arozarena, giving another visceral reaction. He surprisingly came out for the sixth inning and got two more outs before he relinquished the mound. By that time, Scherzer allowed two runs on three hits and four walks with five strikeouts.
His night was made a little easier with the Jays’ offense showing up in a big way for the second night in a row. After Josh Naylor’s second-inning homer gave the Mariners a 1-0 lead, Gimenez repeated what he did in Game 3 by hitting a two-run homer in the third inning to put the Jays up 2-1. Before Game 3, Gimenez had only one homer on the road this season and seven overall. Two singles and a walk chased Mariners starter Luis Castillo, but left-hander Gabe Speier walked Nathan Lukes to force in another run. George Springer had an RBI double in a two-run fourth inning. Guerrero added his fifth postseason homer and third of this series in the seventh had a two-run single in the eighth.
George Springer delivers for the @BlueJays yet again 🔥
Eugenio Suárez drives in a run for the Mariners as Addison Barger cuts down Josh Naylor at third base to end the inning 😮
Andrés Giménez has driven in 4 of the 8 @BlueJays runs tonight!
Dodgers Put Brewers On The Brink
Final score: Dodgers 3, Brewers 1
Series: Dodgers lead 3-0
Next game: Brewers TBA vs. Dodgers RHP Shohei Ohtani, today, 8:38 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium (TBS)
It hasn’t been the mismatch that you would think when you see the Los Angeles Dodgers now have a 3-0 lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Championship Series. But when a team as talented as the Dodgers play just a little bit better, that is the result. Tommy Edman singled home the tiebreaking run as part of a two-run sixth inning as the Dodgers handed the Brewers a 3-1 setback in Game 3 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium to move within one win of returning to the World Series to defend their championship.
For all of the trials and tribulations the Dodgers endured during the regular season, they have been at the top of their game during the postseason, first dispatching the Philadelphia Phillies and now on the verge of taking care of the Brewers, MLB’s best team this year. The Dodgers started quickly, with struggling leadoff hitter Shohei Ohtani opening the bottom of the first with a triple down the right-field line and then scoring on Mookie Betts‘ double to right-center against Brewers left-handed opener Aaron Ashby. When Ashby issued a one-out walk to Freddie Freeman, that was the end of his day. In came Brewers rookie flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski, who has thrived in a relief role during the postseason after late-season command issues. The Miz got out of the inning by striking out the first two batters he faced.
That gave a little life to the Brewers, who tied the game in the top of the second. Caleb Durbin had a one-out double to left and came around on Jake Bauers‘ single to center. Bauers stole second and went to third when Dodgers right-handed starter Tyler Glasnow threw wild to second on a pickoff attempt. It what turned out to be the monumental play of the game, Joey Ortiz hit a grounder to third baseman Max Muncy, who ranged to his left to make a sliding stop, spun and threw home to nail Bauers at the plate to cut down the go-ahead run. Glasnow allowed just three hits in 5⅔ innings, walking three and striking out eight.
Misiorowski kept the Dodgers off the board, retiring 15 of the first 16 batters he faced. In the bottom of the sixth, Will Smith singled with one out, Freeman walked and Edman delivered his go-ahead single on the first pitch to drive in Smith from second. That was all for Misiorowski as Abner Uribe was summoned from the Brewers’ bullpen. Uribe struck out the next batter, but then tried to pick off Edman at first and threw wildly, with Freeman trotting home to make it 3-1. Misiorowski, in five innings of relief, allowed three hits and a walk with nine strikeouts, but did give up both sixth-inning runs, one unearned.
With the Brewers’ offense sputtering, that cushion felt like 10 runs. Right-hander Blake Treinen, left-hander Anthony Banda and new closer Roki Sasaki combined for 2⅔ hitless innings to close it out. Now, the Dodgers, who have received two outstanding starts and another pretty good one from Glasnow, send Ohtani to the mound for a potential clincher today. Only one team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit, the 2004 Boston Red Sox vs. the New York Yankees in the AL Championship Series.
It took the Dodgers 6 pitches to get on the board!Dodger Stadium is buzzing early 💪
Durbin and JB tie this ballgame#MagicBrew
— Milwaukee Brewers (Bot) (@brewersbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-16T22:42:10.000Z
A pickoff throw gets away and the @Dodgers extend their lead!
Jacob Misiorowski strikes out Shohei Ohtani for his 8th punchout of the night 😮He has now retired 10 straight Dodger hitters!
By The Numbers
⚾ The Dodgers are the first team in postseason history to allow one or fewer runs and four or fewer hits in four consecutive games.
⚾ Teams that have lost the first two games of a best-of-seven series then won the next two have won the series 10 of 23 times. In the current 2-3-2 format, when the series is tied 2-2, the team playing Game 5 on the road has won the series 34 of 60 times.
⚾ It only took Jacob Misiorowski three postseason games to climb to No. 2 on the list of most 102 mph pitches in postseason history.
Most 102.0+ mph pitches in postseason under pitch tracking (2008):Aroldis Chapman: 61Jacob Misiorowski: 15Mason Miller: 12 Brusdar Graterol: 7
Best Moments From Yesterday
What Lurks In The Shadows
Imagine having to face Jacob Misiorowski with this arsenal. Now do it with shadows hovering over home plate. You’re welcome, Tommy Edman.
That Mookie Defense
Not enough folks talk about how good Mookie Betts has gotten at shortstop after a career at other positions, mainly the outfield. Now he is a Gold Glove candidate and turning in plays like this.
Practice Like You Play
How does Max Scherzer get ready for a game? Watch him in the bullpen before Game 3.
The finger gun from Scherzer in the bullpen 😂
Noteworthy News
Chourio Leaves With Hamstring Cramps
The Brewers seem to have escaped a significant injury to outfielder Jackson Chourio, who left the game after fouling a pitch off in the top of the seventh inning. Chourio has had issues with his right hamstring, missing most of August and then tweaking it again in the NL Division Series, but not missing any time. Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Chourio cramped up and the team is hoping the 21-year-old can play in today’s Game 4.
Jackson Chourio leaves the game with an apparent right leg injury in the 7th inning and is replaced by Blake Perkins. #NLCS
Santander Off Jays’ Roster
Less than 90 minutes before first pitch, outfielder Anthony Santander was taken off of the Blue Jays’ roster due to a back injury. Santander was removed from Game 3’s rout after being scratched from Game 2’s starting lineup with back issues. Outfielder Joey Loperfido took Santander’s place on the roster. Players taken off a roster during a series must miss the following series, so Santander’s season is over since he won’t be able to participate in the World Series should the Jays advance.
Gausman vs. Miller In Game 5
In a rematch of Game 1 of the ALCS, right-handers Kevin Gausman of the Blue Jays and Bryce Miller of the Mariners will start today’s Game 5. It was a good battle, with Miller allowing one run on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts over six innings, while Gausman went 5⅔ innings, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Each gave up homers, with Miller being ambushed by George Springer for a leadoff shot to begin the bottom of the first and Gausman getting tagged by Cal Raleigh for a game-tying homer in the sixth. Rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage, who started Game 2 for the Jays, could be available out of the bullpen today.
Extra Bases
⚾ A few injury updates from the New York Yankees: Right fielder Aaron Judge will not need surgery to repair a flexor strain in his right elbow and left-handed starter Carlos Rodón had surgery to remove a bone spur in his left elbow. Rodon won’t be able to throw for eight weeks, potentially setting him back slightly entering spring training. Also, the timeframe for Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe became clearer, with general manager Brian Cashman saying Volpe will begin 2026 on the injured list following surgery Tuesday to repair his left labrum.
⚾ Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Mike Calitri is moving to a newly created job with the organization called major-league field coordinator. The rest of the Phillies’ coaching staff is expected to return intact.
⚾ San Diego Padres left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr., an impending free agent, had surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left arm. He is expected to resume throwing in about nine or 10 months.
Articles You Should Read
Dombrowski on the Phillies’ free agents, other offseason priorities — Todd Zolecki, MLB.com
15 under-the-radar prospects from the WWBA World Championship — Jacob Rudner, Baseball America
Will House’s rookie experience lead to improvements in 2026? — Mark Zuckerman, MASN Sports
Who gets the next contract extension from the Reds? — Wick Terrell, Reds Reporter
