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Baseball players love to say that they can easily brush one day’s loss off. That theory was not only put to the test by the Toronto Blue Jays, but they passed with flying colors. Because of that, we now have a best-of-seven series that is now a best-of-three, with at least one of those games being played back in Toronto.
The @BlueJays will play at least one more home game in this #WorldSeries 👀
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World Series Wrapup
Bouncing Back: Jays Shrug Off Loss To Even Series
You could have excused the Toronto Blue Jays for packing up the tent and playing out the string following Monday’s devastating 18-inning loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the World Series and the injury to George Springer. But that isn’t what these Blue Jays do. No, these Jays get up off the mat and throw another punch. They have done that all season and demonstrated that in the postseason. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit an early two-run homer and right-handed starter Shane Bieber turned in a much-needed 5â…“ innings as the Jays bounced back to beat the Dodgers 6-2 at Dodger Stadium in Game 4 to even the best-of-seven series 2-2. The Jays have guaranteed that the World Series will return to Toronto for Game 6. Which team will have the advantage in that potential clincher will be determined tonight, when Jays rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage goes up against Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell in a rematch of Game 1.
It shouldn’t be too surprising. After all, the Jays dropped the first two games at home to the Seattle Mariners in the AL Championship Series, then faced back-to-back elimination games before battling back and earning a trip back to the World Series. So an 18-inning loss? That felt easy to brush off. But without Springer? That would be tougher. But even with Guerrero having an incredible postseason, the Jays don’t just rely on their superstar first baseman to push them over the top. But it does help when he steps up.
That happened in the third inning with the Jays already trailing 1-0 and facing Shohei Ohtani in his first World Series appearance as a starting pitcher. After a Nathan Lukes one-out single, Guerrero drilled a 2-1 sweeper 395 feet into the left-field bleachers for a 2-1 Jays lead. It was Guerrero’s seventh homer of this postseason after not having any in his previous three trips to the playoffs and the Jays going 0-6.
World Series PLAKATA 💥
Then it was up to Bieber to held the Dodgers down. Ohtani, coming off a game in which he had four extra-base hits (including two homers) and reached base a World Series-record nine times thanks in large part to four intentional walks, walked to open the bottom of the first, but then went hitless in his other three at-bats. Bieber allowed four hits in his 5â…“ innings, walking three and striking out three. He didn’t allow multiple baserunners after the second inning until Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernández singled in the sixth to chase Bieber. Left-hander Mason Fluharty came on with one out and two on, escaping any damage by getting Max Muncy to fly out and striking out Tommy Edman.
It remained a 2-1 Jays lead until the seventh. That is when the rest of the cast kicked into gear. With Ohtani still pitching, Daulton Varsho led off with a single and Ernie Clement doubled. That was it for Ohtani, who surrendered six hits over six-plus innings, walking one and striking out six. Left-hander Anthony Banda came in and was greeted by Andrés Giménez’s run-scoring single on a 3-2 pitch. One out later, following a replay reversal of a line-drive double play, Ty France had an RBI groundout to second to make it 4-1. Guerrero was intentionally walked and right-hander Blake Treinen replaced Banda. Bo Bichette then hit an 0-1 pitch for a line-drive single to make it 5-1 and Addison Barger grounded the next pitch to left to cap the four-run outburst. Ohtani was responsible for two of those seventh-inning runs and four in the game. Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt took over for Fluharty and allowed one hit over two innings and Louis Varland pitched the ninth, giving up one run but securing the win.
Kiké puts us on the board first! #WorldSeries
— Los Angeles Dodgers (bot) (@dodgersbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-29T00:46:36.000Z
— Toronto Blue Jays (Bot) (@bluejaysbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-29T03:35:00.000Z
Shane Bieber held it down on the #WorldSeries stage 🔥5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Mason Fluharty gets the @BlueJays out of the jam!
KEEP ADDING ON. #WANTITALL
— Toronto Blue Jays (Bot) (@bluejaysbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-29T02:25:10.000Z
Ty France adds on another for the @BlueJays!
BO WANTS MORE! #WorldSeries
Addison Barger!It's a FOUR-run inning for the @BlueJays! #WorldSeries
By The Numbers
âš¾ In the current 2-3-2 format, the team playing Game 5 on the road when the series is tied 2-2 has won the series 35 of 61 times.
âš¾ Jays reliever Louis Varland appeared in his 13th game of this postseason, one shy of the record set by Cleveland’s Paul Assenmacher in 1997 and tied by the Dodgers’ Brandon Morrow in 2017.
âš¾ The Jays have trailed in all four World Series games, becoming the fifth team to do that yet be tied in the series 2-2. If you think that is a fluke, the Jays had the most wins (43) and best winning percentage (.467) when allowing the first run during the regular season.
âš¾ The Jays have hit four go-ahead homers this postseason, the most in MLB history.
Most go-ahead HR while trailing in single postseason:2025 Blue Jays: 42024 Yankees: 32022 Astros: 32009 Phillies: 31999 Red Sox: 31997 Marlins: 31997 Cleveland: 3
— Sarah Langs (@slangsonsports.bsky.social) 2025-10-29T02:07:03.202Z
Around The World Series
Springer Sits, Remains On Roster
If you know the type of competitor that Jays designated hitter George Springer is, it wouldn’t be surprising to know that he is fighting with every ounce of his being to remain active for the remainder of the World Series. And also that the Jays believe in Springer’s chances to return. Springer left Monday’s Game 3 when he fouled off a pitch and immediately grabbed his right side. When the easy move would have been to remove Springer from the roster and add a pitcher following the 18-inning marathon, the Jays took the hard route and kept their leadoff hitter on the roster, but didn’t put him in the lineup for Game 4. Springer did not come off the bench, either. Manager John Schneider called Springer “hour-to-hour.” The Jays are already without right fielder Anthony Santander, who had to be removed from the AL Championship Series due to back issues.
Klein’s Kudos: Koufax Handshake, Tons Of Texts
Dodgers left-hander Will Klein was still glowing a day after his four-inning relief appearance in Game 3 became a viral happening. Once he got done with his various postgame responsibilities, he finally returned to his locker with one more surprise awaiting him: Dodgers icon Sandy Koufax. Klein got a handshake and a brief chat with the 89-year-old Hall of Famer. He has also received more than 1,000 text messages.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Going To 11, But Not 12
Shohei Ohtani wasn’t intentionally walked to begin the bottom of the first, but he did draw another free pass (on a borderline 3-2 pitch), which extended his streak of reaching base to 11 consecutive plate appearances, a World Series record. Shane Bieber exacted his revenge in Ohtani’s next at-bat.
Shohei Ohtani has reached base in 11 straight plate appearances, extending the longest streak in #WorldSeries history!
Shane Bieber strikes out Shohei Ohtani to end his #WorldSeries-record on-base streak at 11 consecutive plate appearances 😳
That’s A Wrap
If one image could sum up Game 4, it was this.
This Ohtani-to-Vlad transition by the FOX crew meets the moment.
— Sam Dykstra (@samdykstramilb.bsky.social) 2025-10-29T01:51:19.168Z
Articles You Should Read
What a night of baseball — Joe Posnanski, JoePosnanski.com
As Dodgers relievers put forth a heroic Game 3 effort, they honored Vesia — Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic
The baserunning madness of Game 3 — Davy Andrews, FanGraphs
The limits of laws — Matt Trueblood, Baseball Prospectus
11 astonishing facts from 18 innings of World Series history — Sarah Langs, MLB.com
Pitcher List Fantasy Baseball Coverage
10 dynasty takeaways from 2025: Third base — Jacob Milham
Early dynasty risers from the AFL — Martin Sekulski
Statcast player simularity hitter sleepers for 2025 in review — Ben Pernick
