Published Oct 28, 10:52am ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Oct 28, 10:52am ET
Grok AI
In Game 3's seesaw battle, the fundamental difference between the Blue Jays and the Dodgers came to the forefront.
It wasn't star power since Toronto has its own litany of stars.
It wasn't background players because both teams have cogs who know their roles and perform.
The Blue Jays did not execute while the Dodgers did.
The baserunning gaffes were understandable to a degree, but costly. One example is Isiah Kiner-Falefa getting thrown out at third base:
3-4-5
— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2025
TOMMY EDMAN MAKES AN UNREAL PLAY! #WORLDSERIES pic.twitter.com/13CnBCWXlF
However, the most egregious was in the 12th inning when Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk led off with a walk. They removed him for a pinch runner, backup catcher Tyler Heineman, who is nowhere near the hitter Kirk is. He went 0 for 3 after replacing Kirk.
Toronto asked Myles Straw, a skillful bunter, to sacrifice. He failed in his first two attempts, and manager John Schneider had him bunt with 2 strikes. A foul bunt would have been a strikeout, making it a bad move on its face for a hitter like Straw, who can run and generally makes contact. Making it worse, Straw lined his bunt straight to LA first baseman Freddie Freeman for the first out.
The Jays loaded the bases with 2 outs, but didn't score.
It was an inexplicable, indefensible strategic choice, and it might have cost the Blue Jays the championship.
Veteran Shane Bieber takes the hill for Toronto. He's struggled in two of his three starts in the playoffs. The Blue Jays need innings from him after the marathon in Game 3.
Against Shohei Ohtani, the Blue Jays' hitters have had some success. George Springer is 7 for 15 with 2 homers and a 1.367 OPS. He's undergoing an MRI after apparently tweaking an oblique. He left the game. Barring a miracle cure, do not expect him to be in the lineup for Game 4.
George Springer was in pain after this swing and he leaves the game pic.twitter.com/3RANtKZFIE
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 28, 2025
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 3 for 8 with a double and a home run. Bo Bichette is 2 for 5 with a double. Kiner-Falefa is 3 for 12 with a double.
After Ohtani went 4 for 4 with 2 doubles and 2 home runs, the Blue Jays turned him into Kelly Leak, walking him intentionally every time he came to the plate.
It was the smart move.
For Game 4, Ohtani, the star hitter, becomes Ohtani the star pitcher, while also being in the lineup as the star hitter.
By now, there's no adequate way to describe him. Everyone will try. Most will fail. He needs a higher league.
In Game 3, LA's Dave Roberts managed circles around his counterpart Schneider.
The primary difference between the teams — and what other big money teams like the Mets and Yankees should pay attention to — is that LA does not simply import stars and pay them ungodly sums. They develop players and they execute. From running the bases, playing defense, knowing where they're supposed to be and when they're supposed to be there, and getting performances from unknowns like Will Klein, the Dodgers win games not solely because of Ohtani or Freeman, but because they do the little things correctly.
It put them in a position for Freeman's walk-off.
FREDDIE FREEMAN WALK-OFF HOME RUN IN THE 18TH INNING! #WORLDSERIES pic.twitter.com/wD1xbRxDbC
— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2025
LA squeezed everything out of its roster in Game 3, so they will be in the same boat as Toronto in working their way through Game 4, hoping to get length from their starting pitcher, Ohtani. He knows it.
He's thrown 12 innings in 2 postseason starts and has surrendered 5 hits, 3 runs, walking 4, and striking out 19.
Dodgers' hitters have had limited success against Bieber. Freeman is 1 for 4 with 1 home run. Mookie Betts is 1 for 9, but that hit was a homer. Kiké Hernandez is 3 for 6 with 3 singles. Will Smith is 2 for 3 with a double. Ohtani is 2 for 13 with a double.
| PLAYER | STATUS |
|---|---|
| George Springer, TOR | INJURED |
In World Series Game 4, the key will be which starting pitcher can go deepest into the game while limiting the damage. Bieber has not been particularly good. Ohtani has been masterful on the mound, partially obscuring his otherworldly performance at the plate.
Without Springer, the Blue Jays need to be creative, and they cannot give the Dodgers outs on the bases, nor make horrific mistakes like Schneider having Straw bunt with 2 strikes.
Unless Bieber turns in a masterpiece, the tide of the World Series turned not when Freeman homered, but with that ridiculous bunt, and Klein shutting down the Blue Jays to give Freeman that opportunity to again be the hero.
The Dodgers will win Game 4 and take command of the World Series.
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