The Toronto Blue Jays punched back in the 2025 World Series with a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, October 28, at Dodger Stadium, tying the series at 2-2 in dramatic fashion. The deciding blow came in the fifth inning when Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the 26-year-old Dominican-Canadian slugger, launched a two-run homer off Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ two-way phenom, silencing a stadium that had been buzzing since Game 3’s 18-inning thriller. It wasn’t just a home run—it was a statement. The Blue Jays, who entered the postseason with a 94-68 regular-season record, now have momentum on their side. The Dodgers, at 93-69, are still trying to become Major League Baseball’s first repeat champion since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000. But the path just got a lot harder.
Game 4: A Swing of the Bat Changes Everything
The game started with a quiet intensity. Ohtani, fresh off a historic Game 3 where he collected four extra-base hits and five walks, took the mound with a reputation for delivering under pressure. But this night, the pressure was different. The Blue Jays’ lineup, led by Guerrero Jr., was locked in. After a scoreless first, Toronto broke through in the third when George Springer doubled and scored on a single by Andrés Giménez. By the fifth, the Dodgers were already on edge. When Guerrero Jr. connected on a 94-mph cutter, the ball cleared the left-field wall by a full 20 feet. The roar from the Blue Jays’ traveling fans—estimated at over 15,000—wasn’t just loud. It was cathartic.Shane Bieber, the 30-year-old veteran right-hander, delivered a masterpiece: 7.1 innings, six hits, one earned run, and eight strikeouts. He didn’t dominate with velocity—he outsmarted hitters with movement and timing. When he left the game, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. The bullpen, often a concern, held firm. Trey Yesavage, the rookie right-hander, struck out the side in the eighth, including two swings and misses from Freddie Freeman. That’s the twist: the Blue Jays’ bullpen, often criticized as shaky, looked sharper than the Dodgers’ in crunch time.
Game 3’s Marathon Still Haunts Dodgers
Monday night’s Game 3—18 innings, five hours and 47 minutes, the longest game in World Series history since 2016—still lingers. Freddie Freeman, the 35-year-old Dodgers first baseman, delivered the walk-off blast to begin the bottom of the 18th, echoing his October heroics from last year. But the toll was real. Dodgers relievers threw 112 pitches that night. Ohtani, who had pitched 6.2 innings in relief, was forced to start Game 4 on short rest. He wasn’t himself. His fastball, usually touching 100 mph, sat at 95. His splitter, usually unhittable, hung just enough."You can’t fake endurance," said a former MLB pitching coach who spoke anonymously. "That Game 3 didn’t just drain their arms. It drained their minds. The Blue Jays played with freedom. The Dodgers played with the weight of history on their shoulders."
Blue Jays’ Offense: High-Powered, But Not Flawless
CBS Sports called the Blue Jays’ offense "high-powered," and rightly so. They’ve won seven of their 11 postseason games, averaging 6.1 runs per contest. Guerrero Jr. has been the engine—hitting .391 with four homers and 11 RBIs in the last seven games. But it’s not just him. Ernie Clement, the 29-year-old utility player, went 3-for-4 in Game 4 with a stolen base and a key sacrifice bunt. Kevin Gausman and Max Scherzer, the 34- and 41-year-old veterans, have been steady, but the real story is the depth. Even the bench has delivered: Clement and Giménez combined for five hits in Game 4.Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ lineup, which had been so explosive in Games 1 and 3, went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Mookie Betts struck out twice. Will Smith went 0-for-4. The absence of a consistent No. 3 hitter has become glaring.
What’s Next: Game 5 and the Weight of History
Game 5 is set for Wednesday, October 29, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time at Dodger Stadium. The pitching matchup remains unconfirmed, but sources suggest the Dodgers may turn to Tyler Glasnow, who hasn’t started since October 15. The Blue Jays are expected to start Jose Berrios, who’s 2-0 with a 2.15 ERA in the postseason.The odds tell the story: Caesars Sportsbook has the Dodgers favored at -230, the Blue Jays at +190. That’s not just moneyline chatter—it’s a reflection of belief. The Dodgers are still seen as the more complete team. But belief doesn’t win games. Execution does. And the Blue Jays, down 2-1 in the series just 48 hours ago, now look like the hungrier team.
If the series goes to Game 6, it returns to Rogers Centre on Friday, October 31. Game 7, if needed, would be on Saturday, November 1. The last time a World Series went to seven games? 2020. The last time a team came back from 2-1 to win? The 2019 Washington Nationals. History isn’t destiny. But it’s a reminder: comebacks are possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s home run impact the series momentum?
Guerrero Jr.’s two-run homer in the fifth inning of Game 4 shifted the psychological balance of the series. After the Dodgers’ grueling 18-inning win in Game 3, many expected them to carry that energy into Game 4. Instead, Guerrero’s blast off Ohtani—his 11th postseason homer—galvanized the Blue Jays and exposed cracks in LA’s pitching depth. It was the first time in the series that Toronto scored more than one run in an inning, and it gave them their first lead in the series since Game 1.
Why is the Dodgers’ pitching staff struggling despite having Ohtani and Freeman?
Ohtani’s dual role as pitcher and hitter has stretched his limits. After throwing 87 pitches in relief during Game 3 and then starting Game 4 on short rest, his velocity and command dipped. Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ bullpen, which carried them through October, has allowed 11 runs in the last two games. Freeman, while clutch at the plate, can’t pitch. The lack of a reliable third starter behind Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw has become a vulnerability the Blue Jays are exploiting.
What makes this World Series different from previous ones?
This is the first World Series since 2019 with no team having won a title in the last decade. It’s also the first time since 2003 that both teams had over 90 wins in the regular season and both reached the World Series as wild-card teams in prior years. The Blue Jays are the first Canadian team to reach the World Series since 2015, and the Dodgers are trying to become the first repeat champions since the Yankees’ 1998–2000 run. The stakes aren’t just rings—they’re legacy.
Could the Blue Jays win the series without home-field advantage?
Yes—and they’ve already proven it. Though the Dodgers had home-field advantage due to a better regular-season record, the Blue Jays won Game 1 in Toronto and now Game 4 in Los Angeles. Winning on the road has been their signature this postseason: they’re 4-1 away from Rogers Centre. Their offense doesn’t rely on park factors, and their pitching has adapted to hostile environments. If they win Game 5, they’ll return home with a 3-2 series lead and a chance to close it out on their own turf.
What’s the significance of the Blue Jays’ bullpen performance in Game 4?
For months, critics questioned Toronto’s bullpen depth, especially after late-game meltdowns in September. But in Game 4, relievers threw 2.2 scoreless innings, with Trey Yesavage striking out the side in the eighth. The difference? Better sequencing, fewer walks, and more confidence. The same group that allowed six runs in Game 3 now looks like a strength. It’s a reminder: in baseball, momentum isn’t just about offense—it’s about who you trust when the game’s on the line.
How does this series compare to past Blue Jays-Dodgers matchups?
The Blue Jays and Dodgers have met only twice in the postseason before: in 1977 and 1978, both in the ALCS, which the Dodgers didn’t even play in—wait, correction: they’ve never met in the postseason before. This is their first-ever playoff series. That makes every game historic. Guerrero Jr.’s homer, Ohtani’s duel with Bieber, Freeman’s walk-off—these aren’t just moments. They’re the foundation of a new chapter in MLB history.
