After an 18-inning World Series marathon that pushed both teams to their physical and strategic limits, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays brace for a pivotal Game 4. With pitching staffs depleted and key players nursing injuries, all eyes turn to Shohei Ohtani, who is scheduled to take the mound for the Dodgers just hours after his historic hitting performance in Game 3.
The 2025 World Series took a dramatic and almost surreal turn on Monday night as the Los Angeles Dodgers outlasted the Toronto Blue Jays in a grueling 6-5, 18-inning affair. The marathon contest, which lasted an astounding 6 hours and 39 minutes, not only set a new World Series record for the most pitchers used by a single team (the Dodgers deployed 10), but also tied the longest World Series game ever played by innings, mirroring Game 3 between the Dodgers and Boston Red Sox in 2018. This epic battle has left both teams battered, forcing a critical focus on their starting pitchers for the rapidly approaching Game 4.
Ohtani’s Unprecedented Dual-Threat Challenge
At the heart of the Game 3 drama was Dodgers sensation Shohei Ohtani, whose performance was nothing short of legendary. Despite experiencing leg cramps, Ohtani hit two home runs and reached base an incredible nine times—a new postseason record. His night also included two doubles and five walks. This heroics came just before his scheduled start on the mound for Game 4, presenting an unprecedented challenge for the two-way phenom.
Ohtani has been a postseason force, hitting five home runs in his last two home playoff games and becoming the first player in history to achieve three multi-homer games in a single postseason. Across 13 playoff games this year, he has smashed eight home runs. His two-way prowess was previously on full display in the National League Division Series clincher, where he recorded 10 strikeouts as a pitcher and launched three home runs as a hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Speaking after the exhausting Game 3, Ohtani’s priorities were clear, stating through interpreter Will Ireton, “I want to go to sleep as soon as possible so I can get ready.” His manager, Dave Roberts, acknowledged Ohtani was “spent,” but the Dodgers’ depleted bullpen makes his Game 4 start more critical than ever.
Dodgers’ Bullpen pushed to the Brink
The Dodgers’ record-setting use of 10 pitchers in Game 3 underscores the urgent need for length from Ohtani. Veteran ace Clayton Kershaw made a surprise appearance in the 12th inning, escaping a bases-loaded jam in his first extra-inning playoff relief outing. Even more remarkable was the performance of reliever Will Klein, who delivered four scoreless innings, throwing a career-high 72 pitches to earn the win.
The intensity of the game reached such a point that the Dodgers nearly ran out of pitching entirely. In a testament to team spirit, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who had just thrown a 105-pitch complete game in his previous start, volunteered to pitch in relief if needed. This behind-the-scenes revelation, reported by The Athletic, highlights the dire situation the Dodgers found themselves in before Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run finally ended the epic contest.
Blue Jays Face Their Own Hurdles and Injuries
The Toronto Blue Jays are also reeling from the Game 3 marathon, particularly on the injury front. Designated hitter George Springer exited the game in the seventh inning with right side discomfort and underwent an MRI early Tuesday. Blue Jays manager John Schneider expressed concern, noting Springer is “obviously a huge part of our lineup” and that they would “see how he is tomorrow.” His return for Game 4 remains questionable, as highlighted by Field Level Media.
Adding to Toronto’s woes, second baseman Bo Bichette, still recovering from a sprained right knee that cost him nearly seven weeks, was pinch-run for after his go-ahead single in the seventh inning. Asking him to start back-to-back days might be too much, potentially forcing the Blue Jays to field a “B” lineup against Ohtani.
On the mound, the Blue Jays will counter with right-hander Shane Bieber. While a Southern California native, Bieber was traded to Toronto in July while still recovering from Tommy John surgery. He holds a 1-0 record with a 4.38 ERA in three postseason starts, but has struggled to complete four innings in two of those outings. His ability to provide length will be crucial, given the Blue Jays’ bullpen was also heavily utilized, combining for 12 2/3 innings in Game 3.
The Tactical Imperative: Length from Starters
For both teams, getting as much as possible out of their Game 4 starters, Shohei Ohtani and Shane Bieber, will be absolutely paramount. After combining for 19 pitchers in Game 3, relief arms on both sides are fatigued, and strategic options are limited. The traditional bullpen roles are likely thrown out the window, with managers forced to call on anyone available.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman encapsulated the feeling of relief after Game 3, saying his walk-off homer was “just to get this game over.” The physical and emotional toll of such a contest is immense, making the performances of Ohtani and Bieber not just about skill, but sheer endurance. As Max Muncy noted, hitting conditions can change drastically with the marine layer at Dodger Stadium, but Game 4 is expected to be warmer, potentially leading to a more offense-friendly environment early on.
The stage is set for a Game 4 unlike any other, where the ghost of an 18-inning epic hangs heavy, demanding heroic efforts from its starting pitchers and adaptability from its beleaguered bullpens. The series momentum, already swung by Freeman’s dramatic blast, will now hinge on whether these teams can rebound from the physical and mental strain to deliver another chapter of World Series lore.
