This was Game 3 of the 2025 World Series. Unlike the first two games at Toronto’s Rogers Centre, this one moved to Los Angeles, with the Dodgers hosting at Dodger Stadium. The series was tied 1–1 after the first two, making this game a pivotal tiebreaker.

The starting pitchers were Max Scherzer for the Blue Jays and Tyler Glasnow for the Dodgers. Though nine years apart in age (Scherzer 41, Glasnow 32), both are seasoned postseason aces. Before first pitch, Scherzer had 31 career postseason appearances, while Glasnow had taken the mound 13 times in October — a clash between a veteran and a star in his prime.

The Dodgers struck first. Bottom 2, Teoscar Hernández — nicknamed “the Spanish teacher” — launched a solo homer to left, 1–0. Bottom 3, Shohei Ohtani added a rocket to right for another solo shot, 2–0 Dodgers.

Momentum flipped in the top of the 4th. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drew a walk, and Bo Bichette followed with a grounder to second that Tommy Edman booted, setting up runners at the corners. With one out, Alejandro Kirk crushed a three-run homer to left-center, flipping it to 3–2 Blue Jays.

Toronto kept the line moving. Addison Barger and Ernie Clement singled back-to-back to put runners at the corners again, and Andrés Giménez lifted a sac fly to add one more. The Jays dropped a four-spot in the inning and took a 4–2 lead.

Bottom 5, the Dodgers countered. Kiké Hernández singled up the middle to spark a rally. Andy Pages flew out to right, but L.A. stayed after it.

Toronto went to a targeted move, summoning lefty Mason Fluharty to replace the starter in order to neutralize left-handed Shohei Ohtani. It didn’t work. Ohtani rifled a deep drive to left to plate the runner and cut it to 4–3.

Freddie Freeman then punched a single through the right side to tie it, 4–4, and Dodger Stadium roared again.

Top 7, neither side yielded. With two outs, the Dodgers turned to right-hander Blake Treinen. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. shot a single back through the box, and Bo Bichette followed with a single through the right side. Guerrero Jr. raced home to put Toronto back in front, 5–4, but Bichette — unsure how quickly right fielder Teoscar Hernández would get to the ball — held at first, making it an RBI single without advancing further.

Bottom 7, the Dodgers answered immediately. Shohei Ohtani struck again, a solo homer to left to make it 5–5 — his eighth of the 2025 postseason, underscoring his jaw-dropping power and clutch gene.

It stayed 5–5 into the bottom of the ninth, and we went to extras.

Top 10, with two outs and a man on first, Nathan Lukes lined an opposite-field double to right. Davis Schneider (running for Ty France, who’d come in for leadoff man George Springer after Springer exited with injury) charged home, but Teoscar Hernández threw a laser and the 9–4–2 relay cut down Schneider at the plate, ending the inning and the threat.

Bottom 10, the Dodgers also put men on first and second but couldn’t cash in. Still tied.

Top 12, the Jays threatened again — one out, runners on first and second. Davis Schneider rolled one to third; Max Muncy stepped on the bag and threw on for what looked like an easy force, but Toronto challenged. After review, the runner was ruled safe, loading the bases.

Enter Clayton Kershaw — the veteran lefty expected to retire at season’s end — summoned into a bases-loaded, one-out jam. The legend stayed calm and got Nathan Lukes to bounce to second; Tommy Edman handled it smoothly and threw to first to escape the inning. Dodger Stadium erupted.

Bottom 13, the Dodgers pushed again. Tommy Edman doubled, Miguel Rojas (now at second base after replacing Kiké Hernández’s lineup spot, with Kiké shifting from left field earlier) moved him over with a grounder, and it was first and third with one out. Alex Call pinch-hit for Andy Pages but popped to short. Toronto then issued intentional walks to Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts to face the next hitter, hoping for an inning-ending double play under pressure. Freddie Freeman flied to center; the Jays wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam of their own.

Top 18 — yes, the 18th. Both pens were nearly empty; even original starters were up in the ‘pen. With one out, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked; with two outs, Daulton Varsho walked, and a wild pitch moved both to second and third. But Dodgers reliever Will Klein steadied himself and, on a full count, struck out backup catcher Tyler Heineman to keep it level.

Bottom 18, Toronto stuck with Brendon Little against “the Freeman” — Freddie Freeman. On a full count, Little threw a slider into the zone at about the fifth slot (upper-middle), and Freeman drilled it to straightaway center. Daulton Varsho raced back, leaping in vain as the ball soared over the fence.

A walk-off home run — and the Dodgers outlasted the Blue Jays, 6–5, winning a 6-hour-39-minute (399 minutes) marathon. L.A. took a 2–1 lead in the series and authored one of the longest, most unforgettable World Series epics ever.

The 18-inning saga inevitably evoked October 27, 2018 (Taiwan time) — also at Dodger Stadium, also Game 3 of the World Series, Dodgers vs. Red Sox. That night, it was still 2–2 in the 18th until Max Muncy belted a walk-off solo shot off a spent Nathan Eovaldi, giving L.A. a 3–2 win after 7 hours 20 minutes (440 minutes).

That victory cut the series deficit from 0–2 to 1–2, but the Dodgers then dropped the next two as the Red Sox won it all in five. A bittersweet memory.

Seven years later, the Dodgers again prevailed in an 18-inning war at home. This time, the hero wasn’t Max Muncy — it was “the Freeman,” Freddie Freeman. The rhyming history lent this win extra legend, reaffirming the Dodgers’ resilience and flair for drama.

Also, Shohei Ohtani delivered an astonishing night — he reached base in all nine plate appearances, an exceedingly rare feat. He went 4-for-4 with 2 homers and 2 doubles, 12 total bases, plus five walks (four intentional). A perfect 100% OBP (9-for-9) — textbook dominance.

Ohtani also tied Corey Seager’s 2020 club record with his eighth homer in a single postseason, and he matched a 119-year-old World Series mark by racking up four extra-base hits within the first nine innings (Frank Isbell, 1906, Game 5). The historical span is staggering — back then, Taiwan was still under the late Qing dynasty — underscoring how rare and significant Ohtani’s night was.

Here are the game highlights
Video source: MLB official YouTube

After 6 hours 39 minutes and 18 innings, the Dodgers and Blue Jays produced one of the modern classic World Series games. To break down the key elements more fully, we’ll analyze it in three parts (11 sections total), covering tactics, performances, and what it means next.

📘 Part 1: Game Content & Player Performance (Part 1)

1️⃣ Analysis of both teams’ starting lineups
2️⃣ Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow — performance review
3️⃣ Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer — performance review
4️⃣ Dodgers bullpen — performance review

📘 Part 2: Game Content & Player Performance (Part 2)

5️⃣ Blue Jays bullpen — performance review
6️⃣ Both lineups — offensive performance
7️⃣ Both teams — baserunning analysis
8️⃣ Both teams — defensive analysis

📙 Part 3: Tactics, What’s Next, and Conclusions

9️⃣ Tactical and in-game management analysis for both staffs
🔟 Predicting G4 starters and lineup tweaks
1️⃣1️⃣ Conclusions & outlook

Next, let’s dig into the extended G4 strategy and big-picture takeaways to see how this marathon will shape the rest of the series.

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1️⃣ Analysis of both teams’ starting lineups

(Blue Jays lineup)

Toronto Blue Jays
1 DH George Springer (R)
2 LF Nathan Lukes (L)
3 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R)
4 2B Bo Bichette (R)
5 CF Daulton Varsho (L)
6 C Alejandro Kirk (R)
7 RF Addison Barger (L)
8 3B Ernie Clement (R)
9 SS Andrés Giménez (L)
SP Max Scherzer (RHP)

Compared with Game 2, Toronto made slight tweaks. The top three — Springer, Lukes, Guerrero Jr. — remained intact to anchor on-base and power.

The big change was in the heart. Bo Bichette, who hit cleanup in G1 and rested in G2, was back in the 4-spot, with lefty Daulton Varsho staying fifth to keep continuity. This both “protects” Guerrero Jr. with Bichette behind him and maintains a right-left alternation in the middle.

Alejandro Kirk moved to sixth despite his strong recent form, a nod to his relative weakness vs. breaking balls — particularly relevant because Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow leans heavily on slider/curve. Still, batting behind a red-hot lefty like Varsho, Kirk’s role as a connector remained critical.

Addison Barger stayed seventh (right field) for a second straight game. Ernie Clement hit eighth after a strong previous game; the staff clearly hoped he could extend his hot contact to protect Barger even if he lacks big raw power.

Andrés Giménez remained ninth and at short. Though his postseason line had been modest (.244 AVG, .692 OPS entering the game), his defense is so steady that he’s indispensable in the lower third.

(Dodgers lineup)

Los Angeles Dodgers
1 DH Shohei Ohtani (L)
2 SS Mookie Betts (R)
3 1B Freddie Freeman (L)
4 C Will Smith (R)
5 3B Max Muncy (L)
6 RF Teoscar Hernández (R)
7 2B Tommy Edman (S)
8 LF Kiké Hernández (R)
9 CF Andy Pages (R)
SP Tyler Glasnow (RHP)

The Dodgers’ starters were almost unchanged from the first two games. The top four — Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, Smith — stayed the engine, with Andy Pages fixed in the 9-spot for defense and lineup turnover.

There were micro-shifts in the middle. The 5th and 6th spots (Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernández) were flipped, and so were the 7th and 8th (Tommy Edman, Kiké Hernández). The idea: build a more layered, “sawtooth” left-right alternation to disrupt Toronto’s pitch sequencing.

Those moves reflect recent form. Muncy, who homered in the previous game, was bumped up; Hernández — who struck out four times last game — slid to sixth, dialing down early-order pressure. Switch-hitter Tommy Edman batted seventh left-handed vs. righty Max Scherzer; Kiké followed in the 8-spot as a righty to keep the balance.

Pages stayed ninth: the bat is still developing, but his stable outfield defense keeps the overall run prevention strong.

💡 Note/Correction: In Part 2 previously I wrote “Scherzer held lefties to .156 and righties hit .297” this season. After re-checking, those figures were wrong. The correct numbers are lefties .257, righties .269 — the split isn’t nearly as extreme. Apologies for the error; corrected here. 🫠

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2️⃣ Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow — performance review

(Glasnow’s line)

4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R (2 ER), 5 K, 3 BB; allowed a 3-run HR to Alejandro Kirk in the 4th.
He threw 85 pitches, 56 strikes (65.9% strike rate). The overall strike rate was fine, but entry-point consistency wavered, especially with breaking balls and elevated heaters. That elevated the walk rate and put him behind in counts.

Glasnow posted three scoreless to open. In the 2nd he faced a bases-loaded, none-out jam but escaped with strikeouts and well-timed speed-differential work. That was serious poise.

Second time through, Toronto synced to his tempo. The lower half of the order ignited more traffic, and the 4th turned into a four-run inning (two earned) keyed by Kirk’s three-run blast to left-center — the inflection point of Glasnow’s night.

In the 5th, he walked Nathan Lukes to start, then retired Guerrero Jr. and Bichette. At 85 pitches with lefty Daulton Varsho due, the Dodgers turned to lefty Anthony Banda. It reflected concern about Glasnow’s pitch count and command volatility, and a long-game view in an extra-inning-risk environment.

(Pitch mix)

Glasnow used four pitches:

• Sinker (35) — 41.18%
• Curveball (26) — 30.59%
• Slider (13) — 15.29%
• Four-seam (11) — 12.94%

⚾️ Sinker

He dramatically upped the sinker usage (41.2%) vs. the regular season (20.6%). That was a clear tactical pivot against a hot Jays lineup — use horizontal/run and drop to blunt pull power, especially vs. Guerrero Jr. and Bichette.

Results lagged the intent: 10% whiff rate (2 whiffs/20 swings) — underpowered. Command was the culprit: too high at times (not at intended low entry), too low out of the zone, and too many in the “honey hole,” especially upper-middle. Jays timed him up.

Spin averaged 2429 rpm, down 83 rpm from his season average (2512), a meaningful dip for a power fastballer that likely softened late life. Velocity was actually up (avg 96.7 mph vs. 95.9), but without stable entry and with slightly lighter spin, the pitch underperformed. That helped fuel the 4th-inning damage — mostly second-time-through exposure.

⚾️ Curveball

Usage climbed to 30.6% (vs. 21.9% in season). It’s been his best breaker all year: .104 BAA and 44.6% whiff in season, and his main weapon vs. lefties. In this game he even leaned on it 35% vs. righties to check hot RH bats (Springer, Guerrero Jr., Kirk, Clement).

He got a 31% whiff on the curve (4/13) — decent — but only one strikeout off it, short of his typical K power. The curve was 0.7 mph slower than usual and 45 rpm lighter; drop action also seemed a bit dulled. Some were too low off the zone; others leaked middle-up. Without pinpoint entry, it couldn’t fully dominate.

⚾️ Slider

Usage dipped to 15.3% (vs. 22.1% season), likely because several Jays handle sliders better and because his curve has been the sharper breaker overall. He used it more the second time through, but entry points were off — too sweet or too far — sapping chase. Average velo was +0.9 mph, but spin fell 144 rpm, which hurts a slider’s east-west bite.

⚾️ Four-seam fastball

Season usage 35.4%, but only 12.9% here — the lowest of the four — because the sinker was the featured heater. Still, 3 of his 5 strikeouts came on four-seams. First time through he used it 23%, averaging 97.5 mph in the 1st. He then throttled back usage to avoid overexposure, especially as command wobbled. Only 36% of four-seams were in the zone — imprecise — prompting the pivot to sinkers/breakers that, unfortunately, also lacked consistent entry. The combo never fully locked in mid-game, hastening his exit.

(Battery plan with C Will Smith)

Top 1 — Eight pitches, three up three down. Four-seam up + curve down, playing high/low speed and plane separation to induce indecision.

Top 2 — Four-seam and sinkers rode too high; curve had bite but heaters lacked quality, loading the bases with none out. On a 1–3 count to Daulton Varsho, Glasnow threw a high borderline sinker. It missed the zone, but HP ump Mark Wegner called it a strike. Bo Bichette, thinking it was ball four, took off; Varsho also moved toward first. Smith fired back and Glasnow applied the tag — a huge out. He then worked out of first-and-third to strand the inning.

Top 3 — Faced 9-1-2 (Giménez, Springer, Lukes). Leaned on sinkers up-zone to push launch angle and avoid pull. Both curve and slider ticked up in quality — a clean second 1-2-3.

Top 4 — Stayed with sinker/curve, but command frayed: too high or too middle when he needed chase. Jays seized it, with Kirk blasting a middle-up curve for a 3-run shot. Four runs (two earned) flipped the game — the turning point.

Top 5 — Tried high sinkers/low curves vs. Lukes but walked him; then executed sharp edge breaking ball sequences to retire Guerrero Jr. (F9) and Bichette (K looking). With Varsho due (LHB), the Dodgers went to Banda. Night over.

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3️⃣ Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer — performance review

(Scherzer’s line)

4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 K, 1 BB; surrendered homers to Teoscar Hernández and Shohei Ohtani; no decision.

He threw 79 pitches, 54 strikes (68.35% strike rate). 51% of his pitches were in the zone; of the 49% out of the zone, 38% still induced swings — elite edge-tempting. His overall whiff rate was 27.66%, exceeding Glasnow’s 22.22%; even with less peak velocity than in his prime, he still wins with design and sequencing.

Bottom 5, after allowing a single to Kiké Hernández and retiring Andy Pages, the staff lifted Scherzer with lefty Ohtani due up for a third look, bringing in lefty Mason Fluharty. It was a left-on-left chess move to end Scherzer’s day.

Overall, despite the two long balls and the early hook, Scherzer’s tempo, strike efficiency, and ability to draw chases showcased veteran stability — a solid short-to-mid outing.

(Pitch mix)

Scherzer used five pitches:

• Four-seam (37) — 46.84%
• Slider (18) — 22.78%
• Curve (12) — 15.19%
• Cutter (7) — 8.86%
• Changeup (5) — 6.33%

⚾️ Four-seam fastball

Usage 46.8%, essentially matching his season (48.5%). Velo strong at 94.8 mph (vs. 93.6 season, +1.2), spin 2434 rpm (vs. 2391, +43). He lived upstairs — with speed and spin, that “ride” creates the visual hop that fuels whiffs and weak contact. A major driver of the 27.66% whiff night.

⚾️ Slider

Usage 22.8% (vs. 23.7 season), with tiny bumps in velo (+0.1) and spin (+9 rpm). He generated a 33.3% whiff (4/12), proving it can still bite — but 61% of sliders were in the zone, a bit too many for a chase pitch, dulling deception. The risk showed in the 2nd when a slider in the zone to Teoscar Hernández got hammered for a solo HR.

⚾️ Curveball

Usage 15.2% (vs. 11.9 season). Despite a rough season profile on the curve (.349 BAA, .674 SLG against), he upped it here to disrupt timing with speed differentials. He used it vs. both LHB (21%) and RHB (12%). Whiff rate only 14.3% (1/7) on the curve in this game. Velo 77.5 mph (+0.8) and spin 2696 rpm (+7) were fine, but many entries sat below the zone and off the edge — limited lure.

⚾️ Cutter

A sneaky weapon this game: 8.9% usage vs. just 1.9% in season (+8.0 pts), tailored to the Dodgers (especially lefties). Avg velo 89.4 mph (+1.3), adding sharper look relative to the four-seamer. Versus lefties, cutter usage hit 25% with a 75% whiff rate (3 whiffs on 4 swings) — outstanding despite the small sample. A low-volume, high-leverage piece of his plan.

⚾️ Changeup

Usage 6.3%; modest count but an important mix pitch. Avg 86.1 mph (+1.2), narrowing the speed gap to the four-seam for pairs with firm heaters. However, most changes missed too far off the plate (all five went for balls), limiting the intended rhythm-breaker effect.

(Battery plan with C Alejandro Kirk)

Bottom 1 — Against Ohtani/Betts/Freeman, he went slider/curve with four-seams, aiming four-seams mid-to-up and breakers low to create vertical separation. The intent was sound, but some heaters and breakers entered too similarly, insufficient visual spread. Ohtani pounced for a firm double to left — a crack in the first pass.

Bottom 2 — He differentiated vs. handedness.
• Vs. RHB (Teoscar, Kiké, etc.): four-seam + curve/slider, plus the occasional change to stretch speed/plane gaps.
• Vs. LHB (Muncy; Edman batting left): sinker/four-seam to command tempo and avoid early breaker reads, using late life to limit pull angles.
The common thread: high heater/low breaker to modulate timing and contact quality. With velo and depth in place, it didn’t fully muzzle L.A.’s core, but it showed veteran layering.

Bottom 3 — He leaned on fastball family (four-seam/cutter) to start the second trip. The plan: assert with heat rather than flood in breakers. But to Ohtani, an inner-half four-seam at a hittable height got ambushed for an opposite-field solo shot — likely a “got the pattern” swing as Ohtani synced to the plan.

Bottom 4 — Against LHB Max Muncy, he went low sliders/curves to suppress lift; Muncy rolled out to first. Against Teoscar (RHB) and Edman (S, batting left), he turned to high four-seams paired with low change/slider — clean high/low lanes, using low-zone breakers as finishers in even/advantage counts. He kept the middle-rear of the order quiet.

Bottom 5 — Stayed with four-seam-first vs. righties, sprinkled sliders/curves. To Kiké, entries rode too high and he singled up the middle. He then tightened low-zone control vs. Pages (fastball-led, slider assist) and got a F9. With Ohtani due for his third look (2B and HR already), Toronto made the conservative move: lefty vs. lefty, Fluharty in, ending Scherzer’s outing.

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4️⃣ Dodgers bullpen — performance review

#43 Anthony Banda (LHP)

In the top of the 5th, with Glasnow due to face LHB Daulton Varsho, the Dodgers went to lefty Anthony Banda. With Alex Vesia away for a family matter, Banda had taken on more short-burst “defuse the bomb” assignments in this World Series. He induced a shallow pop to short left (handled by Mookie Betts after a defensive shift), a key out to stabilize the inning.

#70 Justin Wrobleski (LHP)

Top 6, Justin Wrobleski relieved Banda. A long-relief lefty who has started, his LOB% was only 66.6%, so they gave him a clean inning to minimize inherited-runner risk. He faced four hitters, allowed only an Addison Barger single, struck out Ernie Clement, and posted a scoreless frame to bridge the middle innings.

(The Banda/Wrobleski sequence above was repeated in the original; retained here for fidelity.)

#49 Blake Treinen (RHP)

Top 7, Blake Treinen entered to face the teeth: Guerrero Jr., Bichette, Varsho. The first three all singled — Guerrero tied it, Bichette’s knock put Toronto ahead 5–4, and Varsho added another to keep traffic flowing. Treinen then settled and got Kirk to roll a 4-3 to limit the inning and halt the bleed.

#86 Jack Dreyer (LHP)

Top 8, tied 5–5 after Ohtani’s game-tying blast, L.A. called on lefty Jack Dreyer to face the 7-8-9 (two lefties among them: Spencer Horwitz and Andrés Giménez). Barger opened with a routine grounder to short, but Mookie Betts threw it away, putting the leadoff man on. Dreyer regrouped, got Clement to fly to right, then yielded a liner to left by Giménez, making it first and second. With leadoff Ty France (RHB) due, the Dodgers went to the fireman:

#11 Roki Sasaki (RHP)

Roki Sasaki replaced Dreyer in the 8th with two aboard and induced consecutive grounders from Ty France and Nathan Lukes to escape — notable since his MLB ground-ball rate was only 38.9%, but he flashed the Chiba Lotte look in a ground-ball mini-mode.

In the 9th, he retired Guerrero Jr. on a fly to right, then walked Isiah Kiner-Falefa (who had replaced Bichette at short), and allowed a right-side liner by Varsho. On that play, Freeman deflected the ball but couldn’t corral it; Tommy Edman, backing up, scooped and fired to third to cut down IKF, a huge out that prevented first-and-third, none out. Sasaki then walked Kirk but induced pinch-hitter Myles Straw to roll to third; Max Muncy stepped on second to end a nervy frame and keep it tied.

#80 Emmet Sheehan (RHP)

Top 10, Emmet Sheehan took over. While he’d faltered in an earlier emergency in the series, the staff trusted him in a clean inning here. He retired Clement and Giménez quickly, then yielded a single to Ty France and a scalded gapper by Lukes.

That’s when the Dodgers made one of the game’s defensive plays: RF Teoscar Hernández scooped and fired back to the infield; the 9–4–2 relay with Tommy Edman and Will Smith nailed Davis Schneider (running for France) at the plate, ending the inning.

Top 11, Sheehan stayed on and dominated 3-4-5 — F9 from Guerrero Jr., a weak roller from IKF, and a strikeout of Varsho for a 1-2-3 shutdown.

Top 12, his command wobbled: he walked Kirk. Toronto inserted Tyler Heineman to run. Myles Straw tried to bunt; Freddie Freeman caught it on the fly to erase the tactic. Clement grounded up the middle; Edman ranged over, saw he couldn’t get two, and took the out at first — two outs, runner on second.

The Dodgers then issued an intentional walk to lefty Giménez to face righty Davis Schneider (now batting where Ty France had). Schneider chopped to third; Muncy stepped on the bag to try to erase Heineman — ruled safe on review. Bases loaded, two outs — a live grenade.

Cue the legend:

#22 Clayton Kershaw (LHP)

Clayton Kershaw, who has said he’ll retire after this season, entered in one of the game’s hinge moments. When to deploy him had been a postseason storyline; 18 seasons of Dodger blue carried meaning beyond metrics, even as his fastball had softened and Toronto’s lineup — heavy with strong righties — posed risk.

Manager Dave Roberts had said he’d find the right moment. This was it: two outs, bases loaded, and scorching Nathan Lukes (LHB) at the plate. Get him, and you preserve 5–5. Miss, and you probably face Vladimir Guerrero Jr. next.

It was a bet — but one with a potentially storybook payoff.

Kershaw delivered. After seven pitches, on the eighth, he flipped an 88.9 mph slider off the outside corner. Lukes swung and rolled a 55.3 mph dribbler to first — out. The Dodgers escaped the mega-jam and kept it level.

Kershaw nodded to the dugout as the crowd rose. In that instant, he didn’t just steady the game; he authored a signature image for his final October chapter.

#60 Edgardo Henriquez (RHP)

Top 13 still 5–5, the Dodgers turned to the 23-year-old Edgardo Henriquez. He retired Guerrero Jr. and IKF, then nicked Varsho with a running heater (HBP). He regrouped and got Heineman to fly to center to end it.

Top 14, Henriquez returned and mowed 7-8-9, capping it by blowing a fastball past Giménez for strike three. In a stretched bullpen, his two shutout frames were massive.

#61 Will Klein (RHP)

Top 15 brought the Dodgers’ tenth pitcher: Will Klein, a fireballing righty who’d only made 14 regular-season appearances (2.35 ERA), now on the WS roster due to Alex Vesia’s absence. He’s a strikeout machine with occasional wildness, and he was asked to cover multiple frames; his regular-season max was 36 pitches (2.1 IP on June 25 vs. COL).

In the 15th, Klein struck out Schneider, got Lukes to roll over, allowed a Guerrero Jr. single, then fanned IKF on a full-count outside pitch to strand him.

In the 16th and 17th, Klein dominated: three up, three down both innings on 15 and 10 pitches, with four strikeouts total — fearless and composed.

In the 18th, he got Lukes to line softly to first; walked Guerrero Jr.; induced a grounder from IKF that Betts turned at second (no time for two) — two outs, man on first. He then walked Varsho; a wild pitch moved both to second and third. On full tension, he snapped off an inside curve to strike out Heineman and strand both — his pitch count reaching 72, a starter’s workload.

Bottom 18, Freddie Freeman ended it with a towering, straightaway walk-off to center. Dodgers 6, Jays 5. Klein, in his postseason debut, not only covered a heroic multi-inning bridge but earned the win, etching his own October moment.

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(Next up)

That’s it for World Series G3 Postgame Analysis | Part 1/3.

In Part 2/3, we’ll dive into the Blue Jays’ bullpen performance, then compare the two teams’ offense, baserunning, and defense in detail. Stay tuned!

Sources /
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