LOS ANGELES — The Blue Jays were freshly defeated in an 18-inning clash where they nearly conquered the Dodgers on multiple occasions. They found themselves behind 2-1 in the best-of-seven World Series, their bullpen depleted. One of their standout hitters was absent from Game 4 due to an injury, while another battled through pain. Had the starting pitcher faltered in Game 4, the series outcome would have been largely sealed — given the challenge of defeating the Dodgers three consecutive times.
The responsibility fell to Shane Bieber, and the seasoned right-hander outperformed Shohei Ohtani. Consequently, with a 6-2 victory for the Blue Jays, the 2025 World Series is now balanced at two games each. The championship showdown has been reduced to a three-game affair, set to conclude in Toronto this weekend.
“There isn’t a choice, really,” Bieber expressed after the game, regarding the need to elevate his performance following the 18-inning Game 3 ordeal. “Are you going to wallow in self-pity? It’s the World Series, isn’t it? We’re trailing by one game. But now we’re level, with an opportunity to seize the lead and carry that advantage back to Toronto after tomorrow. So, there wasn’t much to discuss. Guys were fatigued. We gave it everything we had last night, and there’s pride amongst us. It was an exhausting game, but you must also be able to move forward, and we managed to do that and arrived today eager to secure another World Series victory. That’s where we stood. We genuinely felt compelled to push forward, to persist and compete for each other, trusting that we’d find ourselves in a favorable position.”
Bieber’s presence in the Blue Jays’ rotation was limited this season. He wasn’t even part of the team at the season’s midpoint. The former Guardians’ star was undergoing rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery as the season began, marking his final year under contract with Cleveland (including a $16 million player option for the following year). The Blue Jays cautiously acquired him at the trade deadline, obtaining him in exchange for a Double-A pitcher named Khal Stephen. Bieber ultimately became the first pitcher in history to miss the initial four-plus months of the season due to injury and then secure a World Series win.
The initial thinking behind the trade might not have been explicitly “Bieber will start what is essentially a must-win in the World Series,” but the intention was undoubtedly to have him prepared and available to make critical starts as the season progressed and into the playoffs.
“We weren’t initially aware it would be Game 4 of the World Series,” Kevin Gausman remarked with a chuckle. “Having someone with his experience, his reputation as a Cy Young winner, gives you a significant sense of confidence. He’s also capable of making adjustments, even if he’s not at his sharpest initially, thanks to his ability to locate his breaking ball.”
Bieber conceded a run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly from Enriqué Hernández before settling into his rhythm. His final statistics: 5 ⅓ innings pitched, four hits allowed, one earned run, three walks, and three strikeouts.
“For a player who joined us at the deadline, he — I mean, in my opinion, he’s integrated seamlessly,” manager John Schneider commented after the game. “He complements our existing starters exceptionally well, and it’s invaluable to have a group like that, that just understands the situation, you know? It’s not easy to be traded from the only team you’ve ever known and have your life turned upside down in a new country, especially with a family. But he’s settled in remarkably well, and these are the precise situations for which we acquired him. It’s demanding a lot from him, considering his recovery from surgery and everything. But he’s enjoying the experience, embracing the challenge, and has been instrumental in our journey here.”
Again, had Bieber struggled early in this game, the Blue Jays’ hopes of securing their first championship in 32 years might have been extinguished. Relying on a lengthy bullpen effort again wasn’t viable, and the Dodgers are likely too formidable to defeat in three consecutive games. However, Bieber rose to the occasion.
“We have unwavering confidence in him whenever he takes the mound,” Gausman stated.
“He’s incredible,” Ernie Clement added. “He kept them off balance throughout the night, making it easier for us on defense. Just a tremendous performance.”
In reality, the entire Blue Jays team deserves recognition. They faced an early deficit but rallied. We’ve witnessed their resilience time and again. It occurred repeatedly during the regular season. They overcame an 0-2 deficit in the ALCS against the Mariners and then secured victories in Games 6 and 7 after returning to Toronto following a disheartening loss in Game 5. They trailed in Game 1 of the World Series before unleashing an offensive surge. And now, after an 18-inning defeat that could have been demoralizing, they displayed determination, delivering powerful hits and showcasing exceptional pitching and defense. Oh, and did we mention that one of their key offensive contributors (George Springer) is playing through an injury?
Regardless, the Blue Jays demonstrated their resilience and leveled the series.
“I believe this is a quote from Herb Brooks,” Clement shared, referencing the hockey coach famous for leading the 1980 USA Olympic team to a gold medal. “But we are a team of extraordinary individuals. A typical team would have crumbled today, but we are not typical. I believe we are the best team in baseball, and we woke up today with unwavering determination and a readiness to compete.”
“It was painful. We poured our hearts into that game, every one of us,” said Game 3 starter Max Scherzer, who clarified that the defeat wasn’t as devastating as it might have appeared from the outside. “What we witnessed from everyone in this clubhouse gave us reason to have faith in each other. We responded emphatically tonight.”
Bieber was a focal point. Do you recall all the pre-Game 4 discussions about whether the Blue Jays would even pitch to Shohei Ohtani? Bieber did walk Ohtani in the first inning, but subsequently struck him out twice. Those were the first two outs Ohtani recorded at Dodger Stadium since NLCS Game 3 on Oct. 16.
“Any time you accomplish that, you keep the baseball,” Clement joked.
Bieber’s pitching wasn’t overwhelmingly dominant or anything. It hasn’t been for much of this year, his first back from that surgery. That initial year back is challenging. Bieber simply relied on his command and craftiness. You could argue that he fought his way through the fifth inning and into the sixth, when the Jays were desperately in need of a quality start.
He did leave two runners on base, but Mason Fluharty emerged from the bullpen to support Bieber, much like Bieber supported the entire bullpen in this game by pitching into the sixth inning.
“The essence of this team, the individuals in that clubhouse,” Bieber remarked after the game. “It’s difficult to articulate, but it’s an absolute joy every single day. I believe that coming off of what could have been a crushing loss last night, it was a genuine pleasure to arrive today and see that the guys are the same, nobody changes, nobody ever wavers, nobody ever hesitates. It’s the same group of guys each and every day that continue to put the work in, continue to compete, continue to rely on each other, and it’s an absolute privilege to play alongside them.”
And while we must acknowledge the contributions of Fluharty and Chris Bassitt, typically a starter who performed exceptionally in relief in this game, let’s not overlook Bieber. Let’s assume the Jays manage to secure a narrow victory in Game 5 with significant workloads for their key relievers and then proceed to win the World Series. Bieber’s ability to handle the workload into the sixth inning in Game 4 will have been critical in setting up Game 5.
Now, let’s revisit that trade in July. Bieber hadn’t thrown a pitch in MLB since April 2, 2024. He had only reached 59 pitches in his minor-league rehab assignment while attempting to return from major surgery. The Blue Jays believed it was worthwhile to acquire him.
It proved to be a valuable decision. Game 4 of the 2025 World Series provided ample evidence of that. And the Blue Jays are now just two wins away from their first World Series championship since that memorable Joe Carter home run in 1993.
