World Series Game 4: Blue Jays crack it open late, topple Dodgers 6–2 to level series 2–2

The 2025 World Series tightened into a best-of-three after Toronto silenced a packed Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night, beating Los Angeles 6–2 behind a steady start from Shane Bieber, a momentum-swinging blast from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and a four-run seventh that broke the game open. The result squares the Fall Classic at two games apiece and guarantees the series returns to Canada.

World Series Game 4: what decided it

Toronto absorbed an early jab, then dictated pace. The Dodgers nudged ahead 1–0 in the second on a sacrifice fly, but Guerrero Jr. flipped the scoreboard in the third with a two-run shot to left, a jolt that reset the crowd and allowed Bieber to settle into contact management. Los Angeles stayed within a run until the seventh, when Toronto stacked disciplined at-bats, chased traffic onto the bases and capitalized on a taxed bullpen for four runs. From there, a composed relief corps closed the door.

Key turning points:

• Guerrero Jr.’s two-run homer (T3): Changed win probability and forced the Dodgers to play uphill the rest of the night.

• Four-run seventh: Lengthy plate appearances led to run-scoring knocks and insurance that blunted any late comeback bid.

• Bullpen contrast: Toronto’s relievers attacked the zone and limited damage; Los Angeles’ middle innings unraveled under short rest.

Shohei Ohtani’s Game 4 start vs. Toronto’s plan

Los Angeles handed the ball to Shohei Ohtani for his World Series pitching debut. The right-hander showed his trademark life early but exited charged with four runs as Toronto’s right-handed thump and patience elevated pitch counts and pounced on mistakes in the middle frames. Bieber, by contrast, leaned on sequencing and soft contact, working into the sixth with only one run allowed before handing it to a fresh setup/closer combo.

At a glance

• Toronto starter: Shane Bieber — worked into the late middle innings, 1 ER, kept barrels to a minimum.

• Los Angeles starter: Shohei Ohtani — electric early, four runs on the ledger as the lineup turned over.

• Relief edge: Blue Jays leveraged matchups; Dodgers’ bullpen fatigue showed after the 18-inning marathon in Game 3.

Lineup shuffle and notable absences

Toronto adjusted pregame with George Springer out of the starting lineup while managing a right-side issue from Game 3. Bo Bichette slotted at designated hitter, while the top of the order emphasized on-base skills to pressure Los Angeles’ middle relief. The reconfigured look produced traffic and timely swings, particularly in the decisive seventh.

Game 4 color: ceremonies and scene

A star-studded Chavez Ravine delivered big-stage vibes from first pitch. Tinashe performed the U.S. national anthem and Deborah Cox sang “O Canada,” with Orel Hershiser delivering the ceremonial first pitch. The atmosphere turned from celebratory to tense as Toronto’s late surge quieted the building.

Scoring summary (unofficial)

• LAD 2nd: Sacrifice fly plates the opener (1–0 LAD).

• TOR 3rd: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. two-run home run (2–1 TOR).

• TOR 7th: Four runs via a string of quality at-bats and pressure situations (6–1 TOR).

• LAD late: Cosmetic tally narrows the final margin (6–2 TOR).

What Game 4 means for the series

With the World Series now tied 2–2, both clubs face a sprint: three games to decide a champion. Toronto’s win flips home-field leverage; even if Los Angeles takes Game 5, the series is guaranteed to shift back north for Game 6. The Dodgers’ immediate priorities are bullpen stabilization and unlocking run production that has thinned over the last two games. Toronto, meanwhile, rides a revived offense and a pen aligned for leverage spots.

Momentum snapshot

• Pressure on L.A.: Middle-inning run prevention must improve after consecutive heavy workloads.

• Confidence for Toronto: Guerrero Jr.’s power threat and a rested back-end bullpen travel well.

Game 5 outlook: time, probable starters, and what to watch

• First pitch: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 8:00 p.m. ET (1:00 a.m. GMT Thu).

• Probables: Blake Snell (LAD) vs. Trey Yesavage (TOR).

• Matchup angles:

  • Snell’s left-handed whiffs vs. Toronto’s right-handed power.

  • Yesavage’s fastball/slider combo against a patient top of the Dodgers’ order.

  • Managerial chess: quick hooks after any sign of traffic, with off-day looming before Game 6 travel.

Series at a glance

The World Series now compresses into high-leverage baseball, where every baserunner feels like a crisis and every mistake becomes a headline. After surviving the longest game of the matchup and responding with a wire-to-wire performance, Toronto has turned this into a true heavyweight duel entering Game 5 at Dodger Stadium.