Baseball World Series live: Dodgers–Blue Jays tied 2–2 after marathon drama and Game 4 reset; Game 5 tonight

The Baseball World Series has swung wildly in the past 48 hours. Los Angeles seized a 2–1 edge in an 18-inning epic on Monday, only for Toronto to punch back with a composed 6–2 win on Tuesday to square the Fall Classic at two games apiece. With momentum tilting by the hour, Game 5 tonight in Los Angeles looms as a true hinge point before the series shifts back to Canada for the weekend.

World Series snapshot: where things stand now

• Series: Los Angeles Dodgers 2, Toronto Blue Jays 2

• Game 3: Dodgers won in 18 innings on a Freddie Freeman walk-off homer

• Game 4: Blue Jays evened the series 6–2; Shohei Ohtani took the loss in his first World Series start

• Trending themes: Exhausted bullpens after the marathon; middle-of-order stars deciding games; defense and baserunning margins tightening

Game 3’s marathon reset the energy on both sides, taxing relievers and role players alike. Less than 24 hours later, Toronto’s core steadied the ship in Game 4 with timely power and cleaner run prevention, neutralizing early Dodger pressure and quieting the home crowd.

Baseball World Series schedule and start times

All first-pitch times are scheduled and subject to game-day adjustments.

* if necessary

Key storylines heading into Game 5

1) Starting pitching chess match

Los Angeles is set to hand the ball to Blake Snell, looking for length after the bullpen overload of Game 3 and a short leash in Game 4. Toronto’s Game 5 starter is expected to be finalized close to first pitch; usage in the middle innings could hinge on how aggressively the staff deploys a swingman to bridge to the late setup/closer tandem.

2) Shohei Ohtani’s two-way calculus

Ohtani’s first World Series start featured electric flashes but one costly inning that flipped Game 4. The bigger picture is how Los Angeles balances his role at the plate with recovery and matchups. Even without pitching tonight, his sequencing at-bats around Freeman and Muncy remains a tactical lever—particularly with runners on.

3) Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the middle-order surge

Toronto’s order is winning leverage plate appearances, with Guerrero Jr. supplying the series’ signature momentum swing in Game 4. If he continues controlling the inner third, Los Angeles may counter with a heavier dose of left-on-left breaking balls early in counts and out-of-zone chase late.

4) Bullpen fatigue vs. freshness

The 18-inning Game 3 pushed both pens to their limits. Off-day relief never came; Game 4 arrived immediately. That makes Game 5 a management exam—who has one more clean high-stress frame left? Look for quick hooks, matchup platoons, and creative lanes to avoid the opponent’s hottest hitters.

5) Defensive tightrope and free 90s

In a series this close, free bases—walks, HBPs, passed balls, errant throws—are swinging win probabilities. Toronto’s crisp infield play in Game 4 contrasted with Los Angeles’ earlier edge in outfield routes and first-step reads. Expect more bunt looks and hit-and-run attempts as managers hunt a single misplay.

What each team needs tonight

Los Angeles Dodgers

• Early strikes: Get ahead with first-pitch quality to protect pitch counts and set up the slider/change chase.

• Middle-inning traffic control: Avoid two-out walks before the Blue Jays’ heart of the order.

• Table setters: Top-of-order on-base is the oxygen for the Freeman/Ohtani engine.

Toronto Blue Jays

• Fastball command: Steal strikes early; expand late with spin below the zone to neutralize pull power.

• Run prevention: Keep double-play feeds clean and deny extra bases; Los Angeles presses hardest after singles.

• Bench usage: Deploy the right-left pinch mix to force bullpen moves by the fifth or sixth.

Series context: leverage, history, and what’s next

At 2–2, Game 5 historically carries massive leverage, with the winner often seizing the inside track to the trophy. After tonight, the World Series returns to Toronto for Games 6 and, if necessary, 7—resetting travel, crowd dynamics, and designated-hitter comfort for both clubs. The swing factors to monitor: quality of first-pitch strikes, runners-in-scoring-position execution, and which manager buys one more out by anticipating—not reacting to—the other’s pinch and bullpen choices.

This World Series has already delivered a classic extra-innings saga, a star’s long-awaited pitching debut on the biggest stage, and a rapid momentum flip. With the ledger even and the margins razor-thin, Game 5 tonight should decide more than a series lead—it will shape how each dugout scripts the final act.