World Series Preview: After Thrilling Walk-Off Win, Dodgers Look to Take Commanding 3-1 Lead

LOS ANGELES, CA—After a thrilling Game Three extra-inning walk-off win courtesy of a Freddie Freeman solo shot in the 18th inning, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to take a commanding three games to none lead in the best-of-seven World Series over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Yesterday, both teams were put to the test, and while the offense was the story in the first nine innings with the score tied at five apiece, it was the bullpens ’ heroics for both sides that proved to be the ultimate deciding factor.

Entering the Fall Classic, each manager, if hooked up to a lie detector test, would tell you aside from one or two arms, they don’t trust their bullpen to save their life.

Well, yesterday, the Dodgers bullpen stepped up big time, and perhaps the unsung hero is right-hander Will Klein, who pitched a career-high four scoreless innings in relief with over 70 pitches.

It’s hard to put into words how to explain yesterday’s game, which is why we will focus on today.

So, after reaching base safely in nine plate appearances, two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will take the mound for his third start this postseason, and opposing him will be right-hander Shane Bieber, who is coming off his own heroic performance in the winner-take-all Game Seven in the American League Championship Series.

A Dodgers win will put them one inch closer to their ultimate goal. A Blue Jays win will even the series heading into Game Five.

After the way both teams’ bullpens pitched yesterday, you’d figure each manager would want length from their starter, but with such a critical game to be played and what could be considered a “must-win” for Toronto, they may be aggressive.

Pitching Probables

Shohei Ohtani (2-0, 2.25 ERA) vs Shane Bieber (1-0, 4.38 ERA)

On the mound for the Dodgers will be Shohei Ohtani, who is making his third start this October, and the first since his historic performance in Game Four of the National League Championship Series.

However, unlike how the NLCS was going for Ohtani, his bat is fully awake, and the full two-way experience is in full force and will be on show tonight at Chavez Ravine.

For Ohtani and the Dodgers, it will be interesting how they pay it with the right-handed after the two-way slugger played in all 18 innings last night, and was seen having a calf cramp at one point in the game.

Still, you’d have to imagine that Dave Roberts and the Dodgers coaching staff would like to get some length out of Ohtani, considering they used all bullpen options in extra innings.

Opposing Ohtani and the Dodgers will be former American League Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber, who was traded from Cleveland to Toronto at the deadline.

Despite Bieber still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery the year prior, the Blue Jays were banking on him being available for games like tonight, and so far, the right-hander has delivered for the Jays.

Since the trade, Bieber ended the regular season with a 4-2 record and a solid 3.57 ERA across seven appearances.

In the postseason, Bieber has been more than serviceable in the Jays’ starting rotation, minus a blip start in the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, where he surrendered three runs in 2.2 innings.

Since then, he’s allowed just four runs in 9.2 innings and was a critical part of the Jays’ Game Seven win over Seattle.

Who to Watch

I’m not going to be coy here; my player to watch is Ohtani.

On one hand, he’s the days starting pitcher and on the other, he’s the Dodgers’ hottest hitter.

It will be a game of cat and mouse between Ohtani and the Blue Jays, and their manager, John Schneider, seemingly confirmed he won’t be pitching to Ohtani in most cases, which was hinted at by the five walks in Game Three.

Where to Watch

The 2025 World Series will be aired exclusively on FOX and the Fox Sports App at 5:00 PM PT (8:00 PM ET)

Betting Odds

The Dodgers could secure a strong 3-1 series lead with a win in Game 4, aiming to level the series before Game 5. The Blue Jays are +168 underdogs on the money line, while the favored Dodgers are at -203. Los Angeles also has the advantage on the run line, set at -1.5 with -100 odds. The total runs for the game are projected at 8.5.

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