LOS ANGELES \u2014 Win without George Springer? Check. Conquer Shohei Ohtani both at the plate and on the mound? Check. Recover from a crushing 18-inning loss in the World Series the previous night? Of course!<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just have a play style we\u2019re willing to die for,\u201d Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt said.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s tempting to call Toronto\u2019s 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> in Game 4 of the Series on Tuesday night the most Jays thing ever, except these guys basically just viewed it as Game No. 177, and wore their baseball caps as blinders.<\/p>\n Great teams in all sports take pride in their resiliency. The Jays, however, seem to relish their ability to perform with their heads in a figurative vise. And in Game 4, that vise could not have been squeezed any tighter.<\/p>\n Not that the Jays showed it.<\/p>\n Before the game, some of them lounged in the visiting clubhouse at Dodger Stadium, playing video games. No one seemed overly concerned or even all that tired, even though the previous night they had lost a 6-hour, 39-minute marathon.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was pretty loose in here,\u201d said Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman, who is pitching for his fifth club. \u201cThis is the loosest team I\u2019ve ever been around. Nothing changed.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, at that moment it was difficult to imagine right-hander Shane Bieber, 18 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery, outpitching Ohtani and striking him out twice. Or the Jays\u2019 quick-strike offense chasing Ohtani in the seventh and piling on against Dodgers relievers Anthony Banda and Blake Treinen for a four-run inning.<\/p>\n The Jays, though, did this kind of thing in the regular season, leading the majors in comeback victories. They did it in the Division Series, pounding Max Fried and Carlos Rod\u00f3n while beating the New York Yankees. And they did it in the American League Championship Series, rallying to defeat the Seattle Mariners after losing the first two games at home and a devastating Game 5 in Seattle.<\/p>\n Then came Freddie Freeman\u2019s walk-off homer in Game 3 of the World Series.<\/p>\n \u201cComing off what could be a backbreaking loss last night, it was an absolute pleasure to show up today and see nobody changes, nobody ever wavers, nobody ever hesitates,\u201d Bieber said.<\/p>\n Losing Springer, the team\u2019s designated hitter and one of its veteran leaders, added to the degree of difficulty. Springer has played in 81 postseason games, half a regular season\u2019s worth. But after exiting Game 3 in the seventh inning with right side discomfort, he was unavailable for Game 4<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Jays did not reveal the results of Springer\u2019s MRI, and would not call the injury what it probably is, some kind of issue with his oblique. They held off announcing their lineup until two hours before the game, seemingly holding out hope Springer could play. And manager John Schneider, during his in-game interview with me on Fox, offered a rather optimistic take when I asked if it was realistic that Springer could return in the Series.<\/p>\n \u201cI think so,\u201d Schneider said. \u201cHe was able to swing a little bit this afternoon and is kind of progressively feeling a little bit better as the day goes on. We\u2019ll see how the rest of this game goes. If not today, hopefully tomorrow, he should be good to go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was able to swing a little bit this afternoon, and kinda progressively feeling better as today goes on\u201d<\/p>\n John Schneider provides a promising update to @Ken_Rosenthal<\/a> on George Springer, and talks about what he\u2019s seeing from Shane Bieber so far tonight pic.twitter.com\/Cf8xgbvzA7<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Believe it when you see it. Springer demonstrated his toughness by getting struck in the right kneecap by a 96-mph fastball in Game 5 of the ALCS, returning after an off-day for Game 6 and hitting the go-ahead, three-run homer in Game 7. He also has played through a banged-up wrist and assorted other issues. So, when he couldn\u2019t post Tuesday, it was telling.<\/p>\n Not to worry. Nathan Lukes substituted for Springer in the leadoff spot and hit two singles off Ohtani. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. moved up to the No. 2 spot and drilled a two-run shot off Ohtani in the third inning to give the Jays a 2-1 lead. Bo Bichette, who returned in this Series after an absence of nearly seven weeks due to a sprained left knee, batted third and contributed a walk and RBI single.<\/p>\n Replacing Springer as the designated hitter benefited Bichette, who experienced discomfort playing second base for the first time as a major leaguer in this Series. But any relief to his knee went only so far. \u201cI\u2019m not really expecting to make huge progress while I\u2019m playing,\u201d Bichette said. \u201cI\u2019m doing what I can.\u201d<\/p>\n Yet, Bichette is adamant about contributing, even though he is less than 100 percent, even as he prepares to become a free agent for the first time. He figures that if he suffers a setback, the worst-case scenario is that he will accept a short-term deal, then rebuild his value next season at age 28. But to win a World Series, he said, \u201cI\u2019ll risk it all.\u201d<\/p>\n That kind of spirit is common among players in the postseason. Schneider, though, has said the Jays\u2019 unique vibe became evident in the early days of spring training. And the level of care Schneider and his coaching staff show their players also helps brings everyone closer.<\/p>\n Bieber started Game 3 in both the DS and LCS, but the Jays chose Max Scherzer for that game in the final round, pushing Bieber back to Game 4. Schneider said he wanted Bieber, in his first season back from Tommy John, to get seven days rest instead of six. But that wasn\u2019t the Jays\u2019 only motivation.<\/p>\n Schneider and pitching coach Pete Walker also were mindful of being fair to Bieber, knowing how much he had given them since his arrival in a deadline trade, knowing he is likely to decline his $16 million player option and hit the free-agent market.<\/p>\n \u201cSchneid said that,\u201d Bieber said. \u201cI said I appreciated you looking out for me. But what\u2019s good for me is winning a World Series. Whatever decision you make, I\u2019m ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n So Game 4 it was, and Bieber opened the night ominously, walking Ohtani. But he wound up allowing only one run in 5 1\/3 innings, throwing a delightful mix of 27 percent fastballs, 27 percent cutters, 17 percent knuckle curves, 15 percent sliders and 14 percent changeups.<\/p>\n Bieber said he didn\u2019t really have his slider. He managed only five swings and misses. But he still flummoxed the Dodgers in what he called \u201cthe biggest start of my career.\u201d<\/p>\n When I asked Bieber in our postgame interview what makes the Jays so resilient, he said, \u201cwe don\u2019t care,\u201d then talked about how the Jays are equipped to handle Springer\u2019s absence because so many of their players make a difference.<\/p>\n \u201cBiggest start of my career.”@BlueJays<\/a> starter Shane Bieber joined @Ken_Rosenthal<\/a> after earning the win in Game 4 of the World Series! pic.twitter.com\/IqmIzbPgkF<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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