Garion Thorne gives you a preview, prediction and pick for Game 4 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays.
After six and a half hours of baseball on Monday night (and Tuesday morning), we’re right back at it for Game 4 on the World Series.
The Dodgers are up 2-1 thanks to a walk-off Freddie Freeman home run and a record-breaking performance from Shohei Ohtani, as the reigning NL MVP became the first player to reach base nine times in a World Series contest. Guess what? That guy is now going to start tonight’s tilt on the mound. What a time to be alive.
Can the Blue Jays bounce back after a heart-breaking defeat? Or will Los Angeles take a dominating lead in the series? Let’s preview tonight’s clash with the help of some of some odds and lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Blue Jays vs. Dodgers Game 4 prediction, preview
I think it would probably be wise to start the proceedings with Shohei Ohtani. Let us all take a second and remember that Ohtani took home the NL MVP in 2024 despite recovering from Tommy John surgery and not throwing a single pitch all season long. Heck, he didn’t get back on an MLB mound until June 16 of 2025, when he would throw a single frame against the Padres. Ohtani would build up on the fly from that point on, yet he still finished the regular season rocking a 1.90 FIP — the lowest mark in the National League for any player with at least 40 innings pitched. Ohtani’s somehow only looked better in his two playoff appearances, striking out a whopping 42.2% of opposing hitters and mustering a microscopic 1.22 FIP. That includes six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts to end the Brewers’ season in Game 4 of the NLCS. What else is there left to say? The man is the greatest baseball player to have ever lived.
Ohtani will also leadoff for Los Angeles this evening, on the heels of a Game 3 where he smashed a pair of solo home runs and a pair of doubles before getting intentionally walked an infinite amount of times in extra innings. How Shane Bieber is able to navigate Ohtani at the top of the Dodgers’ order will be a massive part of tonight’s tilt. John Schneider suggested postgame that the Jays would remain aggressive in issuing free passes to Ohtani, which puts extra pressure on Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman to produce. Freeman did his part on Monday — despite stranding a game-high seven baserunners — yet Betts has struggled as of late, with just a pair of singles so far in the World Series and only four total hits since the beginning of the NLDS. Meanwhile, Bieber has been equally underwhelming in his 10 starts since returning from his own Tommy John surgery. During the regular season, that specifically manifested itself in Bieber’s splits versus RHBs, as the former Cy Young Award winner surrendered 2.95 home runs within the split with a .396 opponent wOBA. If Betts was ever going to break out of his slump, this might be the matchup.
The final big news to come out of last night’s 18-inning marathon was George Springer’s oblique injury. Springer left the game in the top of the seventh and it would be a shock to see him in the lineup for Game 4, possibly eliminating one of Toronto’s most potent bats. Honestly, that might be underselling the importance of Springer to the 2025 Blue Jays. Obviously there’s the Game 7 home run in the ALCS, but Springer was amazing throughout the regular season, his 166 wRC+ trailing only Aaron Judge (204) and Shohei Ohtani (172) among qualified hitters. This is a guy who is going to get down ballot AL MVP votes. Springer’s absence would open up the DH spot for the also injured Bo Bichette, yet that is little consolation for Toronto. Especially after the team struggled to do much of anything without Springer in extra innings.
Blue Jays vs. Dodgers Game 4 pick, best bet
The Dodgers have a massive starting pitching advantage and I’m not sure the Jays’ bats can keep pace without Springer.
Strong Lean: Freddie Freeman 1+ RBI (+128)
If the Jays are going to keep walking Ohtani, Freeman will get his RBI opportunities. Freeman slashed .328/.426/.568 with a 171 wRC+ with men on base in the regular season.