Dodgers and Blue Jays discuss what makes Shohei Ohtani a special player
USA TODAY Sports caught up with members of the Dodgers and Blue Jays ahead of the World Series to discuss the unique talents of Shoehi Ohtani .
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LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts did not try to hide it: Yes, he needed a sleep aid after the 18-inning epic that was World Series Game 3.
Just hours later, the principals reunited for Game 4, which may henceforth be referred to as The Day After.
That means little rest for anyone and especially Shohei Ohtani, who after reaching base nine times in Game 3 will now add starting pitcher to his Game 4 duties.
“He’s in great shape, very well-conditioned,” says Roberts of Ohtani. “I expect him to be ready for today.
“This guy is a different kind of athlete and a different kind of brain.”
The Toronto Blue Jays will counter with Shane Bieber and what they hope isn’t a roster overly compromised by injury. They term the status of leadoff hitter George Springer as hour-to-hour, but they do not plan on making a roster move to replace him after he strained his side in Game 3.
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Less than 18 hours after reaching base nine times in Game 3, Shohei Ohtani took the mound for the Dodgers as the Game 4 starting pitcher and tossed a scoreless first, working around a walk and an infield single to strand two runners.
LOS ANGELES — George Springer is not in the Toronto Blue Jays’ Game 4 starting lineup after being considered “hour-to-hour” in the afternoon ahead of Tuesday’s game.
An MRI on Springer’s right side was negative after Game 3 and Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that the team had no plans to replace him on the roster and end his season. Springer was already physically compromised after he was hit on the right knee in the ALCS. Schneider did not divulge the specific nature of the MRI after Game 3.
Infielder Bo Bichette – himself compromised by a knee that kept him sidelined 48 days before the World Series – is starting at designated hitter with Springer out and the lineup had wholesale changes from one to nine.
LOS ANGELES — Just how close did this World Series come to suffering the indignity of a position player pitching in a tied Game 3?
We’ll never totally know thanks to Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the 18th inning, but a day later, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged there were just two options had the game staggered on to a 19th inning.
It was either Game 2 starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto – pitching on one day of rest – or utility infielder Miguel Rojas.
Nathan Lukes (L) LFVladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1BBo Bichette (R) DHAddison Barger (L) RFAlejandro Kirk (R) CDaulton Varsho (L) CFErnie Clement (R) 3BAndrés Giménez (L) SSIsiah Kiner-Falefa (R) 2BShohei Ohtani (L) PMookie Betts (R) SSFreddie Freeman (L) 1BWill Smith (R) CTeoscar Hernández (R) RFMax Muncy (L) 3BTommy Edman (S) 2BEnrique Hernández (R) LFAndy Pages (R) CFGabe Lacques: Dodgers 6, Blue Jays 2Bob Nightengale: Dodgers 7, Blue Jays 4Jesse Yomtov: Blue Jays 5, Dodgers 2Steve Gardner: Blue Jays 7, Dodgers 6Jon Hoefling: Dodgers 6, Blue Jays 3
LOS ANGELES — Will Klein woke up a nobody on Monday morning.
He went to bed early Tuesday morning etched in Los Angeles Dodgers lore.
One minute, he’s the last guy left in the Dodgers’ bullpen. The next, he’s shaking hands with legendary Sandy Koufax.
He drives to Dodger Stadium on Monday morning wondering if any of his old friends and coaches even realize he’s playing in the World Series. He leaves Dodger Stadium wondering how in the world so many people have his cell phone number, receiving 500 text messages after being the hero in the Dodgers’ 6-5 18-inning World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, and then another 500 messages when he wakes up.
“I woke up this morning still not feeling like last night had happened,’’ Klein said, “so it was, yeah, it was an out-of-body experience.”
How will this year’s World Series play out? Using the Dynasty League Baseball online simulation, USA TODAY Sports’ Steve Gardner and DLB designer Mike Cieslinski will pre-play each game to provide some insight into the key matchups and strategy fans can expect to see in the Fall Classic.
Toronto Blue Jays World Series appearances
Toronto won World Series championships in 1992 (vs. Braves) and 1993 (vs. Phillies), the previous only times in franchise history the club had reached the Fall Classic since starting play in 1977.
Toronto Blue Jays World Series roster
Pitchers (12): RHP Chris Bassitt, RHP Shane Bieber, RHP Seranthony Dominguez, RHP Braydon Fisher, LHP Mason Fluharty, RHP Kevin Gausman, RHP Jeff Hoffman, LHP Eric Lauer, LHP Brendon Little, RHP Max Scherzer, RHP Louis Varland, RHP Trey Yesavage.
Position players (14): C Tyler Heineman, C Alejandro Kirk, INF/OF Addison Barger, INF Bo Bichette, INF Ernie Clement, INF Ty France, INF Andrés Giménez, INF Vladimir Guerrero Jr., INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, OF Nathan Lukes, OF Davis Schneider, OF George Springer, OF Myles Straw, OF Daulton Varsho.
Los Angeles Dodgers World Series roster
Pitchers (12): LHP Anthony Banda, LHP Jack Dreyer, RHP Tyler Glasnow, RHP Edgardo Henriquez, LHP Clayton Kershaw, RHP Will Klein, RHP Roki Sasaki, RHP Emmet Sheehan, LHP Blake Snell, RHP Blake Treinen, LHP Justin Wrobleski, RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Position, two-way players (14): SS Mookie Betts, OF Alex Call, OF Justin Dean, INF/OF Tommy Edman, 1B Freddie Freeman, INF/OF Kiké Hernández, OF Teoscar Hernández, INF/OF Hyeseong Kim, 3B Max Muncy, DH/P Shohei Ohtani, OF Andy Pages, INF Miguel Rojas, C Ben Rortvedt, C Will Smith.
World Series 2025 scheduleGame 1: Blue Jays 11, Dodgers 4Game 2: Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 1Game 3: Dodgers 6, Blue Jays 5 (18 innings)Game 4: Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PDTGame 5: Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PDTGame 6: Oct. 31, if necessaryGame 7: Nov. 1, if necessary
First pitch in Game 4 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium.