World Series Game 4: Your Latest Trick

 Game 4 was the one game, of any of them, that the Blue Jays needed to win. If they couldn't win a Shohei Ohtani game there was no point showing up. Shohei as a starter was the one thing the Dodgers have used that has always worked this postseason, and the Jays needed to strike against him if they wanted to stand any chance in the rest of this series.

So getting through this game while handing Ohtani the loss? A very, very good development.

Everything that has worked for this Jays team before worked tonight. The exceptional defense. The strong starting pitching, tonight coming from Shane Bieber and Chris Bassitt. The contact free-for all mentality, which exploded in the 7th. And Vlad Jr., who took one yard early. Let's not forget how crucial Bo Bichette was tonight, even if he's not at 100%. Dude kept the contact machine rolling in the second and paved the way for Barger to make it 6-1. Bo has been exactly what the Jays have needed in this series, a serious boost both offensively and defensively. He was having a terrific season before the injury, and he'd made up for a lackluster 2024. To see Bo become the multifaceted, versatile, multi-dimensional player that his father wasn't has been really satisfying. Like, unlike Dante, Bo scores positive WAR. He's been a major reason why this team has stayed competitive in the last few years, and him sticking around made them a World Series threat.

So now we're tied again. Confirming just how evenly matched this series is. When the Jays win, they win big. When the Dodgers win, they squeak through. I'm still not sure who has the leverage, though with the knowledge that there is a Yoshinobu Yamamoto game up ahead, I have this...sneaking suspicion this thing could go all 7 if the Jays aren't careful. Or even worse...if they don't win Game 5, it could be over after Yoshi. I'm still pulling for Toronto, but they need to move like they did tonight against a formidable starter. Or else, again, it's curtains.