Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers tied 4-4 in Game 3

Toronto blueness Jays human face the Dodgers in L.A. This night for biz 3, series is tied 1-1

A look inside Dodger Stadium ahead of World Series Game 3

Blue Jays and fans head to L.A. For World Series

Blue Jays manager calls Game 2 of World Series a 'classic pitchers' duel'

Addison Barger on his historic grand slam

The science of a perfect home run

Wrobleski fielded a ground ball from Lukes to get the Dodgers' second out in the top of the seventh.

But the Dodgers then pulled Wrobleski, in favour of Blake Treinen, so he could face Guerrero.

Guerrero hit a single off Treinen, giving the Jays their first base-runner of the inning.

Treinen is the fourth Dodgers pitcher to take the mound in Game 3.

The Blue Jays’ ALCS Game 7 hero left the game wincing immediately after an awkward swing in the seventh inning.

Springer, whose OPS — a catch-all stat used by many as the biggest indicator of hitting success — was third in the MLB, behind only Ohtani and Aaron Judge. He won’t be easily replaced.

Toronto could play it by matchups, picking and choosing hitters by situation for the rest of this game.

France, a right-handed first baseman, got the first opportunity to pinch hit for Springer, but he struck out.

Since Springer has been playing DH, the Jays have a little more flexibility if he ultimately needs to be replaced on the roster entirely. Joey Loperfido, a left-handed outfielder, came in late during the ALCS and might stand as the likely choice.

Springer came up to bat at the start of the top of the seventh, but was abruptly replaced by pinch-hitter Ty France.

Springer had seen only one pitch in his at-bat, when he left the game.

France struck out, giving the Dodgers their first out in the seventh.

It’s the next major question facing Blue Jays manager John Schneider.

Ideally you’d want a left-hander, but Brendon Little, who was called upon in these situations all season, hasn’t pitched since helping blow Game 5 of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners.

Righty Seranthony Domínguez is getting warm, and he’s among the three most trusted relievers with Varland and Hoffman.

It’d be a bit of a risk, especially with another lefty in Eric Lauer — a surprise success story — sitting in the bullpen, but Domínguez has been solid throughout these playoffs.

Another example of Teoscar Hernández’s boom-or-bust quality just ended the sixth inning.

There’s not much advantage to the former Blue Jay advancing to third base with two outs in the inning — yet he took the unnecessary risk and was thrown out by Guerrero from first base.

Hernández’s homer gave the Dodgers the lead, but his base-running blunder has sapped a potential late rally.

Varland was back on the mound for Toronto in the bottom of the sixth, striking out Muncy to claim Toronto's first out.

Teoscar Hernández hit a line drive for a single to left field, putting pressure on Varland, with a base runner aboard.

Varland got Edman to fly out, then allowed a single from Enrique Hernández.

But the Jays immediately escaped that jam, as Guerrero threw out Teoscar Hernández trying to advance to third, allowing Toronto to end the inning unscathed.

Long one of the top players in baseball, Betts made a home in right field until the Dodgers moved him full-time to shortstop this season.

He looks like he’s played there his whole career — and his latest slick play, ranging to his left to field a ground ball on the other side of second base and throw out Giménez, was yet another example.

Justin Wrobleski brought a fresh look to the mound for the Dodgers in the start of the sixth.

He first faced Kirk, who grounded out to Freeman at first.

Barger then managed a single, via an infield hit. That brought up the hot-hitting Clement, but he struck out, giving the Dodgers a second out.

Giménez then grounded out to bring the Jays' half of the inning to an end with no new runs on the board.

Tied 4-4, four innings to play and both starters are out of the game.

Neither the Blue Jays nor Dodgers particularly trust their bullpens these days, but the slight advantage likely lies with Toronto thanks to the likes of Varland and closer Jeff Hoffman.

For the first time in this series, each and every managerial decision will come under intense scrutiny as both dugouts attempt to manoeuvre for their most ideal matchups.

Whichever team’s relievers can step up here could be the deciding factor.

The Jays called in reliever Louis Varland to try to shut down the Dodgers from scoring any further runs in the fifth.

He faced Smith and managed to strike him out — limiting the damage in the fourth and keeping the game tied 4-4.

---

---