The World Series continues with Game 4 tonight after last night’s 18-inning marathon that ended with the Dodgers winning 6-5. However, veteran George Springer will not be in the starting lineup for the Blue Jays, though he will seemingly remain on the roster (link via Shi Davidi of Sportsnet). The 36-year-old left last night’s game with what was called “right side discomfort” and underwent an MRI today. “MRI showed that he’s hour-to-hour, day-to-day,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider, “so just see how he kind of navigates the next couple hours.” With Springer out of the lineup, Bo Bichette will serve as DH and bat third.
Toronto will certainly hope that Springer can continue to appear in the World Series, even if in a diminished role. He enjoyed a resurgent season in 2025, as he batted .309/.399/.560 with a 166 wRC+ in 140 games as Toronto’s DH. After posting a roughly league-average output over 2023-24, he increased his walk rate from 9.8% to 11.8% and, more importantly, struck the ball with much more authority on his way to a career-high 46.7% hard-hit rate. The result was a season worth 5.2 fWAR, which stands as Springer’s highest total since his 2019 season with the Astros and the best season of his Blue Jays tenure.
Moving to the pitching side of things, Schneider said that right-hander Chris Bassitt will be available out of the bullpen tonight (link via Mitch Bannon of the Athletic). If he pitches, it would be the first time in his career that he has pitched on consecutive days. Bassitt, 36, started all but one of his 32 appearances for Toronto this year. Though he posted a solid 3.96 ERA along with a respectable 22.6% strikeout rate and a 7.1% walk rate in 170 1/3 regular-season innings, the team has used him as a reliever in the postseason. Bassitt was the fourth pitcher out of Toronto’s bullpen in Game 3, throwing just eight pitches. Indeed, Schneider noted that every one of his relievers is available for tonight’s game except for Eric Lauer, who pitched 4 2/3 innings last night (link via Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet).
Looking ahead slightly, rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage is lined up to start Game 5 tomorrow night (link via Davidi). The 22-year-old began the season at the Single-A level but rode an outstanding strikeout rate to reach the big-league rotation by the end of the year, making three regular-season starts plus four more so far in the postseason. He most recently started Game 1 of the World Series, allowing two earned runs in four innings in an eventual Blue Jays victory, and would be on normal rest for a Game 5 start.
Why did Bassitt only throw eight pitches yesterday? He’s a starter. He the one guy in the bullpen that can be stretched out throw multiple innings.
Because Schneider couldn’t get out of his own way last night.
The one guy? Lauer threw 4 2/3 in that game.
The reason Bassitt was used in a short role in game 3 was so that he could pitch again in game 4, which he did. And how quickly would he have been trashed as not taking the World Series seriously if he’d left Bassitt out there for the 9th instead of putting in his closer and the Dodgers walked it off in the 9th?
Schneider will have to take a lot of credit if the Blue Jays lose the WS. I’m not saying he’s not a good manager. He got the Blue Jays this far. However, these last two games have not been his “finest hour”. He has made some pretty poor decisions across the board: SP; on defense; pinch-hitting; defensive substitutions; pinch-running; bullpen. I don’t care enough to specifically identify each, but if you have been watching the WS, you know what I am talking about.
From the “Are You Kidding Me? Department”: Skipper just made a mound visit to Bieber. After a short conversation, he left him in… for one pitch! One pitch later… the hook.
Yea I don’t think anyone could seriously say he isn’t a good manager. He’s just really overmanaged a few different situations in this series so far.
While I haven’t shared my disdain for his choices online, my family and friends have heard plenty.
There has been at least 1 spot in every series that has made me say “are you kidding me?”. Thankfully to this point it has mostly worked out, if not for a few more grey hairs.
The biggest moment of this to me, has been choosing to pitch to Ohtani last night when he was already 3 for 3 while holding the 5-4 lead.
But, it is not a best of 3, with the Jays holding home field advantage, so here’s to more baseball!
I have a lot of those moments with Topper and my Phillies. Trust me lol
to me the biggest mistake he made in game 3 was pinch running for both Barger and Kirk. You already have Springer and Bo out of the lineup which was depleting the strength of the lineup already. By taking out Barger and Kirk you made that lineup a Triple A lineup at best. Having IKF cleanup, heineman 6th and Straw 7th absolutely killed them and its no wonder they didn’t score for the last 11 innings. If he leaves them in they win that game for sure.
bingo. barger especially. Kirk I can maybe give a slight pass to because a catcher his size catching 18 innings with back to back to back games is a lot.
now Roberts too has made mistakes however. so let’s see what manager can avoid the last mistake
And the Dodger fans complain about Roberts. And yet here they both are…
Virtually everyone here can easily out manage every manager in the history of baseball.