USA TODAY Sports has live coverage of Dodgers vs. Blue Jays in World Series Game 4.

Freddie Freeman has a flair for the dramatic.

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ first baseman and resident superhero showed again his penchant for iconic walk-off home runs. Following his 2024 World Series game winner, Freeman stepped to the plate in the 18th inning of what only felt like baseball purgatory and took Blue Jays reliever Brendon Little to center for the game’s final flourish. The Dodgers beat the Blue Jays, 6-5.

The crowd erupted. Joe Davis exclaimed. And broadcasts around the baseball world colored the moment in their own special way.

Here is but a taste of Game 3 as it ended, brought to you by some of the best in the business.

Freddie Freeman’s home run ends 18-inning Game 3: Hear the call

Fox broadcast

Fox Deportes

Crowd sound only

Stephen Nelson

MLB International

Sportsnet

When baseball fans woke up Tuesday, Oct. 28, there was going to be a new October folk hero: The Dodgers’ Will Klein or the Blue Jays’ Eric Lauer. Ultimately, Freddie Freeman saw to it that Klein was the victor of Game 3 of the World Series, an 18-inning, 6 hour, 39 minute affair that saw the Dodgers go up 2-1 in the series as they look to defend their title.

Klein ended up being the saving grace of a Dodgers bullpen that has an ERA of 4.50 in the postseason and is shorthanded for the World Series without Alex Vesia. After Clayton Kershaw got Nathan Lukes to ground out with the bases loaded in the 12th inning, Klein went four innings, pitching the 15th-18th innings as the last arm in the pen, and he earned the win in just his second appearance this postseason after being activated for the World Series.

In Game 3 Part B, Klein found himself engaged in a pitching duel with the Blue Jays’ Lauer, who for his part went 4 ⅔ innings scoreless and threw 68 pitches to Klein’s 72.

As Klein was still going, Yoshinobu Yamamoto – who threw a complete game in Game 2 just two days prior – was up as the final arm the Dodgers would use Oct. 27. Ultimately, Klein was able to preserve one of the Dodgers’ ace arms with a gutty performance. The way he described it after the game, it was an exercise in repetition. And arguably stubbornness.

‘We weren’t losing that game,’ Klein said, per MLB.com. ‘And so I had to keep going back out there. I was going to keep doing that – and doing all I could to put up a zero and sit back down and do it again.’

Will Klein stats

Since his Major League debut in 2024, Klein has pitched for three teams in the Majors. He was drafted by the Royals in 2020 and made just five appearances with Kansas City in 2024, going 5 ⅔ innings across those appearances and posting an ERA of 6.35 with 10 hits, four runs allowed, and two walks surrendered. He also struck out six batters.

After he was traded midseason to the then-Oakland Athletics for cash, Klein made just three more appearances in 2024, posting 1 ⅔ innings and giving up five runs on two hits and four walks and one strikeout.

Klein was traded to the Mariners in January 2025. An arm factory in their own right, Klein strugged with Triple-A Tacoma and was designated for assignment at the end of May to clear room for the highly touted Cole Young. The Dodgers then traded southpaw Joe Jacques to acquire Klein. He spent time with both the Oklahoma City Comets and the Dodgers, posting a 5.16 ERA with the Comets over 22 ⅔ innings pitched and a 2.35 ERA in 15 ⅓ innings with the Dodgers in interspersed appearances.

With the Dodgers, Klein allowed six runs (four earned) with 14 hits and 21 strikeouts against 10 walks. He was inactive in the playoffs until the World Series, where the Dodgers activated him with their bullpen shorthanded.

In Game 3, Klein threw 72 pitches total and gave up one hit with two walks and five strikeouts. While the Blue Jays felt like they were in and out of trouble throughout the latter innings of the game, Klein ended up not throwing a ton of high leverage pitches, keeping the game flowing and allowing Dave Roberts to keep turning his superstar-studded lineup over until Freeman finally ended the game.

Will Klein contract

Klein is currently in pre-arbitration, meaning his salary is a set scale. He made $760,000 for his 2025 season which will escalate to $820,000 in 2026.

Klein will then be on a series on one-year deals until he gets through his team control, which will include arbitration. That will be determined by a myriad of elements.

Can Will Klein pitch in Game 4 vs Blue Jays?

Can Klein pitch against the Blue Jays in Game 4? Yes. There’s no rule he can’t. But things would have to go extremely sideways in Shohei Ohtani’s start to see him.

Klein’s 72 pitches were 27 more than his previous high this year of 45, which came on Aug. 30 in Triple-A. While Yamamoto seemed ready to go with over 100 pitches thrown two days ago, they’re two different types of pitchers and Yamamoto at least saw a day of rest.

If anything, Klein’s heroics may have simply salvaged a Dodgers pen that was always going to be depleted in Game 4.

In a night where Ohtani reached base nine times and Freeman had his second World Series walkoff, Klein stood among giants. And he may have to do the same as the Dodgers trudge toward their second straight title in what is proving to be an incredibly hard-fought series.

For the first time in a month, the No. 1 spot has not changed hands.
After a 4-0 weekend, the AFC East made modest gains.
An NFC South team was the week’s biggest mover, but not in the direction it would have hoped for.

NFL power rankings entering Week 9 of the 2025 season (previous rank in parentheses):

1. Kansas City Chiefs (1): Rekindled TE Travis Kelce is a microcosm for a rekindled dynasty, one that’s won five of six heading into the teeth of its schedule − starting Sunday at Buffalo.

2. Green Bay Packers (4): Christian Watson returned, with significant effect, Sunday night, and fellow WR Jayden Reed shouldn’t be too far behind for an offense seemingly loaded with 1A weapons − even if a No. 1 receiver has yet to emerge. An already accelerating team could be poised to hit another gear.

3. Los Angeles Rams (2): They made a very nice pick-up Monday, acquring CB Roger McCreary to fortify a defense lacking for little but depth − a forward-thinking move that basically seems to have January in mind.

5. Detroit Lions (5): They haven’t lost at home this season. They haven’t lost at home to the Vikings since the 2020 season.

8. Philadelphia Eagles (8): Their bye comes at a terrible time after the offense put up 59 points and nearly 800 yards over the past two weeks. Their bye also comes at an ideal time given RB Saquon Barkley left Sunday’s win hobbled by a groin injury.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10): An injury-riddled offense has really hit the skids the past two weeks, both in terms of output and mistakes made. The bye arrives right on time even as the Bucs begin pulling away in the NFC South.

12. Pittsburgh Steelers (11): Are the wheels coming off here? The league’s worst (by far) pass defense will next be charged with slowing down the high-powered Indy offense. And Sunday night provided further evidence this offense isn’t built to overcome even moderate deficits.

17. Chicago Bears (13): Their league-high 16 takeaways have greatly contributed to the fact that the Bears’ average starting field position is their own 33-yard line, best in the league. Coulda used one of those turnovers Sunday in Baltimore.

19. Dallas Cowboys (17): Remember when Jerry Jones cited an emphasis on stopping the run as a reason to move on from DE Micah Parsons and reconfigure this defense? Seems to be going great, Dallas surrendering nearly 168 rushing yards per game over the past five weeks.

20. Baltimore Ravens (25): Now 15-3 all-time following a bye week, coach John Harbaugh faces a big game Thursday night − will QB Lamar Jackson actually play in his native South Florida? − before another mini-bye.

21. Washington Commanders (19): Monday night’s loss dropped them to 13th place in the NFC − if only two games behind the Niners, who currently hold the conference’s final wild-card spot. The return of QB Jayden Daniels will obviously help, but this offense also has a lot of other issues to address.

24. New York Giants (24): Not only is the loss of injured RB Cam Skattebo bad for the offense and bad for business, it’s also very likely going to be bad for the development of rookie QB Jaxson Dart as his arsenal continues to dwindle.

26. Cleveland Browns (27): Sacks became an official individual statistic in 1982. Before Sunday, no player had ever had a five-sack performance − in a double-digit loss. DE Myles Garrett just continues to distinguish himself … in the darkness.

32. Tennessee Titans (30): Johnny Hekker, one of the best specialists who’s ever lived, booted his 1,000th career punt Sunday. He might reach 2,000 by season’s end.

Starting running back Isiah Pacheco suffered a right knee injury with four minutes left in the contest after being tackled low by Commanders cornerback Trey Amos. Pacheco was slow getting up and limped off to the sideline following the play.

Pacheco was treated immediately by Kansas City’s medical staff and was seen lying on training table on the sidelines. He eventually got to his feet, clapping hard, leading many to believe he was no worse for wear.

Pacheco did not return to the game for any of the Chiefs’ final three offensive snaps, and there is concern about his availability moving forward.

Here’s what to know about Pacheco’s knee injury and how long it might sideline him.

Isiah Pacheco injury update

Pacheco suffered an MCL sprain during the Chiefs’ win over the Commanders, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The 26-year-old running back is expected to be ‘week-to-week’ because of the injury.

It isn’t clear whether Pacheco will be able to play in the Chiefs’ Week 9 game against the Buffalo Bills. Typically, players with the ‘week-to-week’ designation miss at least one game. With Kansas City set to be on bye in Week 10, the Chiefs may be content to get their banged-up top rusher some rest.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid did not provide much insight into Pacheco’s injury during his postgame news conference on Oct. 27. He simply told reporters Pacheco – who he affectionately calls ‘Pop’ – and linebacker Nick Bolton had both suffered knee injuries.

‘We’ll just see how they do as they go forward here,’ Reid said.

Pacheco has logged a team-high 329 rushing yards on 78 carries. He has also caught 11 passes for 43 yards and a score.

Who is Isiah Pacheco’s backup?

Hunt, 30, is playing his ninth NFL season in 2025 and his second consecutively with the Chiefs. He was a fill-in starter when Pacheco was injured last season and has backed up the Rutgers product this season. Hunt has totaled 245 yards and four touchdowns on 62 carries while adding eight catches for 57 yards and a touchdown through the air in that role.

Hunt (5-11, 216 pounds) runs with a physical, downhill style and will likely continue to get plenty of short-yardage and goal-line opportunities even when Pacheco is healthy.

Chiefs RB depth chart

The Chiefs currently have four running backs on their 53-man roster, including Pacheco, and six within their organization. Below is a look at the pecking order within the unit.

Isiah Pacheco
Kareem Hunt
Brashard Smith
Elijah Mitchell
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (practice squad)
Carson Steele (practice squad)

Hunt would be first in line to get carries if Pacheco misses time, but Smith would also take on a larger role. The seventh-round rookie is averaging just 3 yards per carry but has caught 14 passes for 122 yards in limited action. The SMU product began his college career at receiver before switching to running back, so he could end up being Kansas City’s top passing back without Pacheco.

Meanwhile, Mitchell hasn’t handled an in-season carry since his 2023 stint with the San Francisco 49ers while Edwards-Helaire – a first-round pick by the Chiefs in 2020 – had just 13 carries with the Saints last season.

Steele handled 56 carries for the Chiefs last season as an undrafted rookie. The 6-0, 228-pound hammer has also played fullback and could get a chance to see the field if Pacheco’s absence is of the long-term variety.

Pacheco’s absence could also prompt the Chiefs to explore adding a running back on the NFL’s trade market. Breece Hall and Rico Dowdle are among the top running backs who could end up on the trade block.

The New York Giants lost running back Cam Skattebo for the remainder of his rookie season after he suffered a gruesome ankle injury in Week 8 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Skattebo was carted off the field in an air cast after suffering an ankle dislocation while being tackled by Eagles linebacker Zack Baun. The 23-year-old was then hospitalized and required emergency surgery to repair the injury.

Giants coach Brian Daboll was candid that Skattebo is facing a ‘long road’ in his recovery. Could that impact the running back’s availability for the start of the 2026 NFL season?

Here’s everything to know about Skattebo’s recovery timeline and when he might return to action.

Cam Skattebo return date

Skattebo will not play again during the 2025 NFL season, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the 23-year-old should have ‘no issues’ returning to the field in 2026.

‘If all is good and clean and the surgery went as well as everyone believes, he should be back with no issues for next year,’ Rapoport said on NFL Network the morning of Oct. 27. ‘It’s a gruesome injury but the recovery is actually not as bad.’

Rapoport also noted several other NFL players, including Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, have been able to return from such injuries the year after suffering them.

The Giants have not yet provided a timeline for Skattebo’s return, but Daboll told reporters Oct. 27 that ‘all went well’ with Skattebo’s emergency surgery.

‘He’s recovering,’ Daboll said. ‘Obviously, he’ll be missed but on the road to recovery. … He’s got a road ahead of him.’

Cam Skattebo injury recovery time

Just how long will Skattebo’s recovery take? Skattebo suffered an open ankle dislocation – meaning the injury caused an open wound over his ankle joint – and needed emergency surgery to repair the injury.

Skattebo’s surgery means it will take him longer to recover from the injury, as outlined by Medicine Net.

‘If a patient undergoes surgery (for a dislocated ankle), the recovery time may be longer and depends on the surgical procedure,’ the website reads. ‘It may take six months to up to a year for the ankle to fully recover from the trauma after the surgery.’

The wide-ranging return timeline will make Skattebo’s status worth monitoring during the spring and summer months.

But given Rapoport’s reporting, there seems to be optimism Skattebo could return to the field for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

Week 9 bye weeks for the Browns, Jets, Eagles, and Buccaneers create openings for fantasy football managers.
Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. is a top waiver wire target due to an injury to rookie Cam Skattebo.
Several wide receivers, including Troy Franklin and Christian Watson, are worthwhile pickups after solid performances.

Byes are still an issue for fantasy football managers as the season makes a turn for home in Week 9.

While the free agent pool doesn’t necessarily have an abundance of quality performers, there are a number of decent options worth adding to your roster to fill those open spots.

WEEK 9 BYES: Cleveland, N.Y. Jets, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay

Injuries play a significant role this week (then again, when don’t they?) with a major season-ending injury shaking up one team’s backfield. On the other hand, the bye week couldn’t come at a better time for a couple of high-profile running backs. But what if they’re not 100% healthy when they return?

Fantasy football players to add for Week 9

Due to the wide variance in types of leagues and individual team needs, the players listed here include their availability rates in Yahoo leagues, which may or may not match rates on other platforms. If you have bye week issues, feel free to go the extra dollar. (Suggested bid values based on $100 free agent acquisition budget for the season.)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants (49% rostered)

Just when it looked like the Giants had something going with rookie RB Cam Skattebo, an ugly injury wipes out the rest of his season. Tracy figures to get a second chance at running with the first team, even though he wasn’t very impressive originally. Still, volume is king and Tracy should see plenty of it. In deep leagues, veteran Devin Singletary (1% rostered) may be able to help if you’re in a bye-week bind. (Suggested FAAB bid: $10)

WR Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos (38%)

With Bo Nix a top-7 quarterback this season and the Broncos an above-average overall offense, it seems like they should have more fantasy-relevant skill players. Franklin might be on the verge of breaking through following his 89-yard, two-TD effort against Dallas. Of course, that ‘against Dallas’ part is rather important. Still, he put up those numbers on eight targets, on the heels of getting 10 in Week 7. He has two tough matchups in the three weeks before Denver’s bye, but the schedule down the stretch looks tasty. (FAAB bid: $9)

WR Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers (16%)

We had Watson on our radar last week before he was officially activated from injured reserve. In his first action of the season, he caught four passes for 85 yards and didn’t seem to be favoring his surgically repaired knee. No Packers wideout has really stepped forward in his absence to become Jordan Love’s go-to receiver. So why not take a flyer? (FAAB bid: $8)

WR Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans (8%)

Another one of last week’s intriguing pickups, Dike followed up one big game with another on Sunday, notching season highs in receptions and yards (7 for 93). The schedule turns a bit tougher now, however, and with rookie QB Cam Ward still strugging, there’s still legitimate concern about Dike’s consistency. (FAAB bid: $6)

RB Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals (3%)

The Bengals haven’t been very successful running the ball all season, so it was a bit of a surprise to see Chase Brown going for 73 yards and a score in Week 8. (And catching a TD pass as well.) Perine even got into the action against the lowly Jets, rushing for a season-high 94 yards and a score on nine carries. There are worse backup running backs to roster. (FAAB bid: $6)

WR Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins (15%)

QB Tua Tagovailoa had his best day of the season in an upset win at Atlanta. Washington was one of several beneficiaries with four receptions for 36 yards and a TD. The absence of TE Darren Waller likely played a role in Washington getting additional looks. He’s the clear No. 2 wideout behind Jaylen Waddle. (FAAB bid: $5)

RB Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints (4%)

Veteran running back Alvin Kamara probably isn’t getting traded, but in the unlikely event that happens, Neal could be thrust into a much larger role. Primary backup Kendre Miller is out for the season with a torn ACL, so Neal now has that role. The rookie sixth-rounder played a season-high 32 snaps on Sunday to Kamara’s 37, but didn’t carry the ball once and had three receptions. The Saints have perhaps the toughest possible matchup this week against the Rams, but after the Nov. 4 trade deadline passes, things open up considerably. (FAAB bid: $4)

RB Isaiah Davis, New York Jets (9%)

Similarly, Davis would be in for a huge fantasy upgrade if the Jets decide to move Breect Hall. Davis has more upside than Perine or Neal if that happens, since he’s already seeing regular work in the passing game. He caught five of six targets for 29 yards and added a 2-point conversion in Week 8, but will be on bye this week so you can’t use him right away. (FAAB bid: $3)

RB Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns (14%)

Quinshon Judkins left Sunday’s game early with a shoulder injury and is considered ‘day-to-day.’ However, the next Browns game won’t be until Week 10. If the rookie is still ailing after the bye week, another rookie is set to take his place. Sampson seems to have moved ahead of veteran Jerome Ford in the pecking order, and he did show some flashes early in the season — especially in the receiving game. (FAAB bid: $3)

RB Tank Bigsby, Philadelpia Eagles (17%)

Like Perine, Bigsby took advantage of an unexpected boost in playing time to have his best game of the season. With Saquon Barkley exiting early with a groin injury, Bigsby ran for 104 yards on nine carries. That’s the explosiveness the Eagles had in mind when they acquired him from Jacksonville early in the season. Barkley is expected to be fine after the Week 9 bye, but Bigsby is an excellent insurance policy if anything flares up down the stretch. (FAAB bid: $3)

WRs Jayden Higgins (26%), Jaylin Noel (9%) and Xavier Hutchinson (1%), Houston Texans

It’s hard to know how things will shake out in Houston until Nico Collins and Christian Kirk return from injuries. Higgins had a team-high eight targets on Sunday, catching four for 34 yards and a touchdown. Noel was only on the field for 28 snaps, but he was the most efficient — with five receptions for 63 yards. And Hutchinson corralled five passes for 69 yards and a score against the 49ers. Problem is, they’re all facing Denver this week. (FAAB bids: $2 each)

LOS ANGELES — Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax may be 89 years old – hasn’t thrown a single pitch in 60 years – but was so excited Monday night that he rushed into the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse, almost ready to put on a uniform himself.

This is the 121st World Series played, and no one has ever seen a game quite like it, featuring 44 players, 19 pitchers, a batter reaching base nine times, five outs recorded on the bases, a player becoming the first to hit two walk-off homers in the World Series, a reliever who wasn’t even on the playoff roster until four days ago becoming the winning pitcher, in a game that lasted 18 innings, tied for the longest in World Series history.

It was that kind of zany and historic night on Monday at Dodger Stadium, where the Dodgers outlasted the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-5, in 18 innings – an instant World Series classic lasting six hours, 39 minutes, with Freddie Freeman hitting a walk-off homer to lead off the 18th and give the Dodgers a 2-games-to-1 lead.

‘It’s one of the greatest World Series games of all time,’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. ‘I’m spent emotionally. We got a ball game later tonight (Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. ET), which is crazy.’

Oh yeah, and the guy taking the mound is the same guy who just reached base nine times, Shohei Ohtani, who hit two homers, two doubles, and was walked five times – four times intentionally.

‘I hope we don’t lose sight,’ Freeman said, ‘our starting pitcher got on base nine times tonight. Just incredible.’

Said Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement: ‘You can’t explain it. He’s the best player to ever play this game.’

And yet, despite the historic performance, Ohtani was almost an afterthought as the game went on, being intentionally walked in the ninth, 11th, 13th and 15th innings, and walked on four pitches in the 17th inning.

While Ohtani was being walked, reliever Justin Wrobleski, after pitching in the sixth inning, kept running in and out of the Dodgers clubhouse for 11 innings with his other teammates who were out of the game, furiously changing sweatshirts, shoes, pants and anything for good luck.

‘I went sweatshirt, then I went no sweatshirt, and then I went three different pairs of shoes,’ Wrobleski said. ‘The third pair of shoes finally worked.’

Infielder Miguel Rojas was getting his arm loose, and was ready in case the Dodgers wanted to turn to a position player after already using 10 pitchers, with Roberts saying on TV during the game that he was nearly ready to do just that.

‘I was trying to get myself ready,’ Rojas said. ‘I was going to throw everything I have, even that eephus pitch.’

Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who threw a complete game just two days ago, actually was warming up in the bullpen as the game ended, ready to come in for emergency relief.

There was Ohtani, who said he was tired and just wanted to go to bed, knowing he is scheduled to take the mound in a few hours.

It was a night where Freeman was the hero, becoming the first player to hit multiple walk-off homers in World Series history.

But another man who will be forever remembered in Dodger folklore is Will Klein. He’s a 25-year-old journeyman who has pitched for five teams, was added to the World Series roster at the last minute, and who pitched four shutout innings to perhaps save the Dodgers’ season.

When Freeman’s fly ball sailed over the center-field fence, he thrust his right arm high into the air, and then both hands as he circled the bases and crossed home plate. Nearly the entire team encircled Klein to congratulate him as the winning pitcher.

What was said exactly?

‘Probably nothing that was in English,’ Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy said. ‘It was just a bunch of gibberish. I was too tired, too excited but we all made sure to give him a hug and tell him how important that was.’

While it may have been a blur to Muncy and his teammates, pardon Klein if he remembers every detail the rest of his life.

‘That was so cool,’ Klein said. ‘I never dreamed that anything like this would happen. So just having all those guys like kind of celebrating me for a second there was just insane. I don’t think I could have dreamt a dream that good.

‘Yeah, that was crazy.’

So was the entire game.

There were 10 runs scored in the first seven innings, and not another until Freeman’s 18th-inning homer.

There were five runners thrown out on the bases, four ending innings.

There were 44 players used, including 19 pitchers, with not a single reliever left in either bullpen.

‘I think we’ll be talking about this game for a long time,’ Muncy said. ‘We always talk about a regular playoff game is like playing three extra-inning games. And we basically just played a doubleheader back-to-back today.’

And, of course, there was Klein.

‘He will be remembered as a hero,’ Rojas said.

Said Freeman: ‘Will Klein, MVP of the game.’

Considering Klein was a last-minute replacement on the World Series roster because of a family emergency with left-handed reliever Alex Vesia, when did Klein realize he might be summoned into the game in the 15th inning?

‘When I looked around in the bullpen and my name was the only one still there,’ he said, laughing. ‘I was just going to go until I couldn’t, and that’s kind of what happened and, thankfully, Freddie saved us from Yamamoto having to do the same thing …

‘I don’t think I could have ever imagined that this would happen.’

Well, if the Dodgers really want to stretch their imagination, all they have to do is look at the mound Tuesday and see that the same dude who just reached base nine times will be the starting pitcher a mere 18 hours later.

‘He’s a freak,’ Klein said. ‘I mean, that guy, I don’t know how anyone can do what he does, being the best hitter and the best pitcher in the league. I don’t think there’s a word to describe it other than he’s the GOAT.

‘I mean, just getting to be teammates with him is a great honor. So, that guy, he’s going to go out there and shove (Tuesday), and we’ll be like, man he was on base nine times and he’s not tired at all.’

The Dodgers were riding so high after the game they insisted they weren’t physically exhausted, only mentally wiped out, and Roberts entered the clubhouse after the game to tell them how proud he was of each and every one of them.

There were heroes everywhere he looked.

There were nine relievers who gave up just one run in 13 1/3 innings.

There was Will Smith who caught all 18 innings.

There was Yamamoto who came to the bench and volunteered to pitch in relief.

And, there was three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, who entered the game with the bases loaded in the 12th inning, the first time he had ever pitched in an extra-inning game in his career.

Kershaw promptly induced a weak ground ball by Nathan Lukes, ending the inning, and sending 52,654 fans into hysterics, wondering if that was perhaps Kershaw’s final World Series game.

‘It was a big out for us,’ Kershaw said. ‘I thought it was going to be a bigger out, but we played like nine more innings.’

While Kershaw extolled the virtues of their entire bullpen, Freeman’s blast, Smith catching 18 innings, and their fabulous defensive play, he still couldn’t help but marvel at Ohtani’s performance, knowing he’s going to be the starting pitcher in Game 4.

“To get on base nine times, and is about to pitch in 12 hours,’’ Kershaw said, “pretty unbelievable, all of the way around.’’

And while Yamamoto never came into the game, the fact that he told Roberts and the coaching staff he was ready to pitch, and warmed up furiously in the bullpen, it only exemplified the Dodgers’ unselfishness.

‘That’s a testament to our team that he’s willing to go do that,’ Freeman said. ‘It took every single guy tonight, and for him to want to do that, I think that just shows you who we are as a group. We’ll do anything to win the game.’

Said Kershaw: ‘That’s just unbelievable. He throws a complete game two days ago, has cross-country travel, gets in at 4 in the morning, had one day rest basically, and is ready to go out and pitch. Sometimes, that’s what you need to win a World Series. We’ve got a lot of guys in here willing to sacrifice.’

That determination will be on full display Tuesday when Ohtani takes the mound. He’ll also be their DH and leadoff hitter, but there may be no reason for him to take his bat to the plate. Blue Jays manager John Schneider made it clear that he’s going to keep walking him after watching him nearly beat his team single-handedly with his first-inning double, third-inning homer, fifth-inning double and seventh-inning, game-tying homer.

‘He’s arguably the best player on the planet, you know,’ Schneider said. ‘I think you kind of react in real time a little bit … There’s certain times where you feel better about someone else beating you.’

It’s Mookie Betts, who hits behind Ohtani, followed by Freeman, but if Betts were the opposing manager, he’d do the exact same thing.

‘What he did was amazing,’ Betts said. ‘Just another one in the history books, another record broken.’

And yes, just another day in the life of Shohei Ohtani, and as the Dodgers left the clubhouse, they can’t wait to see what’s up his sleeve next.

‘We’ll see how that goes,’ Betts said. ‘He’ll probably set another record or something.’

Hey, why not?

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

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.

No one could have imagined the drama, excitement and test of stamina that was in store for Game 3 of the 2025 World Series. It was quite simply, an instant classic.

But with a little imagination, Game 3 of USA TODAY Sports’ Simulated World Series was spot-on in several respects: Tyler Glasnow running into trouble in the fourth after three scoreless innings. Shohei Ohtani’s clutch RBI double. A tie game entering the ninth.

But there was one key difference. In our simulation, Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk slid into home plate with the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth just ahead of Teoscar Hernandez’s throw. But in the actual Game 3, Hernandez nailed Jays runner Davis Schneider at the plate in the top of the 10th – to preserve a tie in a marathon that would ultimately be decided by a dramatic walk-off homer in the 18th inning.

What could be in store for Game 4?

Dodgers vs Blue Jays Game 4 simulation

Once again, we’re a little off with the Blue Jays starting pitcher. Our initial speculation was that Shane Bieber would start Game 4, not Game 3. So we have veteran Chris Bassitt on the mound for Toronto against Shohei Ohtani for the Dodgers. (Though with Bassitt pitching only one inning in the real Game 3, he could be called on for multiple innings in Game 4.)

Neither team was able to push across a run over the first five innings. Even after Toronto lefty Eric Lauer relieved Bassitt and gave up a walk to Ohtani in the sixth, the game remained scoreless.

Lauer was still on the mound in the seventh – and facing his final batter – when Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy connected on a 402-foot solo homer to left to break the drought. Muncy was just a .157/.250/.314 hitter against southpaws during the regular season, but his timely blast put L.A. in front.

The Jays got that run back immediately in the top of the eighth when – after pinch-runner Myles Straw was thrown out at the plate on Bo Bichette’s single – George Springer came through in the clutch with an RBI single off Dodgers reliever Emmet Sheehan to tie the game.

Anyone for extra innings? With the game tied 1-1 in the top of the 10th, Ernie Clement hit a leadoff single and Jays postseason hero Andres Gimenez struck again – taking a Roki Sasaki fastball the other way into the left field seats for a two-run homer.

Fully rested after not being used to close out Game 3, Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman retired the Dodgers in order in the bottom of the 10th to close out the win and put Toronto up 3 games to 1.

BOX SCORE: Blue Jays 3, Dodgers 1

FULL PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gimenez’s clutch blast lifts Jays in Game 4

Dodgers vs Blue Jays Game 4 projections, analysis

So what does our simulation tell us about what we can expect when the real Game 4 takes place?

Both teams will definitely need some length from their starters … and both got it in Sim Series Game 4. Ohtani was masterful on the mound, tossing 6 ⅓ innings of shutout ball, allowing five hits and striking out six. Bassitt yielded just two hits and struck out eight over his 5 ⅓ scoreless frames.
That put the outcome in the hands of the bullpens once again. Lauer gave up the unlikely homer to Muncy, but the real hero for the Jays was right-hander Braydon Fisher, who worked 2 ⅓ innings without giving up a run. On the Dodgers side, it was a second consecutive rocky outing for Sasaki. He took the loss in Sim Series Game 3, and was the losing pitcher again in Game 4 after serving up Gimenez’s homer.
Perhaps the biggest difference in our simulation and the real Game 4 is the status of Jays DH George Springer. He left Monday night’s game early after tweaking a muscle on his right side and may not play on Tuesday. That would be a major blow to Toronto’s offense since Springer has been one of their best hitters in the postsason. He hit an astounding .356/.433/.592 with two outs and runners in scoring position during the regular season – earning him a coveted ‘Clutch’ rating on his 2025 Dynasty League Baseball player card. That clutch rating is what enabled him to get the key two-out RBI single in the eighth inning that pulled the Jays even in our Game 4.

Previous 2025 Sim Series results

Game 1: Blue Jays 9, Dodgers 1
Game 2: Dodgers 12, Blue Jays 3
Game 3: Blue Jays 5, Dodgers 4

LSU doesn’t cheap out on hires, so almost anything seems on the table for this coaching search.
Urban Meyer, Nick Saban are typical pipe dream candidates. At LSU, pipe dreams can become reality.
Lane Kiffin for LSU? Now, that really makes sense.

Every coaching search starts in nearly the same fashion from the average fan’s perspective.

You think of your dream candidate. Let’s just say Urban Meyer. Because, well, Meyer or someone very much like him is often the average fan’s dream candidate.

Mr. Average Fan demands that the folks doing the hiring pull together some stupid money and “make Urban say no!” before moving on to other candidates.

Fast forward to the end of the search. The school hires some stiff who’s not named Urban Meyer, and not named Nick Saban, and the average fan knocks back a triple shot of copium and convinces himself this new coach isn’t so bad and that a national championship is just a few short years away.

Except, the stiff is actually a stiff. He’s fired within a few short years. The process repeats.

That’s how it usually unfolds, anyway.

But, now here’s LSU needing a coach, and I’m not rolling my eyes or laughing when I hear, “Make Urban (or Saban) say no!” I’m certainly not dismissing the idea of Lane Kiffin researching Baton Rouge’s top hot yoga studios.

If there’s one athletic director in America who’s proven he’s comfortable spending stupid money and forcing someone to say yes, it’s Scott Woodward at LSU.

LSU, Scott Woodward don’t hire cheap

Woodward’s responsible for the $75 million guaranteed offer that took Jimbo Fisher from Florida State to Texas A&M. He’s responsible for the $100 million offer (most of it guaranteed) that transported Brian Kelly from Notre Dame to LSU.

To be clear, those hires amount to money poorly spent. Stupid money became just stupid. Neither Fisher nor Kelly delivered the expected return on investment.

Woodward’s other hires using his swing-for-the-fences approach include LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey and baseball coach Jay Johnson. They’ve supplied national championships.

“Feel like there’s no limitation,” Woodward said of his hiring approach, while appearing last summer on the “Navigating Sports Business” podcast. “Go after the best you could get.”

I could make the very obvious rebuttal that, in the case of Fisher and Kelly, Woodward didn’t hire the best coach he could get. Perhaps, he just hired the most expensive one he could get.

One thing Woodward’s never done, from Washington to Texas A&M to LSU? Gone cheap.

With this school and this AD, pipe dream candidates can become reality.

LSU exactly the type of school to make Urban Meyer, Nick Saban say no

Gambling oddsmakers earmark Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as the favorite to land the job. I’d point out that when this job opened in 2021, Kelly wasn’t even included on the odds chart.

Woodward’s best football hires came at Washington. He sacked Tyrone Willingham and hired Steve Sarkisian. When Sarkisian left, Woodward made what remains his best hire. He nabbed Chris Petersen, whose starting pay dwarfed most of his mates in the Pac-12.

“If people (say), ‘Oh, you overpaid for something,’ well, how do you know that? I thought it through. Maybe I didn’t (overpay),” Woodward told me, in 2022, of his philosophy. “Or, I underpaid for something. (People) know the cost of it, but do they know the value of it?” 

“It’s always worked for me that the best predictors are usually past performances,” he added.

Years after Woodward left Texas A&M for LSU, the Aggies fired Fisher and replaced him with Mike Elko, a cheaper choice. Elko’s positioning to lift the Aggies to heights Fisher never reached. He’s proving what a great bang for the buck looks like.

Woodward’s misfires on Kelly and Fisher don’t mean, though, that he’ll reverse course and cheap out. Kiffin would be worthy of a lucrative offer.

Get past Kiffin, and I like Louisville’s Jeff Brohm, who’s currently making less than $6 million. Tulane’s Sumrall is building an SEC résumé. So, too, is Georgia Tech’s Brent Key.  

But, I’m wondering whether this search makes it that far.

Because, if LSU calls Saban (make sure to call Miss Terry, too) and Meyer, proceeds to Kiffin, then moves to Oregon’s Dan Lanning and Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, and it makes each say no, how far down the list would it make it before someone says yes?

Woodward’s just the type of guy who’d try to find out.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.