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