Just 24 hours earlier, the Blue Jays dugout was not able to find the answer to the Shohei Ohtani hitting. The two-way superstar’s presence at the plate forced manager John Schneider to issue an intentional walk in extra innings during Game 3. But Tuesday night brought a different challenge. Ohtani took the mound as the starting pitcher for Game 4, and the question hanging over Dodger Stadium was simple: Could the Blue Jays solve his arsenal? They did, and how. Toronto erupted for six runs, handing Los Angeles a 6-2 defeat that evened the series. When the dust settled, the Japanese sensation was found with regret.

The two-way star delivered a solid but not spectacular outing in Game 4. He lasted six innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out five batters. His fastball touched 98 mph at times, and his splitter generated swings and misses, but the Blue Jays refused to be intimidated.

They worked counts, fouled off tough pitches, and capitalized when Ohtani left balls over the plate. He threw 93 pitches total, but it was the seventh inning that never came, which bothered him most.

After the loss, when asked about his pitching, he replied honestly. “My goal is to be able to pitch six innings, and the situation in this game I wanted to go seven,” Ohtani admitted afterward through his interpreter. “It was regrettable that I wasn’t able to finish that inning.” The disappointment in his voice was unmistakable.

After Ohtani departed, the Dodgers’ bullpen couldn’t hold the game. The relievers combined for three innings, surrendering three runs on four hits. What started as a manageable deficit spiraled quickly.

Toronto capitalized on every mistake, turning a competitive game into a statement victory that shifted the series momentum.

The contrast to his NLCS Game 4 performance stung even more. Shohei Ohtani made history in NLCS Game 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers. He struck out 10 batters in six scoreless innings and hit three home runs.

But in Game 4 of the Fall Classic, his pitching felt a little short. Despite that, the teammates’ confidence remains unwavering. Will Smith backed their ace, he said, “I thought he really looked good tonight.”

Meanwhile, Toronto’s bats came alive exactly when needed. Their six-run outburst validated what Schneider had promised after Game 3’s heartbreaking loss.

“The Dodgers didn’t win the World Series today—they just won a game,” he’d said. “And these guys are going to be more than ready to go.” Ready they were. Now the series stands at 2-2, and Shohei Ohtani’s regret will fuel him for whatever comes next.

However, Dave Roberts, who said he wants the complete team effort to clinch the ring, is now looking to change his plans for Game 5 in offense as the Dodgers’ bat went cold, including Ohtani’s!

Roberts rethinks the lineup heading into Game 5

Dave Roberts’ focus has changed as Game 5 approaches. It’s evident that he’s reconsidering his offensive strategy following Game 4’s poor performance.

The bats of the Los Angeles Dodgers just didn’t do enough in Game 4. Mookie Betts and Andy Pages, two of the team’s best hitters, couldn’t get any meaningful hits, while other players had a hard time getting past the pressure from the Toronto Blue Jays’ pitching. And Shohei Ohtani, who hit two homers in Game 3, went silent too. He went 0-3 with one walk and no hits. He left the batter’s box without making the typical offensive impact.

The lineup was quiet when they needed it most because they couldn’t take advantage of runners in scoring position and couldn’t link together two-out hits.

Roberts was honest about the difficulty ahead: “Essentially, it’s am I gonna play Andy (Pages), am I gonna play (Alex) Call, or am I gonna play Miggy Ro (Miguel Rojas)? So, just kind of trying to think through all that stuff and net it out and see what gives us the best chance tomorrow .” He is willing to change the lineup to get the offense going, as shown by his decisions.

It’s evident what Roberts is getting ready for: a tactical change. The goal is simple: get new players into the batting order, adjust defensive alignments to create better matchups, or bring in batters who might perform better under pressure. Get back on offense, boost your confidence, and give the Dodgers the best chance to win Game 5.

Can the Boys in Blue fight back? Or the North of Birds will head into Game 6 with home advantage?