After using each of their bullpen arms in Game 3's 18-inning affair, the Toronto Blue Jays needed Shane Bieber to eat innings on Tuesday night.
The 30-year-old did exactly that in Game 4 of the World Series, working 5.1 innings of one-run ball, holding the Los Angeles Dodgers at bay over 81 pitches.
Bieber allowed just four hits on the night while striking out three, working the edges of the zone to give the Blue Jays a chance to win.
He was replaced by Mason Fluharty in the bottom of the sixth after allowing singles to Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernández. Fluharty picked up Toronto's starter, needing just four pitches to set down Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, finalizing Bieber's line.
The only run Bieber allowed came in the second inning, when he walked Muncy, who advanced to third on an Edman single and came in to score on a Kiké Hernández sacrifice fly.
Much was made of how the Blue Jays would handle Shohei Ohtani after the Dodgers' two-way star reached base nine times in Game 3. But Bieber carefully navigated his at-bats against Ohtani, keeping the ball out of the heart of the zone and holding the three-time MVP hitless.
Bieber did walk Ohtani to lead off the game, but in their next two matchups, he struck out his opposing starting pitcher and ended his on-base streak at 11 plate appearances.
Toronto acquired Bieber at the trade deadline as the former Cleveland Guardians ace was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. The two-time all-star made seven regular-season starts for the Blue Jays once he returned to the mound, and after Tuesday's outing, he has added on four playoff appearances.
Game 4 was Bieber's first start in this Fall Classic, and he now has a 3.57 ERA and 18 strikeouts in the 2025 post-season.
