Blue Jays reliever Eric Lauer the only Toronto pitcher ruled out for Game 4

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Eric Lauer prepares to throw during the 15th inning in Game 3 of baseball's World Series against the Dodgers on Oct. 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

An empty coffee cup was on Blue Jays manager John Schneider’s desk Tuesday afternoon as he met with media members after a marathon 18-inning game the night before.

Estimating he got about 4 1/2 hours sleep, Schneider and his team were back at it after a short turnaround for Game 4 at Dodger Stadium. 

“It’s the World Series. Everyone is feeling good,” Schneider said. “They like these situations. We have responded well in these situations. In terms of a second wind, it’s just wake up and get ready to do it again.”

Blue Jays left-hander Eric Lauer was the only reliever ruled out for Game 4, Schneider said. 

Lauer threw 68 pitches in relief during a 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 on Monday in a matchup that lasted a whopping six hours 39 minutes - well over twice the length of a usual game.

“That was like a performance for the ages for him,” Schneider said.

Every reliever from both bullpens was used in Game 3. Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blue Jays starter Shane Bieber were warming up before Freddie Freeman ended it with a walkoff homer off Brendon Little.

Lauer needed at least one rest day after tossing 4 2/3 scoreless frames, but everyone else in the Toronto bullpen was an option, Schneider said.

“Some in longer spurts than others,” he said. “You kind of just read the situation. You’re never expecting an 18-inning game, right?”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts laughed before confirming that reliever Will Klein - who got the Game 3 win - wouldn’t pitch in Game 4 after throwing 72 pitches over four innings a night earlier.

“I would say he’s down today,” he said. “What a performance.”

Klein allowed one hit, two walks and had five strikeouts.

“I think I’m still on the adrenalin rush,” he said Tuesday. “I mean (I’m) definitely sore and my body is tired. But so is everyone.”

Both closers threw more than the usual one inning of relief. Toronto’s Jeff Hoffman threw 33 pitches over two frames while L.A.’s Roki Sasaki threw 29 pitches over 1 2/3 innings.

Roberts said that aside from Klein, it was an “all hands on deck situation.”

“You kind of figure out who is available and who feels good enough to pitch tonight,” he said. 

Schneider said Game 3 was physically and mentally draining for the players, and it was a long night for the coaching staff too.

“I was hungry, I was tired, I really wanted a beer,” he said. “It was a lot, you know what I mean? I hadn’t eaten since lunch and I was like, all right, I’ve probably (gone) through three cans of dip and it was like, ‘Damn, I’m tired.’

“But you try to just (rely on coaches) and try to stay ahead of things.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2025.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press