Why the Blue Jays Keep Walking Red-Hot Shohei Ohtani

Game 3 between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers was wild—one of those marathon World Series contests that leaves everyone exhausted. Strategic gambles, historic moments, and sheer endurance all collided in this one.

Shohei Ohtani took over the spotlight. He kept finding ways to get on base, and the Blue Jays scrambled to keep him from doing more damage. By the ninth inning, Dodgers fans realized they were witnessing something special—Ohtani reached base nine times, setting a record.

Shohei Ohtani Forces a Strategy Shift

From the start, Shohei Ohtani looked locked in. He hammered two doubles and two homers in his first few trips to the plate.

Toronto had no answer. Ohtani punished every mistake, and it just felt like he couldn’t be stopped.

The Turning Point

Manager John Schneider didn’t want to give Ohtani free passes at first. But after a risky pitch-around in a tight spot backfired, he changed his mind.

Starting in the ninth, the Jays gave Ohtani four straight intentional walks. They stuck to this plan deep into extras, forcing the rest of LA’s lineup to step up.

Blue Jays Bullpen Holds Until Freeman Strikes

The Jays’ bullpen handled the pressure for inning after inning. Somehow, they kept the Dodgers off the board—until the 18th.

That’s when Freddie Freeman ended it. He crushed a walk-off homer and finally sent everyone home.

A Game of Endurance

Eighteen innings is a grind, plain and simple. Both teams had to dig deep into their bullpens and find stamina somewhere.

Toronto’s manager, Schneider, sounded tired but determined afterward. He pointed out that it’s just one game, not the whole series.

Looking Ahead: Will Intentional Walks Continue?

The Blue Jays are seriously considering sticking with the walk-Ohtani strategy. Schneider even hinted they might keep doing it for the rest of the series.

Is that the key to slowing down one of the best hitters alive? Maybe. It’s hard to argue with the logic, at least for now.

Key Factors Going Forward

Toronto’s fate hinges on a few things:

• George Springer’s health: He left Game 3 with right-side discomfort, and nobody’s sure if he’ll be back soon.
• Team confidence: Isiah Kiner-Falefa pointed to past comebacks. The team still believes they’re in this.
• Depth and bullpen management: After 18 innings, the Jays have to get creative with their pitching staff.

Playoff Poise and Mental Toughness

Games like this test every part of a team. Mental toughness matters as much as talent.

The Jays proved they can adapt, even against a hitter as locked in as Ohtani. In October, sometimes you have to get weird—and Toronto’s betting that their bold moves will keep them alive.

The Bigger Picture

The Dodgers celebrated a hard-fought win, but their clubhouse knows the Blue Jays aren’t a team to take lightly.

Game 4 now looms as a pivotal moment. Toronto’s willingness to challenge traditional baseball norms could be their path to balancing the series.

Game 3 wasn’t just another playoff battle. It felt like a defining test of strategy, grit, and resilience.

If Ohtani keeps up this torrid pace, we’ll probably see more deliberate walks and tense, tightly contested innings. With the World Series hanging in the balance, every pitch, swing, and decision suddenly feels massive.

For fans, this was postseason baseball at its finest—an epic mix of high drama and tactical evolution. The relentless pursuit of victory was on full display.

 
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