Blue Jays vs Dodgers: Starting Lineup - World Series Game 4 Preview

The worst possible news for the Blue Jays came to fruition when it was announced that George Springer will be out of the starting lineup and be regulated to the bench (for now) for game 4 of the World Series.

Manager John Schneider announced this afternoon that Springer's MRI results showed that he is hour-to-hour, day-to-day and on the bench," indicating the Blue Jays are not considering subbing him off roster.

The timing couldn't be worse because Springer has great numbers versus Ohtani who is on the mound in game 4.

However, if the Blue Jays can get production from Bo Bichette as the DH in Springers absence, things may not be as grim as fans might expect.

Bichette led the league in hits right up until he sprained his knee in September with the Blue Jays persevering without him, winning the division, the ALDS and the ALCS.

Blue Jays veteran Shane Bieber is on the bump versus Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani. First pitch is at 8:00 PM ET on Sportsnet and FOX.

Just like most pitchers in this Blue Jays rotation and bullpen, every start Shane Bieber (4-2, 3.57 ERA) has made for the past few weeks has been the biggest of his career.

The results have been awfully mixed, though. Bieber had shorter outings of 2 2/3 innings against the Yankees and 3 2/3 innings against the Mariners, each of which could have been worse than the stat lines read (2 ER in each).

The best we've seen from Bieber was his ALCS Game 3 start in Seattle, when he came back into the dugout after a tough first inning pleading with his teammates, «Pick me up.»

Bieber knew he had his best stuff that night and he was right. That's what he'll need again to beat Ohtani and the Dodgers.

Los Angeles' Game 4 starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (1-1, 2.87 ERA) was on base nine times in Monday night's 18-inning marathon.

The last time Ohtani took the mound, he treated Dodger Stadium to the greatest show in baseball. In NLCS Game 4, Ohtani wowed by striking out 10 across six scoreless innings, then added on three homers at the plate for good measure.

The two-way superstar made his postseason pitching debut against the Phillies in the NLDS, tossing a quality start.

While Ohtani's buildup on the mound was strictly regimented for most of the year, the Dodgers are treating him like a regular starter now.

Well, everyone pitched. Every single reliever in the Blue Jays' bullpen pitched behind Max Scherzer in Monday night's Game 3 marathon, but the Dodgers are in a similar bind after emptying their 'pen.

If there's one reliever who surely won't be available to pitch in Game 4, it's lefty Eric Lauer, who gave the Blue Jays 4 2/3 shutout innings on 68 pitches, blowing past any workload we've seen from him since he shifted to the bullpen following the acquisition of Bieber at the Trade Deadline.

Jeff Hoffman threw two innings on 33 pitches, too, which is heavy for him, but the Blue Jays will need to ask a lot of their bullpen.

It's never been more important for Bieber to go deep into a game, especially with Ohtani starting for the Dodgers after a long, busy night on the bases Monday.