In the seventh inning of Game 3, George Springer’s World Series hit a snag, and with it, the Toronto Blue Jays’ hopes for Game 4 took a sharp turn. After hitting the first pitch against Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Brendon Little, the team’s designated hitter and leadoff man left the game holding his right side in obvious pain. An MRI came next, but the results only made the uncertainty about Toronto’s roster worse as they prepared for a big game against Ohtani.

Springer’s leaving was another blow to a team that was already running on fumes. The Blue Jays’ leadoff man had led them through the playoffs, hitting a three-run home run in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series that sent Toronto to the World Series. But even before Game 3, Springer was dealing with serious injuries that had made him less effective throughout the series. His wrist and knee were hurt, which made him less effective. By the seventh inning, his body just gave up. He winced and walked to the dugout after fouling off the first pitch. There, he talked briefly with manager John Schneider and a trainer before giving up his spot to pinch-hitter Ty France.

Springer’s removal hit especially hard because he played a key role in getting to this point. His three-run home run in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series helped Toronto win and made him a key player in the Jays’ postseason run. But when he left Game 3, Springer had only three hits in eleven at-bats, which showed the physical problems he had going into the series. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic said, “The Jays might field something of a ‘B’ lineup against Ohtani. Their own starting pitcher, Shane Bieber, is also something of a wild card. He will be pitching on seven days’ rest, but is coming off Tommy John surgery and has failed to complete four innings in two of his three postseason starts.”

The Blue Jays had more than just Springer’s problems with their roster. Second baseman Bo Bichette also appeared questionable for subsequent games after missing nearly seven weeks with a knee injury, leaving Toronto depleted in the field. This left Toronto short of players in the field. Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, on the other hand, was still set to start Game 4, even though manager Dave Roberts said he looked “spent” after getting on base nine times, which is a postseason record. The difference was simple: Los Angeles kept its star power even though it was tired, while Toronto had to deal with both fatigue and the possibility of losing players, which hurt its chances of winning the championship.

Springer’s injury puts the Blue Jays in a tough spot

The problem for the Toronto Blue Jays went far beyond the loss right away. George Springer’s injury to his right side in Game 3 was more than just a statistical issue; it put the Blue Jays’ chances of winning the championship in jeopardy when they needed stability the most.

Manager John Schneider didn’t waste any time facing the seriousness of the situation. He told reporters that Springer had an MRI to find out how bad the pain on the right side was, but the results were still not readily accessible. The injury classification suggested what many feared: a possible oblique strain, which usually keeps players out for weeks and makes it harder for a hitter to generate power through rotation. For any batter, especially one who was expected to carry the team’s offensive hopes, this kind of injury was a tremendous blow.

Springer’s postseason performance made it even more important that he might not be there. Across 14 playoff games, he had delivered four home runs and six doubles, including the crucial three-run shot that eliminated Seattle in the ALCS. His October slash line of .246/.323/.561 showed that he could hit for power at the most stressful times in baseball. This was based on an amazing regular season in which he hit .309/.399/.560 with 32 home runs. Toronto had to make uncomfortable plans because he wasn’t there.

Schneider had to make quick decisions about the roster with little room for error. The Blue Jays would probably move Bo Bichette to designated hitter if Springer were injured, which would change the entire batting order. Toronto still had the option for a roster change, which could have meant that Joey Loperfido would have been activated after being dropped when Bichette and Ty France came back from injury. No matter what happened next, the Blue Jays went into Game 4 with their season on the line.