Dodgers Reliever Will Klein Delivers Clutch Performance in World Series Game 3

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Los Angeles, CA – The Los Angeles Dodgers found resilience and precision on Monday night, powered by an unexpected hero in reliever Will Klein. In a tightly contested Game 3 of the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Klein’s three shutout innings became the turning point of a dramatic 5-4 Dodgers win that evened the series at 1-1.

Under the bright lights of Dodger Stadium, the 30-year-old right-hander delivered one of the defining performances of his career, surrendering just one hit while striking out four. His calm presence on the mound halted Toronto’s momentum and gave Los Angeles the breathing room it needed to complete a comeback that ignited the sold-out crowd of more than 53,000.

Will Klein’s Rise to the October Spotlight

Will Klein’s road to postseason glory has been anything but straightforward. Once a seventh-round draft pick by the Kansas City Royals, his path wound through several organizations before landing him in Los Angeles. The Dodgers acquired him in June in a quiet trade with the Seattle Mariners, sending left-hander Joe Jacques in return. Few could have predicted at the time that Klein would find himself in the middle of a World Series dogfight just four months later.

Since his arrival, Klein has been the embodiment of reliability. Working primarily in long relief, his electric fastball-slider combination has neutralized lineups throughout the postseason. During the National League Championship Series, he posted a 1.59 ERA in six appearances, becoming one of manager Dave Roberts’ most trusted arms. In Game 3, that trust paid off in full, as Klein entered in the fifth inning with one out and runners threatening. He promptly struck out Bo Bichette and induced a soft groundout from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., extinguishing the rally.

“I just wanted to give us a chance to stay in it,” Klein said in the postgame interview. “When you get opportunities like this, you lean on your routine, your teammates, and the energy in the stadium. Tonight, it all came together.”

A Calm Amid the Chaos

Game 3 began with early turbulence for the Dodgers. Starter Bobby Miller labored through three innings, allowing four runs amid loud contact from Toronto’s potent lineup. The Blue Jays, fueled by a first-inning homer from Guerrero Jr. and back-to-back doubles in the third, looked poised to seize control of the series.

But when Klein took the mound, the atmosphere shifted. His first pitch was a 98-mph fastball spotted perfectly on the outside corner, setting the tone for what would become a display of confident aggression. Over 42 pitches, Klein retired nine of the ten batters he faced, mixing high-octane velocity with sharp breaking pitches that consistently missed barrels.

By the time the Dodgers offense roared back in the seventh inning with a three-run rally capped by Freddie Freeman’s two-run double, Klein’s stabilizing presence had opened the door. The bullpen’s subsequent efforts, including a seamless ninth inning from closer Evan Phillips, sealed the victory — one that could mark the series’ turning point.

The Dodgers’ Postseason Blueprint

For Los Angeles, Klein’s dominance reflects a broader organizational philosophy: building pitching depth capable of weathering October’s unpredictability. Since Andrew Friedman took charge of baseball operations nearly a decade ago, the Dodgers have prioritized versatile arms who can bridge the gap between starters and closers.

That strategy has defined much of the 2025 postseason run. Injuries to starting pitchers like Dustin May and Walker Buehler tested the staff’s endurance, but a deep bullpen anchored by Klein, Phillips, and setup man Ryan Yarbrough has carried the load. Roberts, praised for his in-game adjustments, once again leaned on analytics and intuition to navigate Game 3.

“Will gave us exactly what we needed,” Roberts said after the game. “He changed the tempo, got quick outs, and allowed our bats to come alive. That type of performance is why we’re still standing here with a shot at the title.”

Comparing Klein’s Feat in Dodgers History

The Dodgers franchise has a storied history of relief pitching excellence, with October heroes ranging from the fiery Pedro Báez to postseason legends like Kenley Jansen. Yet Klein’s outing on Monday night invited comparisons to Orel Hershiser’s long relief appearance in the 1988 World Series — an example of a pitcher stepping beyond expectation to deliver when his team needed it most.

Statistically, Klein’s performance joins a short list of Dodgers relievers who have thrown three or more scoreless innings in a World Series game over the past half-century. The only others to do so were Charlie Hough in 1977 and Jansen in 2017. What made Klein’s effort especially striking was the context: a high-leverage moment in a one-run contest where any mistake could have reversed the Dodgers’ fortunes.

The Blue Jays’ Perspective

For Toronto, the loss was a bitter reminder of how slim the margins can be in October. Starter Yusei Kikuchi, who delivered five efficient innings, watched his bullpen falter late. The Blue Jays’ offense, dynamic throughout the postseason, suddenly went silent after Klein entered.

Manager John Schneider acknowledged Klein’s impact. “He shut us down and gave their lineup time to respond,” Schneider said. “You tip your cap when a guy comes in and executes like that. We had our chances early, but you can’t waste those opportunities in the World Series.”

Despite the setback, Toronto remains a formidable opponent. Their young core — Guerrero Jr., Bichette, and Alejandro Kirk — continues to produce offensively, and their pitching depth has kept them in close games throughout the postseason. As the series heads into Game 4, both teams remain locked in a high-stakes chess match that could swing on a single pitch.

Broader Implications for the Series

With the series now tied 1-1, the momentum has tilted back toward Los Angeles. Historically, World Series teams that win Game 3 when tied 1-1 have gone on to capture the championship in nearly two-thirds of cases. The psychological boost from rallying at home, coupled with the Dodgers’ track record of capitalizing on momentum, positions them favorably for the upcoming games.

Game 4, set for Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, will feature left-hander Clayton Kershaw against Toronto’s hard-throwing rookie Ricky Tiedemann. Kershaw, returning from a late-season shoulder injury, carries the weight of postseason expectations once more. Klein’s performance may have lightened that burden, giving both the bullpen and the lineup renewed confidence.

A Season of Redemption and Reinvention

For Klein personally, 2025 has become a season of reinvention. Early in his career, he struggled with command and inconsistency. In stints with the Royals and Mariners, he showed flashes of potential but battled injuries and control issues that kept him from earning a stable role.

His transformation with the Dodgers is credited to a streamlined delivery, a new grip on his slider, and an analytical approach that leverages pitch movement data. The organization’s reputation for maximizing pitcher potential — from Tyler Anderson to Andrew Heaney — again proved valid. Klein’s emerging reliability mirrors the Dodgers’ ability to find under-the-radar contributors and turn them into postseason assets.

Fans and City React to the Moment

By the final out, when Phillips struck out George Springer to end the game, the stadium erupted in unified relief and jubilation. The atmosphere inside Dodger Stadium echoed classic postseason nights, with fans chanting Klein’s name from the stands. On social media, his performance quickly trended across platforms, drawing praise from former players, analysts, and fans alike.

For a fan base accustomed to October drama, Game 3 represented the kind of resilient baseball identity that has defined the Dodgers for generations. The victory not only evened the series but rekindled the confidence of a city deeply invested in its team.

Looking Ahead

As the Dodgers and Blue Jays prepare for the next chapter in this World Series saga, Will Klein’s Game 3 performance stands as a microcosm of what has made the 2025 postseason so compelling — unexpected heroes, tense moments, and the razor-thin line between triumph and heartbreak.

For the Dodgers, the formula remains simple: timely hitting, deep pitching, and unrelenting focus. If Klein’s outing proves to be the spark that propels Los Angeles toward another title, it will mark his ascent from midseason acquisition to postseason legend — a reminder that in October, baseball heroes are often made, not predicted.