By the time an epic Game 3 of the 2025 World Series ended after 18 innings, George Springer’s early exit had become but a footnote on a historic night of baseball.
But Spinger’s status moving forward looms large as the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers prepare for a crucial Game 4 at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night, less than 18 hours after their six-hour, 39-minute instant classic that ended with Freddie Freeman giving Los Angeles a 2-1 series lead thanks to a walk-off home run.
Springer, who served as Toronto’s designated hitter in Game 3 and got booed by Dodgers’ fans, appeared to injure himself while swinging at a pitch in the seventh inning Monday, grabbing at his right side almost immediately after fouling off a ball. After calling for an athletic trainer, Springer left the game before finishing the at bat. He was replaced in the lineup by Ty France.
Given the short turnaround and the Blue Jays deficit facing two more road games, Springer’s health is suddenly a huge storyline for the rest of the World Series. He was the 2017 World Series MVP when the Houston Astros beat the Dodgers and ranked among the top five in MLB in batting average this season. Springer has four home runs this postseason, including a three-run homer that pushed the Blue Jays past the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series.
Here’s the latest on Springer’s injury and whether he is able to play for the Blue Jays against the Dodgers in Game 4 of the 2025 World Series:
Is George Springer playing in World Series Game 4?
It’s uncertain if Springer will be in the lineup about eight hours before the scheduled first pitch for Game 4 at Dodger Stadium.
George Springer injury update
‘We’ll see how it comes back and see how he walks up (Tuesday), but it sucks,’ Schneider said. ‘He’s obviously a huge part of our lineup. Glad I got him out when I did. Hopefully, it didn’t make anything worse.’
Springer had already been playing through wrist and knee injuries after being hit by pitches this postseason, including Game 2 of the World Series. He has not yet missed a game due to the ailments, though Schneider joked before Game 3 that Springer is ‘being held together with duct tape,’ according to MLB.com.