The careers of Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer will forever be linked. Along with Justin Verlander, these three represent a clear and obvious top echelon of pitchers whose dominance spanned the 2010s. Scherzer and Kershaw both began their MLB journeys in 2008. They share an interesting shared anecdote: a scheduled face-off between two Hall of Fame pitchers was altered to make way for the debuts of these two rookies.
On Sept. 7, 2008, Randy Johnson of the Diamondbacks was slated to compete against Greg Maddux of the Dodgers. However, both teams opted for a change, resulting in Scherzer facing Kershaw instead. This marked their initial encounter.
On a recent Friday night, these two future Hall of Famers potentially clashed for the final time, as Scherzer’s Blue Jays visited Kershaw’s Dodgers, culminating in a 5-1 victory for the Dodgers (Kershaw earned the win, while Scherzer suffered the loss).
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While it might not be described as a contest for the ages, it was a truly gratifying experience. Both athletes are visibly past their peak performance, yet they still possess considerable skill. They might not consistently overwhelm batters with sheer power anymore, but their extensive knowledge and mastery of pitching allow them to skillfully navigate challenging offenses for significant periods. This was evident on Friday.
We witnessed Kershaw executing a flawless first inning against a formidable offensive lineup in baseball. Scherzer, despite conceding two singles at the start of the bottom of the first, managed to escape unscathed, securing crucial strikeouts against Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernández. The Blue Jays managed to score a run in the second inning, and a well-timed double play enabled Kershaw to navigate out of a bases-loaded situation. Both pitchers maintained control until the fifth inning, when Scherzer, with two outs, allowed a double to Shohei Ohtani and a subsequent home run to Mookie Betts.
The final statistics were as follows.
Kershaw (W): 6 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Scherzer (L): 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
To reiterate, neither performance could be classified as utterly commanding, but they represent quality starts. It’s also crucial to consider the level of competition. Prior to this game, the Dodgers led the major leagues in runs scored, while the Blue Jays ranked fifth. The Dodgers held the second position in OPS, with the Blue Jays following closely in third.
This is precisely why it was such a rewarding event.
Kershaw, at 37 years of age, has accumulated over 2,800 regular-season innings and almost 200 playoff innings on his pitching arm. He demonstrated the capabilities of a top-tier starter against an elite offense. Scherzer, at 41 years of age, boasts over 2,900 regular-season innings and 143 playoff innings on his durable right arm, and he presented a strong showing for most of the evening against what is possibly the most potent offense in baseball.
The most engaging aspect was, undoubtedly, the opportunity to watch a complete six innings of baseball featuring two Hall of Fame-caliber players exchanging pitches.
This marked the fourth regular-season game between these two competitors. The previous three:
- The previously referenced Sept. 7, 2008 contest. Kershaw surrendered three runs on six hits across four innings. At that time, he was a rookie and not the dominant Kershaw seen later. Scherzer provided a glimpse of his prime self, recording 11 strikeouts, though he yielded three runs on five hits in five innings. Neither factored into the decision in a 5-3 Dodgers victory.
- Their paths wouldn’t cross again until April 20, 2018. By this point, the pair had collectively won six Cy Young Awards. Scherzer allowed only one run on four hits in six innings, securing the win, while Kershaw gave up four runs on nine hits in seven innings in a 5-2 Nationals triumph.
- Then came April 11, 2021. Scherzer was still with the Nationals, although both players would eventually conclude the season with the Dodgers. In this instance, Kershaw claimed the win with six scoreless innings, striking out six. Scherzer conceded just one run on three hits, but the Dodgers emerged victorious with a 3-0 score.
Scherzer and Kershaw also appeared as opponents in the same playoff game on three occasions, but only one instance involved both starting. This occurred during Game 1 of the 2016 NLDS. Kershaw yielded three runs on eight hits in five innings, but secured the win, as the Dodgers managed to score four runs off Scherzer on five hits, including two home runs.
Intriguingly, this game could potentially foreshadow a World Series matchup. The Dodgers are the current champions and hold the top spot in the NL West, while the Blue Jays lead the AL East. Would it not be remarkable to witness a Kershaw-Scherzer face-off in the World Series for the first time this year?
Those aspirations will have to remain on hold. The focus remains on the recent Friday night encounter. It was an aesthetically pleasing event, even before delving into the history that underpins it.
In terms of statistics, this matchup on Friday night was a distinct occasion. Both pitchers have exceeded 3,000 strikeouts in their respective careers. Only 20 pitchers in baseball history have reached the 3,000-strikeout milestone, with only three currently active—Verlander being the other. This marked just the fourth instance in MLB history where two 3,000-K pitchers faced each other. Scherzer previously did so against Verlander on Sept. 6, 2023. The other instances were Curt Schilling vs. Roger Clemens on Sept. 16, 2007, and Maddux vs. Clemens on July 19, 2006.
Only 11 pitchers in the history of the sport have been awarded at least three Cy Young Awards, and both of these pitchers are among that elite group.
Regarding their prominence, these are two undisputed Hall of Famers engaging in a contest once again. Their names carry such recognition that statistics are almost secondary. Simply hearing “Kershaw” or “Scherzer” immediately conveys their significance, even to casual sports followers. They are legends.
On Friday night, we had the opportunity to watch them compete, potentially for the final time. They delivered an unforgettable performance.
