Kershaw outduels Scherzer in battle of all-time greats

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw went toe-to-toe for six innings in a vintage duel Friday night between the two most recent additions to the 3,000-strikeout club.

The 41-year-old Scherzer, pitching for Toronto, made his 465th career start. Kershaw, 37, started his 443rd game — all for the Los Angeles Dodgers over 18 seasons.

“Probably a lineup card that I’ll keep for my office,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.

Once teammates in Los Angeles, both pitchers have won three Cy Young Awards and are likely headed to the Hall of Fame.

“Two great competitors,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “I don’t know if you’re going to see this one again.”

Kershaw (6-2) got the win, allowing one run and seven hits as Los Angeles earned a 5-1 victory. He struck out four and walked one on 74 pitches, 54 strikes. And he stuck around to watch his rival work when the Dodgers were batting.

“Scherz was throwing the ball great. He was throwing like 96 (mph),” Kershaw said. “It doesn’t look like he’s aged at all.”

Scherzer (2-2) took the loss, giving up two runs and six hits. He struck out five and walked three on 98 pitches, 63 strikes.

“Max had really good stuff,” Roberts said.

Kershaw exited with the Dodgers leading 2-1, thanks to a two-run homer by Mookie Betts in the fifth.

The left-hander was a model of efficiency in the first inning, retiring the Blue Jays on 11 pitches.

Los Angeles went right after Scherzer in the bottom half. Shohei Ohtani and Betts hit consecutive line-drive singles before Davis Schneider robbed Will Smith of a potential three-run homer with a catch against the Dodgers bullpen gate in left field. Scherzer walked Max Muncy to load the bases before striking out Teoscar Hernández to end the inning.

Scherzer retired the side in the second and third. Kershaw had traffic on the bases in the second, when Addison Barger’s two-strike single scored Bo Bichette and gave Toronto a 1-0 lead.

With a runner at first, Dodgers rookie second baseman Alex Freeland raced into shallow right field to catch a blooper by Ernie Clement for the third out of the fifth. A relieved Kershaw smiled and pointed his index finger skyward.

It was the fourth time Scherzer and Kershaw faced each other, and Kershaw’s teams lead their individual series 3-1. Kershaw has two wins and Scherzer one.

The first matchup was unexpected. Hall of Famers Randy Johnson of Arizona and Greg Maddux of the Dodgers were scratched on Sept. 7, 2008. Their replacements were rookies Scherzer, then 24, and Kershaw, then 20, who each got a no-decision.

“He’s had a hell of a career,” Scherzer said. “It’s kind of a cool little milestone moment here where we’re hooking it back up against each other. He’s an awesome teammate as well. I’ve got all the respect in the world for what he does on and off the field.”

Roberts managed Scherzer when the Dodgers traded for him in the second half of the 2021 season, when he became the 19th pitcher in MLB history to notch his 3,000th strikeout. Having Kershaw already in the fold helped prepare Roberts.

“Those guys are in very rare company, and when you have an opportunity to manage people like that and superstars, it does help you understand how they think, what makes them tick,” he said.

Unlike Kershaw, Scherzer likes to talk “all the time,” Roberts said.

“He’s got a lot of answers, but they’re valid answers because he’s always thinking the game,” Roberts said. “He’ll talk to hitters, get in hitters’ meetings. He’s always trying to pick people’s brains to get some type of edge, which as a coach, that’s a good thing.”

Kershaw became the 20th member of the 3,000-strikeout club in July at Dodger Stadium.

“It’s really cool that Scherz was the guy right before me to get to 3,000. I got to play with him, I got to compete against him, basically our whole careers,” Kershaw said. “I don’t know if it’s our last year, but toward the end, for sure. It’s been a fun ride.”

Both pitchers are known for being extremely competitive. Where they differ is Scherzer is more demonstrative than Kershaw.

Roberts recalled the reaction he got for patting Scherzer on his rear end in the middle of a game in 2021.

“I heard a curse word after I did it,” he said. “That’s pretty intense.”

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB