3,000 + 5 = last dance?
Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer will start against each other for only the fifth time today, in a duel between two future MLB Hall of Famers.
On September 7, 2008, all eyes were on Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson. One was already a Major League Baseball legend with 350 wins under his belt; the other, a towering presence whose fastball made stadiums tremble. But in the late-season heat, a casual schedule change left two rookies on the mound: Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers and Max Scherzer of the Diamondbacks.
No one could have guessed that this sunny Sunday at Chavez Ravine would mark the beginning of one of baseball’s most unique and brilliant rivalries. That day, both pitchers went five innings, gave up three runs apiece, and neither factored into the decision. Scherzer struck out 11. Kershaw teased the crowd with a rollercoaster curveball. Maddux and Johnson were on the roster - but sitting on the bench. The spotlight, unintentionally, had shifted to the future.
Future Hall of Famers reunited
Fast forward nearly 16 years, and the same stadium hosts a reunion. This time, both Kershaw and Scherzer have eclipsed 3,000 career strikeouts, collected Cy Young Awards like wartime medals, and carry an undeniable truth: Cooperstown awaits. But the present still burns bright.
This Friday night in Los Angeles, Scherzer will take the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays, while Kershaw starts for the Dodgers. It could be the final time two of the fiercest competitors of their generation face off. A chapter closing. An era breathing its final lines.
Parallel tracks to greatness
Kershaw and Scherzer, briefly teammates with the Dodgers in 2021, have followed careers like trains on separate tracks heading toward the same destination. Three Cy Youngs for Scherzer, three for Kershaw. A lifetime ERA under 3.00 for the Dodgers’ lefty. Over 220 wins for “Mad Max.” One claimed the pitching Triple Crown; the other won a ring with Washington and another with L.A.
Yet they’ve only started against each other four times - three in the regular season, once in the playoffs. Sometimes it was because they played in different leagues; other times, baseball simply didn’t align them. As if fate were saving those matchups for select moments.
Kershaw vs Scherzer: Head-to-head history
- Sep. 7, 2008 (AZ vs LAD): The debut. Both rookies. No decision. Scherzer more dominant in strikeouts.
- Oct. 7, 2016 (LAD vs WSH, NLDS): Postseason. Kershaw earned the win in a shaky outing for both.
- Apr. 11, 2021 (WSH vs LAD): Kershaw outdueled Scherzer with six strong innings. Scherzer pitched six but took the loss.
- Jul. 9, 2021 (LAD vs WSH): Tense duel. Scherzer dazzled, but the bullpen faltered. Kershaw got the win.
- Aug. 9, 2025 (TOR vs LAD): The present. Perhaps the epilogue.
The 3,000 Strikeout Club
According to Elias Sports Bureau, matchups between pitchers with over 3,000 strikeouts have only happened four times since 1990. Scherzer has been part of two (the other against Justin Verlander in 2023). Kershaw and Scherzer are the 19th and 20th members of the club - both reaching the milestone in Dodger blue.
What if this is the last time?
At 37, Kershaw returned this season after a long shoulder rehab. Scherzer, now 41, has stretched his career beyond what seemed possible, still competing with a fire that defies age. But time spares no one - not even baseball’s immortals. This Friday isn’t just another game. It’s a time capsule. A farewell without confirmation. A living tribute.
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