You would think that any head-to-head pitching match-up between three-time Cy Young award-winner Clayton Kershaw and three-time Cy Young award-winner Max Scherzer would be among the greatest pitching battles that there could possibly be in major league baseball. But the simple truth is that the two have only squared off against each other twice before, and only once during the regular season … and that was 10 years ago.

That lone regular season game occurred way back on September 7, 2008 at Dodger Stadium, when a then 20-year-old Kershaw was a rookie with the Dodgers and a then 23-year-old Scherzer a rookie with the Arizona Diamondbacks. And even though the Dodgers would prevail that day by a score of 5-3, neither Kershaw nor Scherzer figured in the decision.

On that day, Kershaw allowed three runs on six hits (two of which were home runs), with one walk and two strikeouts in his 4.0 innings pitched, compared to Scherzer’s three runs on five hits, with one walk and 11 strikeouts in his 5.0 innings pitched. Hung-Chih Kuo got the win that day in relief of Chan Ho Park, who relieved Kershaw, and John Rauch suffered the loss in relief of Chad Qualls, who relieved Scherzer, with Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton picking up his 13th save of the 2008 season. (By the way, Manny Ramirez of Mannywood fame went 2-for-3 that day, with a double, a single, and a walk).

The next Kershaw / Scherzer head-to-head match-up didn’t occur until Game 1 of the 2016 NLDS, when Kershaw allowed three runs on eight hits, with one walk and seven strikeouts in his 5.0 innings of work. And even though the Dodgers won that day by a score of 4-3 with Kershaw getting the win, he most certainly was not at his best. He was, however, better than Scherzer, who allowed four runs on five hits, including home runs by eventual 2016 NL Rookie of the Year Corey Seager and (uggh) Justin Turner, while striking out five and walking none.

The only other time that Kershaw and Scherzer appeared in the same game occurred six days later in Game-5 of the 2016 NLDS, although they did not go head-to-head against one another. Scherzer started that fifth and deciding game of the series, allowing one run on five hits, including a solo home run by Joc Pederson, in his five-plus innings of work, whereas Kershaw faced only two batters in the bottom of the ninth inning, striking out one of them to pick up the save in the eventual 4-3 Dodgers win to send them into the 2016 NLCS against the eventual 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs.

Although Kershaw did not start against Scherzer in Game-5 of the 2016 NLDS at Dodger Stadium on October 13, he did start Game-4 against Nationals right-hander Joe Ross on October 11. He would, however, appear in Game-6 two days later which Scherzer did start, but the Nationals ace was already out of the game by then.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

So what does all of this past history mean, you ask?

Basically nothing at all. In fact, there is an exceptionally good chance that Friday night’s head-to-head match-up between these two three-time Cy Young award winners could indeed be one of the greatest pitching duels of all time. Then again, the game could also very well come down to which team has the better bullpen on Friday.

There is, however, one very significant tidbit that could come into play on Friday night. Nationals slugger Bryce Harper has not fared well against Kershaw. In fact, he has been downright awful against the Dodgers ace.

Kershaw has flat out owned Bryce Harper over the years.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But as we all know, the game of baseball is played on grass … not on paper.

Play Ball!