Scherzer and Kershaw square off in rare duel of 3,000-strikeout club members

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.”

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

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer celebrates after striking out Los Angeles Dodgers' Andy Pages to end the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws to the plate during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the second inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves for his NHL-leading fifth shutout of the season, Anthony Duclair scored the game's only goal in the third period on the power play and the New York Islanders edged the Edmonton Oilers 1-0 on Thursday night.

Duclair broke the deadlock with 6:18 remaining in the third period after Calum Ritchie sent a backhand pass to him. Mathew Barzal also assisted on the goal, giving him 500 career points in his 576th game over 10 NHL seasons.

Leon Draisaitl — whose tripping penalty put the Islanders on the power play for their goal — nearly tied it with just over 30 seconds left, but his shot in close hit off the far post to the right of Sorokin.

Connor McDavid, who would've had an assist if Draisaitl's shot went in, had his 20-game points streak end. He joined Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey as the only three players in Oilers franchise history to have a points streak of at least 20 games.

It was the 27th career shutout for Sorokin, extending his franchise record. It was the Islanders' first shutout in Edmonton since Billy Smith also stopped 35 shots in New York's 2-0 victory in Game 1 of the 1983 Stanley Cup Final.

The Islanders, who have won four of six overall, had lost their last six games in Edmonton, dating to 2017. They were 1-12-0 against the Oilers in Edmonton since the 2007-08 season.

Connor Ingram made 17 saves for the Oilers, who have dropped three of their last four.

Islanders: Play at Calgary on Saturday.

Oilers: Play at Vancouver on Saturday night.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL

New York Islanders' Matthew Schaefer (48) takes a shot on net against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers goalie Connor Ingram (39) makes a save against New York Islanders' Kyle MacLean (32) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Islanders' Anthony Duclair (11) celebrates with his teammates at the bench after a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Islanders' Ilya Sorokin (30) makes a save the against Edmonton Oilers during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Islanders' Calum Ritchie (64) checks Edmonton Oilers' Curtis Lazar (20) in front of Islanders' goalie Ilya Sorokin (30) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)