Los Angeles Teams

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

Max Scherzer, on what he admires about Clayton Kershaw: "He attacks the zone, doesn't walk guys. He brings it every single time. ... He goes out there and competes as well as anybody."

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

Max Scherzer was asked if he was excited about the game today, given the opponent. "Yeah. I mean, isn't that obvious? I've always said, ‘You don't measure yourself against the worst; you measure yourself against the best.' I've always thought that."

Scherzer, Nationals best Kershaw, Dodgers (0:53)

ESPN Stats and Information  

Shohei Ohtani went 2-4 against the Giants on Friday where he picked up his first hits against a National League team.

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

Clayton Kershaw surrendered nine hits, the most he has given up since May 28 of last season, and Max Scherzer made some big pitches to get out of some tough jams. The Nationals win, 5-2, and improve to .500. The Dodgers are now two games under.

Trout smacks solo homer (0:26)
Soldier surprises wife at Dodgers' game (0:19)

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

Somehow, Clayton Kershaw outlasted Max Scherzer. He went 7 innings, giving up 4 runs on 9 hits with 0 walks and 4 strikeouts. Scherzer: 6 innings, 1 run, 4 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts.

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

Yasiel Puig snaps the Dodgers' 0-for-6 RISP with a two-out RBI single into left field. Dodger Stadium has come to life.

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

Clayton Kershaw gave up three runs in 45 prior regular-season innings against the Nationals. Tonight, he has allowed four runs through six.

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

Max Scherzer dumped a base hit into shallow right field against Clayton Kershaw, raising his batting average to .333 this season. The next batter, Trea Turner, perfectly executed a safety squeeze, making it 3-0 in the 5th. Scherzer hasn't allowed more than two runs in four prior starts this year.

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

The Dodgers have put a runner in scoring position in three of the first four innings, but have yet to push a run across versus Max Scherzer, It's still 2-0, Nats.

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

We're back to normal now. Clayton Kershaw has retired 11 in a row since that first-inning onslaught, three of them via strikeout.

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

Bryce Harper just struck out for the 15th time in 25 career at-bats against Clayton Kershaw. Lefties came in OPS'ing .560 against him for his career, so, yeah, makes sense.

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

Clayton Kershaw's first three pitches: Double, deep flyout, RBI single. Max Scherzer's first two pitches: Triple, hit by pitch.

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

Nations manager Dave Martinez said his team has to be aggressive because Clayton Kershaw will fill up the strike zone. His team swung at the game's first three pitches — double, deep fly out, single to right, giving the Nats a 1-0 lead.

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer are the game's two best pitchers, and that shouldn't really be up for debate. They've claimed 4 of the last 5 Cy Young Awards and 6 total. They finished 1 and 2 in Cy Young voting last year, and they're on track to do so again. But we've never been treated to a great matchup between them. They faced each other as rookies in 2008 and in the playoffs in the 2016 NLDS. Neither was at his best in those starts.

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said "if you can't enjoy" Clayton Kershaw versus Max Scherzer "you shouldn't be a baseball fan," which sounds harsh. On getting to Kershaw: "You have to be aggressive. He's going to be in the strike zone, so get a pitch you can hit."

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, on Clayton Kershaw versus Max Scherzer: "They're the best competitors in the game. Obviously the stuff, the execution — they're pretty much in a league by themselves. We understand this is April, but the intensity already in the clubhouse with great pitching and knowing who we're playing, it's that kind of playoff mindset. It's an important baseball game."

Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer 

Just Yasiel Puig having a casual pregame chat with Don Newcombe. He does it every chance he gets.