LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw outpitched Max Scherzer in a matchup for the ages, and Mookie Betts homered and drove in three runs to steer the Los Angeles Dodgers previous the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Friday evening.
The primary duo in MLB historical past to start out towards one another as rookies and accumulate 3,000 profession strikeouts, Kershaw and Scherzer threw six efficient innings in entrance of a sellout crowd of 53,825.
The 37-year-old Kershaw (6-2) allowed one run and 7 hits, placing out 4. The 41-year-old Scherzer (2-2) gave up two runs and 6 hits. He struck out 5 and walked three.
It is the fourth time Scherzer and Kershaw have opposed one another. The primary time was sudden. Corridor of Famers Randy Johnson of Arizona and Greg Maddux of the Dodgers have been scratched on Sept. 7, 2008. Their replacements have been rookies Scherzer, then 24, and Kershaw, then 20, who every obtained a no-decision.
Opponents.
Associates.
Legends of our recreation.Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw swapped jerseys after their historic assembly on the mound. pic.twitter.com/Fs0lhLHqpz
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 9, 2025
Kershaw improved to 3-1 with a 3.54 ERA in 5 profession begins towards Scherzer, together with the playoffs. Kershaw is one in every of two beginning pitchers — and the one lively one — to beat Scherzer thrice over his profession (Kevin Correia is the opposite).
Scherzer made his 465th profession begin. Kershaw began his 443rd recreation — all for the Dodgers over 18 seasons.
Each longtime aces have received three Cy Younger Awards and are possible headed to the Baseball Corridor of Fame.
Betts gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead with a two-run homer off Scherzer within the fifth. With two outs, Shohei Ohtani hit a ground-rule double. Betts adopted with a 389-foot shot to left discipline for his first homer since July 5, snapping a 23-game homerless drought — his second longest as a Dodger and longest this season.
Los Angeles tacked on three runs within the seventh. Betts knocked within the first one with a grounder, and Ohtani scored when reliever Louis Varland issued a bases-loaded stroll to Will Smith. Teoscar Hernández added a sacrifice fly that plated Betts.
Ohtani completed with three hits and scored twice.
Daulton Varsho had three hits for the Blue Jays, who took a 1-0 lead on Addison Barger‘s two-strike RBI single off Kershaw within the second.
Toronto’s three-game successful streak was snapped within the matchup of division leaders.
ESPN Analysis and The Related Press contributed to this report.