by Rowan Kavner
There was a time leading into the trade deadline that Dodger President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman got “spooked” for a moment. Rumors circulated that the Padres were close to acquiring Max Scherzer. Friedman remained steadfast in his pursuit of the Nationals ace, still confident in his own discussions about the three-time Cy Young Award winner.
On Thursday at Petco Park, looking comfortable again in his fifth start as a Dodger, Scherzer made the Padres’ lives miserable for 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a 4–0 win. He struck out 10 batters and allowed just two hits and a walk in the latest gem from a Dodger starter to sweep the division rivals.
“He’s been huge,” said manager Dave Roberts. “He’s been better than advertised. I knew that there was a work ethic, a compete, a fire. But I didn’t realize the preparation. He knows exactly what he wants to do when he takes that mound.”
Scherzer was throwing to a different target Thursday. After four productive starts with Will Smith behind the plate, Scherzer thrived again while pitching to Austin Barnes for the first time.
Barnes helped Scherzer out with a two-run home run off Yu Darvish to start the scoring. The Dodgers scored four runs in six innings against Darvish, who had allowed only one run in each of his first three starts against the Dodgers this year.
“He’s tough,” Barnes said. “Luckily enough I got a ball in the middle and put a good swing on it. Getting a couple runs off Darvish and having Scherzer on the mound, it’s a big boost.”
Scherzer said he has “a ton of respect” for a San Diego lineup that tagged him for 11 runs in 10 2/3 innings over two July starts a month ago. He learned from his mistakes. Scherzer overpowered the Padres from the start Thursday evening, striking out the side in the first inning and collecting eight strikeouts through his first four scoreless innings.
Rather than focus on Scherzer’s shortcomings against the Padres earlier this year, Barnes instead zeroed in on what Scherzer liked to do in his first four starts as a Dodger. He tried to get a feel for how the decorated right-hander attacked lefties and righties.
Barnes noticed a lot of similarities Thursday to another three-time Cy Young Award winner on the staff.
“Him and Kersh (Clayton Kershaw), with their competitiveness and the way they attack the zone, they know how to pitch,” Barnes said. “They know their mix. They can go off script a little bit and feel hitters out at a pretty high level. It was fun today. I can see why he’s had so much success in his career.”
Scherzer described the transition from Smith to Barnes as seamless, in part because of the low target both catchers offer him.
After a 16-inning game the night prior, Scherzer’s top goal was to pitch as deep as he could into Thursday’s ballgame. The fifth inning threatened to prevent that.
Padres center fielder Trent Grisham began the inning with a double. Then first baseman Jurickson Profar was hit by a pitch. Scherzer still escaped the inning on just 11 pitches after a strikeout and a nifty double play started by third baseman Justin Turner to second baseman Trea Turner.
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“That really changed the complexion of the game, kept my pitch count under control and allowed me to continue to pitch deep into this game,” Scherzer said.
It was the longest outing of Scherzer’s month with the Dodgers and the latest flawless outing from a Dodger starter in San Diego. Walker Buehler, Julio Urías and Scherzer combined to surrender just one unearned run in 19 1/3 innings over the three-game series.
As a team, Dodger pitchers held the Padres to five runs (three earned) on 10 hits in 34 innings during the sweep.
“When starting pitchers can go out there and do their jobs, pitch deep into ballgames, it puts everybody in their roles where they feel comfortable,” Scherzer said.
Scherzer has looked plenty comfortable himself since getting traded to Los Angeles.
He now has a 1.55 ERA with 41 strikeouts and five walks as a Dodger since being acquired with Nationals teammate Trea Turner at the deadline.
“It’s been great,” Scherzer said. “This is a great clubhouse. Having Trea with me as well, I really feel like the life change has been as seamless as possible. I feel like it’s been harder on my wife and kids than it has been on me. This has been a great team to join. We’ve been playing great baseball. To come in day after day, come in this clubhouse, just know if you go out there and do your job you’ve got a great chance to win, that’s what you want as a player.”
Dodger pitching dominates Padres in sweep capped by Scherzer’s gem was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
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