In one clubhouse, Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw is preparing for the last game of a Hall of Fame career.
Kershaw has handled just one at-bat in this World Series, inducing an inning-ending grounder in the 12th inning of a marathon Game 3. That would be a beautiful ending to his career, especially if there’s champagne in his future tonight, but Game 7 demands all hands on deck. He’ll be ready to go if called upon.
Among Kershaw’s bona fides on his surefire Hall of Fame resume: a 2.53 career ERA, 223 wins, 3,052 strikeouts, three Cy Young wins, an MVP award, a pitching Triple Crown, a Gold Glove, five ERA titles, 11 All-Star selections. All that remains is determining how many World Series rings he’ll take into retirement.
In the other clubhouse, there’s a pitcher probably already pacing and pawing at the proverbial dirt. Max Scherzer is a madman on the mound, and he’s taking the baseball in Game 7 hoping to deliver a vintage performance on the grandest stage. It’s unknown whether the 41-year-old will continue to pitch beyond this season. But would there be a better way to bow out than to the roars of a red-hot Rogers Centre crowd as the Blue Jays capture their first World Series since Scherzer was 9?
No, there would not.
Scherzer’s career accomplishments include a 3.22 career ERA, 221 wins, 3,489 strikeouts, three Cy Young awards, eight All-Star selections and two World Series rings. So far.