Scherzer eager to team up with Kershaw in Dodgers rotation

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw were part of the same draft class. Now they get to be on the same team.

In his first comments since being acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Washington Nationals in a blockbuster trade last Friday, Scherzer said he's eager to team up with Kershaw and join a talented rotation as the defending World Series champions try to overtake the San Francisco Giants in the NL West.

“It’s been great to compete against him. And you know, you push yourself to try to try to match what he can do. Now we get to be on the same team and actually compete for the same prize,” Scherzer said before Tuesday night's game against Houston.

Scherzer is set to make his Dodgers debut on Wednesday night when he faces the Astros.

Scherzer was the 11th overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2006 amateur draft while Kershaw went seventh to the Dodgers. Both have been among the pre-eminent pitchers of their generation. Each has won three Cy Young Awards and made appearances in eight All-Star games.

They won't team up immediately, though. Kershaw remains on the injured list due to left elbow inflammation.

“As this keeps going along we’ll be able to share more tips and tricks of how we think and how we both have evolved over the years of how we see the game now and how we can pitch around things,” sad Scherzer, who is 8-4 with a 2.76 ERA and is fifth in the NL with 147 strikeouts.

Scherzer, who the Dodgers acquired along with Trea Turner for right-handers Josiah Gray and Gerardo Carrillo, catcher Keibert Ruiz and outfielder Donovan Casey, said he had two requests for Nationals GM Mike Rizzo — to remain in the National League and go to a warm-weather city.

There were a couple hours where rumors had the San Diego Padres closing in on a...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Scherzer-eager-to-team-up-with-Kershaw-in-Dodgers-16361864.php