Clayton Kershaw and Mookie Betts led the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5–1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night at Dodger Stadium, as Kershaw won a rare duel with fellow three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer. The Dodgers, who entered the game as -140 betting favorites, pulled away late to end Toronto’s three-game winning streak.
In a matchup featuring two of baseball’s most accomplished pitchers and the newest members of the 3,000-strikeout club, both starters worked six innings and kept their teams in the game. Kershaw, 37, allowed one run on seven hits, striking out four without issuing a walk to improve to 6–2 on the season. Scherzer, 41, gave up two runs on six hits, striking out five and walking three in his fourth start of the year.
The Blue Jays struck first in the second inning when Daulton Varsho singled and scored on a two-strike RBI single from Addison Barger. Toronto carried the 1–0 lead into the fifth inning, when Betts delivered the game’s turning point. After Shohei Ohtani lined a ground-rule double to right-center, Betts launched a 389-foot two-run homer to left field, giving Los Angeles a 2–1 advantage. Betts’ first home run since July 5 ended a nearly month-long drought.
The Dodgers extended their lead in the seventh inning with a three-run rally. Betts drove in his third run of the night with a shortstop ground ball, resulting in a fielder’s choice at the plate. Toronto challenged the call after catcher Alejandro Kirk applied a tag to Alex Freeland’s legs as he slid toward home, but video review upheld the ruling, making it 3–1. Ohtani then scored on a bases-loaded walk to Will Smith, issued by reliever Louis Varland, and Teoscar Hernández added a sacrifice fly to bring in Betts for the final run.
Ohtani finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored, continuing his strong offensive production. Betts went 1-for-4 but was responsible for three RBIs and two runs scored. The Dodgers’ offense tallied 10 hits on the night and took advantage of key opportunities with runners in scoring position.
Kershaw and Scherzer’s head-to-head meeting was a focal point for the sellout crowd 53,825. Both pitchers, future Hall of Famers, showcased their durability and command in a game that remained tight until the Dodgers broke it open in the late innings. Kershaw has now gone at least six innings in six consecutive starts and earned his first win since mid-July. Scherzer, meanwhile, has allowed three runs or fewer in all four of his outings this season.
Varsho had three hits for the Blue Jays, who slipped to 65–48 but remain atop the American League East standings. The Dodgers improved to 67–48, maintaining their lead in the National League West.
The series continues Saturday as Toronto sends right-hander Chris Bassitt (11–5, 4.12 ERA) to the mound against Los Angeles left-hander Blake Snell (1–1, 3.21 ERA).