World Series: Scherzer vs. Cole and the best matchups ever
By Bill Felber
Chris Sale vs. Clayton Kershaw, Game 1, 2018, 351 ERA+
The ace of Boston’s American League champions, Sale was the League’s dominant pitcher in 2018. He was 12-4 in 27 starts encompassing 158 innings, all of that adding up to an All-Star game selection, fourth place in Cy Young Award voting, and a 209 ERA+. Statistically, that meant Sale was more than twice as effective as the average AL pitcher in 2018.
Kershaw, meanwhile, was Kershaw. In 26 starts for the National League champion Dodgers, he compiled only a 9-5 record with a dozen no-decisions, but did so on a 2.73 earned run average and while averaging nearly a strikeout per inning. That added up to a 142 ERA+.
Naturally, their respective managers selected Sale and Kershaw to open the 2018 World Series. The Dodgers tapped Sale for five hits and three runs in the first four innings, prompting Boston manager Alex Cora to remove his ace in the fifth, the game tied at 3-3.
When Kershaw got into immediate trouble in the bottom of the fifth, Dodger manager Dave Roberts did the same thing. His relief allowed both runners put on base by Kershaw to score, hanging him with an eventual 8-4 defeat.
Kershaw and Sale would both pitch in one more Series game, although they did not face each other. Kershaw started and lost the fifth and deciding game 5-1 to David Price. After Kershaw was lifted, Sale came on to pitch the ninth and record the Series-clinching out.