At ESPN, David Schoenfield discusses and compares the trio, starting with the history counterfactual that all three could have been early-career teammates on the Tigers.
I like that he moves from WAR to WAA, which I think is a better comparison stat, in part because it's based on comps with actual MLB peers, rather than hypothetical "AAAA" replacement players. Kershaw comes out well ahead on this.
But, he offers reasons to argue for all three.
23 comments
Kershaw, Scherzer, Verlander. In that order
# Scherzer
Kersh!
Scherzer for me, nobody else pitched two no hitters in the same season and **a 20 strikeout game.**
Verlander is my goat! Best of the three!
now?
Kershaw is the best pitcher, but Verlander is married to Kate Upton, so, …¯_(ツ)_/¯
Kershaw all day
In the postseason, not Kershaw
If the game is tomorrow, I’m taking Max. If it was ten years ago, I’ll also take Max. If it was fifteen years ago, I’d take Verlander.
Combined 167 years old.
Was Roger Clemens not available?
Career? Verlander, Scherzer, Kershaw — Peak? Kershaw, Scherzer, Verlander
In retrospect, Verlander because he’s the most certified big game pitcher based on results and the eye test.
If all three were starting off their careers in the same rotation, Kershaw would get first crack at being my ace. Lefty aces are more valuable in my opinion.
Kershaw for me. I like lefty starting pitchers and not many lefties in the last 20 years have been better than Kershaw. Triple Crown winner, multiple ERA titles, Cy Youngs, Roberto Clemente award etc.
Edit: Also a 2.53 career ERA which is insane
Depends on whether or not the opposing team is using a waste receptacle percussion instrument in the dugout
At their peak powers…Kershaw. Of the 3 he probably has the best single tool that also doesn’t give up HRs at all
Mad Max fo sho
Seeing enough other comments, I’ll offer my thoughts. If an ace is for the postseason as well as the regular season, and as a Cards fan, and looking back on the days when we were a playoff power, and how much of Kershaw’s postseason struggle was at the hands of the Cards?
I don’t know whether I would vote more Scherzer or more Verlander, but I couldn’t put Kershaw first.
I’d take Scherzer
Gotta go Verlander, Scherzer, then Kershaw. Kershaw being so significantly worse in the postseason he’s gotta be last
They were all brilliant, but I always feel the need to point out that had Kershaw not run into back issues starting in 2016 he would at minimum have five Cy Young’s. It’s wild to think that statistically one of the greatest pitchers of all time is also a “what if” case.
if the martians have the death beam pointed at earth, i want prime max scherzer
I would argue that Kershaw is top 5 guys all time