Dodgers’ Max Scherzer on facing SF Giants: ‘It’s personal to them, it’s personal to us’

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LOS ANGELES — The last time Dodgers right-hander Max Scherzer faced the Giants in the playoffs, Buster Posey launched a go-ahead home run against the eight-time All-Star.

Scherzer didn’t take the loss for the Tigers in Game 4 of the 2012 World Series, but he saw first-hand how dangerous Posey can be in the postseason.

“He’s great hitter. He knows what he’s doing at the plate,” Scherzer said Sunday. “I’ve faced him a handful of times. I think we traded paint. He’s got me. I’ve gotten him. So it should be a good matchup.”

The Tigers entered the World Series as favorites over the Giants, but Posey and Co. secured an unlikely sweep to clinch the team’s second title in three seasons.

“We can’t believe that we didn’t (win),” Scherzer said Sunday. “Unfortunately we had one shot at it, wasn’t able to get it done, but we had some great, great teams there in Detroit.”

Nine years after their last postseason matchup, Posey’s 107-win Giants are considered underdogs again, especially in their NLDS Game 3 showdown with Scherzer, who has not lost as a member of the Dodgers since joining Los Angeles in a blockbuster deadline trade.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner was on the mound in the National League wild card game, but only lasted 4 1/3 innings against the Cardinals as St. Louis hitters ran Scherzer’s pitch count up before manager Dave Roberts removed him in favor of reliever Joe Kelly.

On Monday, Scherzer is back in action against former Dodgers lefty Alex Wood, who will make his 21st postseason appearance and first as a starter since pitching for Los Angeles during the 2017 World Series against the Astros.

With the best-of-five series tied 1-1, Scherzer is new to the rivalry but well aware of the stakes.

“Our Dodger fan base definitely wants us to definitely beat the Giants,” Scherzer said. “It’s personal to them, so it’s personal to us. We want to win, we respect the heck out of the Giants and what they, how good they are, but you got to go out there and believe that you can beat them.”

Scherzer had high praise for Posey and shortstop Brandon Crawford, who went 1-for-3 in Game 4 of the 2012 World Series, but also complimented the Giants’ big trade deadline acquisition, Kris Bryant. Bryant went 0-for-4 in Game 2 but homered and had three hits against Walker Buehler in the Giants’ 4-0 win in Game 1.

“(The Giants) just have different ways to beat you with different types of bats, righties, lefties,” Scherzer said. “Their bats right now are Bryant and Crawford and Posey. I mean, that’s the heart of their order and they’re getting a lot of production out of it. And then the bats that surround it as well.”

Scherzer hasn’t faced the Giants as a member of the Dodgers and only lasted six pitches in a June 11 start for the Washington Nationals against San Francisco as he exited with a groin injury. Despite the lack of on-field familiarity in 2021, Scherzer has paid close attention to the Giants’ strengths.

“You have to execute every pitch that you throw because if you make mistakes against this team — they led the league in homers for a reason,” Scherzer said. “So obviously they can take it deep if you make a mistake.”

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