The Nationals advanced to the World Series to face the American League pennant-winning Houston Astros. This championship quest aligned Scherzer against old rotation mate Justin Verlander, that year's AL Cy Young winner. However, the pair did not face each other directly in any starts. Scherzer pitched Games 1 and 7, both in Houston. He was removed from a planned Game 5 start because of pain in his neck, for which he received a cortisone shot. Although he struggled in both starts, leaving multiple men on base in most innings, his team won both games, giving the Nationals the clinching victory to win the World Series over the Astros. It was the first championship in franchise history and first for Scherzer.