The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 2-1 on Thursday night to advance to the NLCS.

Max Scherzer's first career save nailed down the win for the Dodgers.

"No question I was ready," he said. "I told them I was hot. I knew my arm felt great, so if you want it, you got it."

In the fourth inning, Scherzer headed for the bullpen, even though he knew he wouldn't be used until the late innings, if at all. He went down there, he said, "to get comfortable, feel what it was like, be with the boys." Asked what he and the boys talked about, Scherzer said, "You know -- baseball talk. Fantasy football trades."