Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw joins SportsCenter from Spring Training to talk about growing up with Lions QB Matthew Stafford, replacing Zack Greinke and his detailed pregame ritual. (3:19)

Kershaw on Greinke: You can't replace him with just one guy (3:19)

Clayton Kershaw has one of the best arms in Major League Baseball. He’s won the Cy Young Award three times, threw a no-hitter and has been a dominant pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

On Thursday, though, Kershaw said one of his high school teammates has a better arm. The teammate is Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has one of the strongest arms in the NFL.

“I think Matthew’s probably got the better arm,” Kershaw said on SportsCenter. “Put it this way, he can definitely throw a baseball better than I can throw a football. I’ll probably give him the edge.”

Matthew Stafford "can definitely throw a baseball better than I can throw a football," Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw said of his childhood friend. L.G. Patterson/AP Photo

Stafford caught Kershaw when the two were baseball teammates at Highland Park High School in Texas. They grew up playing on various teams together and have gone on to become among the top players in their respective sports.

And Kershaw thinks if Stafford had stuck with baseball, instead of playing football in college at Georgia, he could have had a career in that sport as well.

“Matthew had a great feel for the game,” Kershaw said. “I think he definitely could have played in college if he wanted to keep going.

“But you know what, I think football is working out for him OK.”

Stafford became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft. He is the starting quarterback for the Lions and threw for 25,000 yards faster than anyone else in NFL history.