Max Scherzer flirts with top ten on all-time strikeout list
The three-time Cy Young winner had five strikeouts in his second start of the 2024 MLB season, pushing him past Greg Maddux and just outside the top ten.
Max Scherzer is one of the best pitchers in the last 15 years in MLB, a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame, and is on the verge of become one of the most outstanding pitchers in history. The Texas Rangers right-handed pitcher entered the game against the Baltimore Orioles tied with Greg Maddux for 11th on the all-time strikeout list with 3,371.
Mad Max broke that tie in the second inning by serving Ramón Urías a mix of fastballs and sliders. In the end, Scheerzer finished the game with four more strikeouts to reach 3,376 after pitching 5.1 innings against the Orioles at Oriole Park.
Scherzer’s work during his career has been spectacular as he achieved that amount in 2844.2 innings over 17 seasons. By contrast, Maddux needed 5008.1 innings to reach that number in 23 professional MLB seasons.
The pitchers with the most strikeouts in Major League history
For Scherzer to sneak into the Top 10 of strikeouts, he needs two more seasons with at least 150 Ks. That tenth spot belongs to Justin Verlander with 3393. Beyond that lies Walter Johnson, who totaled 3509 Ks in 29 seasons.
The all-time strikeout leader is Nolan Ryan and his mark is unattainable. The Hall of Famer racked up a stunning 5,714 strikeouts in 27 years as a professional, divided between the New York Mets, the California Angels, the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers.