MLB STRIKEOUT RECORDS SET BY PITCHERS

Major League Baseball Strikeout Records Set by Pitchers | Baseball Almanac

Strikeouts records set by pitchers — including most career strikeouts, single season strikeout plateaus, game related strikeout records and several more strikeout records set by pitchers. Research by Baseball Almanac.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"It gave me no chance. He (Nolan Ryan) just blew it (his 5,000th career strikeout) by me. But its an honor. I'll have another paragraph in all the baseball books. I'm already in the books three or four times." - Rickey Henderson

Strikeout Records for Pitchers

Career Strikeout Records for Pitchers

Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
In A Career | Top 1,000
AL Roger Clemens Boston 2,590 4,167
Toronto 563
New York 1,014
NL Steve Carlton St. Louis 951 4,000
Philadelphia 3,031
San Francisco 18
ML Nolan Ryan California [AL] 2,416 5,714
Texas [AL] 939
New York [NL] 493
Houston [NL] 1,866
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
In A Career | Lefthander
AL CC Sabathia Cleveland 1,265 2,846
Milwaukee 128
New York 1,453
NL Steve Carlton St. Louis 951 4,000
Philadelphia 3,031
San Francisco 18
ML Randy Johnson Montreal [NL] 51 4,875
Seattle [AL] 2,162
Houston [NL] 116
Arizona [NL] 2,077
New York [AL] 383
San Francisco [NL] 86
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
In A Career | Righthander
AL Roger Clemens Boston 2,590 4,167
Toronto 563
New York 1,014
NL Greg Maddux Chicago 1,305 3,371
Atlanta 1,828
Los Angeles 54
San Diego 184
ML Nolan Ryan California [AL] 2,416 5,714
Texas [AL] 939
New York [NL] 493
Houston [NL] 1,866
Most Games
In A Career | 10+ Strikeouts
AL Nolan Ryan California 114 148
Texas 34
NL Randy Johnson Montreal 1 114
Houston 7
Arizona 106
San Francisco 0
ML Nolan Ryan California [AL] 114 215
Texas [AL] 34
New York [NL] 14
Houston [NL] 53
Most Games
In A Career | 15+ Strikeouts
AL Nolan Ryan California 19 23
Texas 4
NL Randy Johnson Montreal 0 12
Houston 1
Arizona 11
San Francisco 0
ML Randy Johnson Montreal [NL] 0 29
Seattle [AL] 17
Houston [NL] 1
Arizona [NL] 11
New York [AL] 0
San Francisco [NL] 0

Strikeout Record for Pitchers

Game Specific Strikeout Records for Pitchers

Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
In A 9-Inning Game
AL Roger Clemens Boston 20 04-29-1986
Roger Clemens Boston 09-18-1996
NL Max Scherzer Washington 20 05-11-2016
Kerry Wood Chicago 05-06-1998
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
In a 9-Inning Game | Lefthander
AL Randy Johnson Seattle 19 06-24-1997
Randy Johnson Seattle 08-08-1997
NL Steve Carlton St. Louis 19 09-15-1969
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
In a 9-Inning Game | Righthander
AL Roger Clemens Boston 20 04-29-1986
Roger Clemens Boston 09-18-1996
NL Max Scherzer Washington 20 05-11-2016
Kerry Wood Chicago 05-06-1998
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
In a 9-Inning Game
By A Rookie | 1st Game Ever
AL Elmer Myers Philadelphia 12 10-06-1915
Steve Woodard Milwaukee 07-28-1997
NL J.R. Richard Houston 15 09-05-1971
Karl Spooner Brooklyn 09-22-1954

Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
In a 9-Inning Game | * = Or Less
Consecutively

Bold = League Leader

AL Tyler Alexander * Detroit 9 08-02-2020
Andrew Heaney * Texas 04-10-2023
Doug Fister Detroit 09-27-2012
Roger Clemens Boston 8 04-29-1986
Ron Davis New York 05-04-1981
Nolan Ryan California 07-09-1972
Nolan Ryan California 08-07-1973
Blake Stein Kansas City 06-17-2001
NL Corbin Burnes Milwaukee 10 08-11-2021
Aaron Nola * Philadelphia 06-25-2021
Tom Seaver New York 04-22-1970
Jacob deGrom * New York 9 04-17-2021
Aaron Harang Los Angeles 04-13-2012
Pablo López Miami 07-11-2021
Ricky Nolasco Florida 09-30-2009
Jake Peavy San Diego 04-25-2007
Max Scherzer Washington 10-03-2015
Mickey Welch New York 08-28-1884

Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
Consecutively | In Multiple Games

AL Carlos Rodon Chicago (3 SO) 10 09-25-2016
Chicago (7 SO) 09-30-2016
NL Eric Gagne Los Angeles (2 SO) 10 05-17-2003
Los Angeles (3 SO) 05-18-2003
Los Angeles (3 SO) 05-20-2003
Los Angeles (2 SO) 05-21-2003
Pablo López Miami (1 SO) 07-06-2021
Miami (9 SO) 07-11-2021

Most Strikeouts | Starting Pitcher
Consecutively | From 1st Batter

Bold = League Leader

AL Joe Cowley Chicago 7 05-28-1986
Carlos Rodon Chicago 09-30-2016
NL Pablo López Miami 9 07-11-2021
Mickey Welch New York 08-28-1884
Jacob deGrom New York 8 09-15-2014
Jim Deshaies Houston 09-23-1986
German Marquez Colorado 09-26-2018
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
In An Extra Inning Game
AL Tom Cheney
(Pitched 16 Innings)
Washington 21 09-12-1962
16 Innings
NL Randy Johnson
(Pitched 9 Innings)
Arizona 20 05-08-2001
11 Innings

Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
In An Opening Day Game
(13-or-more Strikeouts List)

Bold = League Leader

AL Camilo Pascual Washington 15 04-18-1960
AL Randy Johnson Seattle 14 04-06-1993
AL Randy Johnson Seattle 14 03-31-1996
NL Don Drysdale Los Angeles 14 04-12-1960
AL Shane Bieber Cleveland 14 07-24-2020
NL Lon Warneke Chicago 13 04-17-1934
NL Bob Gibson St. Louis 13 04-11-1967
NL J.R. Richard Houston 13 04-10-1980
AL Dave McNally Baltimore 13 04-07-1970
Most Strikeouts by a Relief Pitcher
In A Game | 9-Innings
AL Denny McLain Detroit 14 06-15-1965
NL Randy Johnson Arizona 16 07-18-2001

Strikeout Records for Pitchers

Inning-by-Inning Specific Strikeout Records for Pitchers

Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
Through the 1st Inning
AL Charlie Hough Texas 4 07-04-1988
Matt Young Seattle 09-09-1990
Chuck Finley Anaheim 08-15-1999
NL A.J. Burnett Florida 4 07-05-2002
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
Through the 2nd Inning
AL Too Many To List - 6 -
NL Darren Dreifort Los Angeles 7 05-22-2003
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
Through the 3rd Inning
AL Herb Score Cleveland 9 05-01-1955
Alex Cobb Tampa Bay 05-10-2013
NL Mickey Welch New York 9 08-28-1884
Don Wilson Houston 07-14-1968
Sid Fernandez New York 07-30-1986
Aaron Harang Los Angeles 04-13-2012
Max Scherzer Washington 06-06-2017
German Marquez Colorado 09-26-2018
Pablo López Miami 07-11-2021
Spencer Strider Atlanta 07-07-2022
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
Through the 4th Inning
AL Nolan Ryan California 11 04-08-1978
Zack Greinke Los Angeles 09-25-2012
Alex Cobb Tampa Bay 05-10-2013
NL Randy Johnson Arizona 11 06-03-2001
Randy Johnson Arizona 07-04-2001
Jake Arrieta Chicago 06-05-2016
Max Scherzer Washington 06-06-2017
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
Through the 5th Inning
AL Randy Johnson Seattle 13 09-27-1992
Randy Johnson Seattle 06-24-1997
Zack Greinke Los Angeles 09-25-2012
Alex Cobb Tampa Bay 05-10-2013
NL Don Wilson Houston 13 07-14-1968
Max Scherzer Washington 05-06-2018
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
Through the 6th Inning
AL Randy Johnson Seattle 16 09-27-1992
NL David Cone New York 15 10-06-1991
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
Through the 7th Inning
AL Roger Clemens Boston 17 09-18-1996
Chris Sale Boston 05-14-2019
NL Don Wilson Houston 16 07-14-1968
Bill Gullickson Montreal 09-10-1980
Ramon Martinez Los Angeles 06-04-1990
Randy Johnson Arizona 08-23-2001
Randy Johnson Arizona 09-27-2001
Jake Peavy San Diego 05-22-2006
Jake Peavy San Diego 04-25-2007
Cliff Lee Philadelphia 05-06-2011
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
Through the 8th Inning
AL Roger Clemens Boston 19 09-18-1996
NL Ramon Martinez Los Angeles 18 06-04-1990
Kerry Wood Chicago 05-06-1998
Randy Johnson Arizona 05-08-2001
Max Scherzer Washington 05-11-2016
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
Through the 9th Inning
AL Roger Clemens Boston 20 04-29-1986
Roger Clemens Boston 09-18-1996
NL Kerry Wood Chicago 20 05-06-1998
Randy Johnson Arizona 05-08-2001
Max Scherzer Washington 05-11-2016

Strikeout Records for Pitchers

Single Season Strikeout Records for Pitchers

Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
In A Season | Top 500
AA Matt Kilroy Baltimore 513 1886
AL Nolan Ryan California 383 1973
NL Old Hoss Radbourn Providence 441 1884
UA Hugh Daily Chic./Pitt,, Washington 483 1884
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
In A Season | Lefthander
AA Matt Kilroy Baltimore 513 1886
AL Rube Waddell Philadelphia 349 1904
NL Sandy Koufax Los Angeles 382 1965
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
In A Season | Relief Pitcher
AL Dick Radatz Boston 181 1964
NL Brad Lidge Houston 157 2004
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
In A Season | Righthander
AL Nolan Ryan California 383 1973
NL Old Hoss Radbourn Providence 441 1884
UA Hugh Daily Chic./Pitt., Washington 483 1884
Most Strikeouts by a Pitcher
In A Season | Rookie
AA Matt Kilroy Baltimore 513 1886
AL Herb Score Cleveland 245 1955
NL Dwight Gooden New York 276 1984
Most Games
In A Season | 10+ Strikeouts
AL Nolan Ryan California 23 1973
NL Randy Johnson Arizona 23 1999
Randy Johnson Arizona 2000
Randy Johnson Arizona 2001
Most Games
In A Season (CONSECUTIVELY)
With 10+ Strikeouts
AL Gerrit Cole Houston 9 08-07-2019
09-29-2019
NL Randy Johnson Arizona 7 04-13-2001
05-13-2001
Most Seasons
With 100+ Strikeouts
AL Roger Clemens Boston 12 19
Toronto 2
New York 5
NL Greg Maddux Chicago 8 21
Atlanta 11
Chicago/LA 1
San Diego 1
ML Nolan Ryan California [AL] 8 24
Texas [AL] 4
New York [NL] 3
Houston [NL] 9
Most Seasons
With 200+ Strikeouts
AL Roger Clemens Boston 8 11
Toronto 2
New York 1
NL Tom Seaver New York 9 10
Cincinnati 1
ML Nolan Ryan California [AL] 7 15
Texas [AL] 3
Houston [NL] 5
Most Seasons
With 300+ Strikeouts
AL Nolan Ryan California 5 6
Texas 1
NL Randy Johnson Arizona 4 4
ML Nolan Ryan California 5 6
Texas 1
Randy Johnson Seattle [AL] 1
Seattle [AL] / Houston [NL] 1
Arizona [NL] 4
Strikeout Records Set by Pitchers | Research by Baseball Almanac
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baseball almanac fast facts

Only a handful of pitchers, during the same inning, have thrown exactly nine pitches, recorded exactly nine strikes, and retired the side in an inning of play; a truly amazing pitching feat that we've researched on Baseball Almanac.

On July 25, 1913, Walter Johnson was called-in from the bullpen during the fourth inning of a game at Griffith Stadium then preceded to strike out fifteen batters across eleven-and-a third innings, the most strikeouts in baseball history by a relief pitcher during an extra inning game!

Team specfic strikeout records; most strikeouts in a season, fewest in a season, most in a game, most in a doubleheader, and dozens more are in this record book.

Did you know that its possible for a pitcher to strike out four batters in the same inning? It has been done several times in baseball history, and every instance is recorded on Baseball Almanac!