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.
"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 PitchersCareer Strikeout Records for Pitchers |
|||||
Strikeout Record | LG | Name(s) | Team(s) | Data | |
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 | LG | Name(s) | Team(s) | Data | |
Strikeout Record for PitchersGame Specific Strikeout Records for Pitchers |
|||||
Record | LG | Name(s) | Team(s) | Data | |
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 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 |
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 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 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 | |
Record | LG | Name(s) | Team(s) | Data | |
Strikeout Records for PitchersInning-by-Inning Specific Strikeout Records for Pitchers |
|||||
Record | LG | Name(s) | Team(s) | Data | |
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 Record | LG | Name(s) | Team(s) | Data | |
Strikeout Records for PitchersSingle Season Strikeout Records for Pitchers |
|||||
Strikeout Record | LG | Name(s) | Team(s) | Data | |
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 Record | LG | Name(s) | Team(s) | Data | |
Strikeout Records Set by Pitchers | Research by Baseball Almanac |
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!