Legendary Max Scherzer Cements Top 10 Status on Career Strikeout List

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer has etched his name into baseball history by becoming the tenth-highest strikeout pitcher in Major League Baseball, surpassing his former teammate Justin Verlander.

Max Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation, has achieved another remarkable milestone in his illustrious career. On Thursday, Scherzer recorded his 3,394th career strikeout against the Chicago White Sox, moving into tenth place on the all-time strikeout list and becoming the most among active pitchers.

Scherzer surpassed his former teammate and fellow three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander with his strikeout of Eloy Jiménez in the second inning. Verlander, now with the Houston Astros, had held the record for most strikeouts among active pitchers.

"Pretty incredible. I mean, you look at his career, being in the top 10, that’s pretty special," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said before the game. "This game has been going on for a long time ... and he’s one of the best pitchers in the game. And the numbers show that."

Scherzer's achievement is particularly impressive considering the fact that he is two years younger than Verlander, with 455 starts to Verlander's 519. This suggests that Scherzer has been even more effective throughout his career.

Scherzer has played for six different teams over 17 big league seasons, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and now the Texas Rangers. He has been part of World Series titles with the Nationals in 2019 and the Rangers last season.

Scherzer and Verlander were teammates with the Tigers from 2010-14, during which time both won the Cy Young Award. They were also teammates with the Mets in 2023 before both were traded midseason.

Scherzer won the Cy Young Award in 2013, and then again in 2016 and 2017 with the Nationals. Verlander won the award in 2011, and in 2019 and 2022 with the Astros.

Scherzer's achievement is a testament to his incredible talent and longevity. He has been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball for nearly two decades, and he shows no signs of slowing down.