Max Scherzer enters top 10 all-time strikeout leaderboard

PHILADELPHIA – Max Scherzer passed Walter Johnson for sole possession of 10th place on Major League Baseball’s all-time strikeout list, recording the 3,516th punchout of his career with a sixth-inning strikeout of Kyle Schwarber on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park.

After the Blue Jays’ 7-5, 11-inning win over the Phillies, Scherzer acknowledged the significance of joining the top 10 all-time strikeouts, stating, “To now be a part of that group, it's special.” Scherzer entered Saturday's start needing four strikeouts to surpass Johnson, who pitched for the Washington Senators from 1907 to 1921 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 1936.

Johnson’s career strikeout total stands at 3,515, according to Elias Sports Bureau, the official statistician of Major League Baseball. Scherzer began his start by striking out former Nationals teammate Bryce Harper in the first inning and then claimed his second against Garrett Stubbs to open the third. However, he needed one more strikeout to tie Johnson after going through the next seven batters.

Making only his third start since returning from the injured list, Scherzer had not allowed a run over his four innings. "Wanting to win the ballgame, that was number one,” Scherzer said. “I never once lost belief in my ability... No one feels sorry for you, so you’ve got to get back out here and start competing.”

With his family in attendance, Scherzer tied Johnson with one out in the fifth by getting Bryan De La Cruz on a check swing that first-base umpire Brock Ballou ruled strike three. In the sixth inning, after facing three former teammates—Schwarber, Trea Turner, and Harper—Scherzer struck out Schwarber looking to pass Johnson for 10th place.

Interestingly, Scherzer reached his 3,500th strikeout back in June against Schwarber, also on a called third strike. Manager John Schneider remarked, “To have Erica and his kids here to witness that was really cool… we're talking about some elite company when you're talking about getting to 10th all-time on the strikeout list.”

Scherzer reached this milestone in Philadelphia, where he has historically succeeded, accumulating 255 career strikeouts against the Phillies. Phillies starter Aaron Nola, who also reached 2,000 strikeouts in the game, commented on Scherzer’s continued excellence at age 42.

After Scherzer's historic strikeout, Turner and Harper hit back-to-back solo home runs, tying the game 2-2. Scherzer finished with a line of two runs on five hits and no walks over 5 1/3 innings, with four strikeouts, joining an exclusive group.

Currently, Scherzer ranks second among all active pitchers in wins and strikeouts, trailing only former teammate Justin Verlander. His next target is Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry, who sits at No. 9 with 3,534 strikeouts.

“Just knowing him, you forget about the stuff that comes with him: the numbers, the strikeouts, the World Series, the Cy Youngs... That would be cool when we're talking top 10 anything in baseball,” Schneider said.