WASHINGTON -- Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg wrote himself into the baseball history books Thursday night, reaching 1,500 strikeouts in fewer innings than any other starting pitcher in Major League history.
Strikeout No. 1,500 came in the fifth inning of Washington’s rain-delayed match up with the St. Louis Cardinals, with Strasburg fanning fellow starter Dakota Hudson for his eighth punch-out of the game.
His first strikeout in his Major League debut came 3,250 days ago against the Pittsburgh Pirates – a game in which he struck out 14.
Strasburg’s record was previously held by Boston Red Sox starter Chris Sale, who reached the 1,500-strikeout plateau in 1,290 innings pitched.
Before Sale, Kerry Wood – who pitched for the Chicago Cubs at the time he set the mark – reached 1,500 in 1,303 innings.
Strasburg was drafted first overall by the Nationals in the 2009 MLB Draft out of San Diego State. He made his Major League debut on June 8, 2010 and was selected to the National League All-Star team in 2012, 2016 and 2017. Heading into Thursday night’s start against the Cardinals, Strasburg had a career record of 96-53 with a 3.16 ERA.
The right-hander – now 30 – has spent his entire career in Washington, making postseason appearances in 2014 and 2017.
The Nationals also reached the NLDS in 2012, but Strasburg did not pitch in that series after he was infamously shut-down in September by manager Davey Johnson to adhere to an innings limit.
Strasburg also missed the 2016 NLDS with an injury.
Randy Johnson holds the record for the fewest games to reach 1,500 strikeouts, reaching the milestone in 206 games. Strasburg pitched in his 213th game, which ranks as the second fewest number of games to reach 1,500 strikeouts.
