STRIKEOUT NUMBER 3,500 FOR MAX SCHERZER!!! 🎥 Sportsnet | #Bluejays
Blue Jays’ Max Scherzer becomes 11th pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,500 strikeouts
Photo credit: © Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Jun 10, 2026, 19:30 EDTUpdated: Jun 10, 2026, 20:05 EDT
A future Hall of Famer has another accolade on his résumé.
On Wednesday evening, Toronto Blue Jays’ starter Max Scherzer was activated from the 15-day injured list and started the series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies. Well, he struck out the first batter he faced, becoming just the 11th pitcher in Major League Baseball to strike out 3,500 batters.
The strikeout came against the first batter he saw, Kyle Schwarber, freezing him with an 85.8 mph changeup at the bottom of the zone for the first out of the game.
Scherzer is one of just two active pitchers to reach the 3,500 strikeout milestone, joining his former teammate, Justin Verlander. The next closest active pitcher to 3,500 strikeouts is 37-year-old Chris Sale, who has just 2,665, 28th most in MLB history.
Eight of the nine other pitchers to achieve the 3,500 strikeout plateau are in the Hall of Fame. They are: Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Steve Carlton, Bert Blyleven, Tom Seaver, Don Sutton, Gaylord Perry, and Walter Johnson. Former Blue Jay Roger Clemens is the lone retired player with 3,500 strikeouts who isn’t in the Hall of Fame.
Scherzer is in reach of ending the season with the seventh most strikeouts, as W. Johnson, Perry, Verlander, and Sutton all have fewer than 3,575 strikeouts.
This is one of just many accolades in the first ball Hall of Famer’s career. Scherzer is a two-time World Series winner, winning with the Washington Nationals in 2019 and the Texas Rangers in 2023. He has a ton of individual success as well, winning three Cy Young Awards (2013, 2016, 2017) and finishing as a finalist countless times. He’s also an eight-time All-Star.
Entering Wednesday’s game, Scherzer had 9.64 ERA and 8.35 FIP in 18.2 innings pitched, with an 11.9 K% and 9.5 BB%. Scherzer missed a month and a half with a forearm injury and struggled in his return.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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