Cal Ripken’s 2,632 consecutive games … Pete Rose’s 4,256 career hits … Wade Boggs’ 107 daily beers … there are some Major League Baseball records that’ll probably never be broken.
However, a pitcher recording more than 20 strikeouts in a game probably isn’t one of them.
Though it has only been accomplished by four pitchers – Roger Clemens, Kerry Wood, Randy Johnson and Max Scherzer – setting down 20 batters by way of the K is a feat that is going to be surpassed and, given the recent increase in strikeouts across MLB, it might be done this year.
“This is a strikeout era,” according to ESPN. “In the past week, we’ve seen three credible 21-K alerts: James Paxton had 16 in seven innings, with six outs to go; Gerrit Cole had 12 through six innings, but ended up with only 16; and Max Scherzer had 15 in 6⅓ innings before he was pulled. The means are there.”
The other reason a 21-strikeout game is probably on the way is it because it is so doable.
Multiple pitchers, the majority of whom were relievers, have struck out more than 21 batters within 27 outs, but those performances have been spread out over multiple outings.
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