League Leaders

All-Time Strikeouts Leaders

Career totals, every season from 1871–2025. Batters struck out

Single-season leaders →
ERAWSOSVWHIPIPK/9BB/9K/BBSHOCGGSGLBBW-L%
# Player Seasons W L ERA G GS SV IP H ER HR BB SO WHIP
1 Nolan Ryan Nolan Ryan 1966–1993 (27) 324 292 3.19 807 773 3 5386.0 3,923 1,911 321 2,795 5,714 1.25
2 Randy Johnson Randy Johnson 1988–2009 (22) 303 166 3.29 618 603 2 4135.1 3,346 1,513 411 1,497 4,875 1.17
3 Roger Clemens Roger Clemens 1984–2007 (24) 354 184 3.12 709 707 0 4916.2 4,185 1,707 363 1,580 4,672 1.17
4 Steve Carlton Steve Carlton 1965–1988 (24) 329 244 3.22 741 709 2 5217.1 4,672 1,864 414 1,833 4,136 1.25
5 Bert Blyleven Bert Blyleven 1970–1992 (22) 287 250 3.31 692 685 0 4970.0 4,632 1,830 430 1,322 3,701 1.20
6 Tom Seaver Tom Seaver 1967–1986 (20) 311 205 2.86 656 647 1 4782.2 3,971 1,521 380 1,390 3,640 1.12
7 Don Sutton Don Sutton 1966–1988 (23) 324 256 3.26 774 756 5 5282.1 4,692 1,914 472 1,343 3,574 1.14
8 Justin Verlander Justin Verlander 2005–2025 (20) 266 158 3.32 555 555 0 3567.2 3,046 1,317 371 1,004 3,553 1.14
9 Gaylord Perry Gaylord Perry 1962–1983 (22) 314 265 3.11 777 690 11 5350.1 4,938 1,846 399 1,379 3,534 1.18
10 Walter Johnson Walter Johnson 1907–1927 (21) 417 279 2.17 802 666 34 5914.2 4,913 1,424 97 1,363 3,509 1.06
11 Max Scherzer Max Scherzer 2008–2025 (18) 221 117 3.22 483 474 0 2963.0 2,433 1,059 354 779 3,489 1.08
12 Greg Maddux Greg Maddux 1986–2008 (23) 355 227 3.16 744 740 0 5008.1 4,726 1,756 353 999 3,371 1.14
13 Phil Niekro Phil Niekro 1964–1987 (24) 318 274 3.35 864 716 29 5404.1 5,044 2,012 482 1,809 3,342 1.27
14 Fergie Jenkins Fergie Jenkins 1965–1983 (19) 284 226 3.34 664 594 7 4500.2 4,142 1,669 484 997 3,192 1.14
15 Pedro Martinez Pedro Martinez 1992–2009 (18) 219 100 2.93 476 409 3 2827.1 2,221 919 239 760 3,154 1.05
16 Bob Gibson Bob Gibson 1959–1975 (17) 251 174 2.91 528 482 6 3884.1 3,279 1,258 257 1,336 3,117 1.19
17 Curt Schilling Curt Schilling 1988–2007 (20) 216 146 3.46 569 436 22 3261.0 2,998 1,253 347 711 3,116 1.14
18 CC Sabathia CC Sabathia 2001–2019 (19) 251 161 3.74 561 560 0 3577.1 3,404 1,485 382 1,099 3,093 1.26
19 John Smoltz John Smoltz 1988–2009 (21) 213 155 3.33 723 481 154 3473.0 3,074 1,284 288 1,010 3,084 1.18
20 Clayton Kershaw Clayton Kershaw 2008–2025 (18) 223 96 2.53 455 451 0 2855.1 2,193 804 235 713 3,052 1.02
21 Zack Greinke Zack Greinke 2004–2023 (20) 225 156 3.49 586 541 1 3389.1 3,207 1,315 367 762 2,979 1.17
22 Jim Bunning Jim Bunning 1955–1971 (17) 224 184 3.27 591 519 16 3760.1 3,433 1,366 372 1,000 2,855 1.18
23 Mickey Lolich Mickey Lolich 1963–1979 (16) 217 191 3.44 586 496 11 3638.1 3,366 1,390 347 1,099 2,832 1.23
24 Mike Mussina Mike Mussina 1991–2008 (18) 270 153 3.68 537 536 0 3562.2 3,460 1,458 376 785 2,813 1.19
25 Cy Young Cy Young 1890–1911 (22) 511 315 2.63 906 815 18 7356.0 7,092 2,147 138 1,217 2,803 1.13
26 Frank Tanana Frank Tanana 1973–1993 (21) 240 236 3.66 638 616 1 4188.1 4,063 1,704 448 1,255 2,773 1.27
27 David Cone David Cone 1986–2003 (17) 194 126 3.46 450 419 1 2898.2 2,504 1,115 258 1,137 2,668 1.26
28 Chuck Finley Chuck Finley 1986–2002 (17) 200 173 3.85 524 467 0 3197.1 3,069 1,366 304 1,332 2,610 1.38
29 Tom Glavine Tom Glavine 1987–2008 (22) 305 203 3.54 682 682 0 4413.1 4,298 1,734 356 1,500 2,607 1.31
30 Warren Spahn Warren Spahn 1942–1965 (21) 363 245 3.09 750 665 29 5243.2 4,830 1,798 434 1,434 2,583 1.20
31 Bob Feller Bob Feller 1936–1956 (18) 266 162 3.25 570 484 21 3827.0 3,271 1,384 224 1,764 2,581 1.32
32 Chris Sale Chris Sale 2010–2025 (15) 145 88 3.01 393 312 12 2084.0 1,692 697 213 487 2,579 1.05
33 Tim Keefe Tim Keefe 1880–1893 (14) 342 225 2.63 600 594 2 5049.2 4,438 1,474 75 1,233 2,564 1.12
34 Cole Hamels Cole Hamels 2006–2020 (15) 163 122 3.43 423 422 0 2698.0 2,424 1,027 310 767 2,560 1.18
35 Jerry Koosman Jerry Koosman 1967–1985 (19) 222 209 3.36 612 527 17 3839.1 3,635 1,433 290 1,198 2,556 1.26
36 Javier Vazquez Javier Vazquez 1998–2011 (14) 165 160 4.22 450 443 0 2840.0 2,784 1,331 373 763 2,536 1.25
37 Bartolo Colon Bartolo Colon 1997–2018 (21) 247 188 4.12 565 552 0 3461.2 3,593 1,584 439 948 2,535 1.31
38 Felix Hernandez Felix Hernandez 2005–2019 (15) 169 136 3.42 419 418 0 2729.2 2,487 1,037 264 805 2,524 1.21
39 A. J. Burnett A. J. Burnett 1999–2015 (17) 164 157 3.99 435 430 0 2731.1 2,519 1,210 263 1,100 2,513 1.33
40 Christy Mathewson Christy Mathewson 1900–1916 (17) 373 188 2.13 636 552 29 4788.2 4,219 1,135 90 848 2,507 1.06
41 Jon Lester Jon Lester 2006–2021 (16) 200 117 3.66 452 451 0 2740.0 2,610 1,114 294 892 2,488 1.28
42 Don Drysdale Don Drysdale 1956–1969 (14) 209 166 2.95 518 465 6 3432.0 3,084 1,124 280 855 2,486 1.15
43 Jack Morris 1977–1994 (18) 254 186 3.90 549 527 0 3824.0 3,567 1,657 389 1,390 2,478 1.30
44 Mark Langston Mark Langston 1984–1999 (16) 179 158 3.97 457 428 0 2962.2 2,723 1,306 311 1,289 2,464 1.35
45 Jim Kaat Jim Kaat 1959–1983 (25) 283 237 3.45 898 625 18 4530.1 4,620 1,738 395 1,083 2,461 1.26
46 Sam McDowell Sam McDowell 1961–1975 (15) 141 134 3.17 425 346 14 2492.1 1,948 879 164 1,312 2,453 1.31
47 Andy Pettitte Andy Pettitte 1995–2013 (18) 256 153 3.85 531 521 0 3316.0 3,448 1,418 288 1,031 2,448 1.35
48 Jamie Moyer Jamie Moyer 1986–2012 (25) 269 209 4.25 696 638 0 4074.0 4,231 1,926 522 1,155 2,441 1.32
49 Luis Tiant Luis Tiant 1964–1982 (19) 229 172 3.30 573 484 15 3486.1 3,075 1,280 346 1,104 2,416 1.20
50 Dennis Eckersley Dennis Eckersley 1975–1998 (24) 197 171 3.50 1,071 361 390 3285.2 3,076 1,278 347 738 2,401 1.16
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