ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Max Scherzer always has the mindset to be aggressive on the mound, attack hitters and find ways to pitch around lineups while being in the strike zone. Along the way over 17 big league seasons, the three-time Cy Young Award winner has piled up a lot of strikeouts. The Texas Rangers right-hander now has more than any other active pitcher.
Scherzer moved into 10th place on the career strikeout list with 3,400 after passing former teammate and fellow three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander while fanning a season-high nine in the Rangers' 2-1 win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. “When you’re talking about a milestone like this ..
. this is all about durability. This is about being year-in, year-out healthy,” Scherzer said.
“I know I’ve been shaking some injuries here as of late, but over the course of my career, I’ve been able to be healthy and be durable and be able to make my posts and go out there and compete just year-in, year-out, and continue to get better every single season.” Two days before his 40th birthday and five days after an outing limited to two innings because of arm fatigue, Scherzer (2-3) threw 62 of 85 pitches for strikes. He allowed one run and walked one while pitching three-hit ball over six innings.
It was only his seventh start since offseason back surgery . “Incredible career he’s had, and reached quite a milestone. Amazing, now he's in the top 10 in strikeouts," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said.