Between August 29, 1972 and May 5, 2001, Nolan Ryan struck out the most batters, with 4,988 strikeouts.
Interpreted as:
most strikeouts allowed by a player From August 29, 1972 to May 5, 2001| NAME | SO | G | W | L | W% | GS | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | HBP | GF | IBB | TBF | WP | K/9 | BB/9 | K/BB | HR/9 | K% | BB% | WHIP | BABIP | RA | H/9 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | N. Ryan | 4,988 | 672 | 281 | 242 | .537 | 669 | 3.18 | 196 | 51 | 1 | 4669.2 | 3,430 | 1,649 | 1,886 | 275 | 2,328 | 125 | 3 | 61 | 19,501 | 241 | 9.61 | 4.49 | 2.14 | 0.53 | 25.6 | 11.9 | 1.23 | .268 | 3.63 | 6.61 |
| 2 |  | R. Clemens | 3,541 | 519 | 263 | 142 | .649 | 518 | 3.09 | 116 | 45 | 0 | 3713.2 | 3,147 | 1,276 | 1,411 | 264 | 1,201 | 125 | 0 | 44 | 15,290 | 96 | 8.58 | 2.91 | 2.95 | 0.64 | 23.2 | 7.9 | 1.17 | .284 | 3.42 | 7.63 |
| 3 |  | B. Blyleven | 3,179 | 597 | 251 | 211 | .543 | 593 | 3.36 | 215 | 52 | 0 | 4315.0 | 4,031 | 1,610 | 1,788 | 374 | 1,163 | 141 | 1 | 60 | 17,816 | 101 | 6.63 | 2.43 | 2.73 | 0.78 | 17.8 | 6.5 | 1.20 | .282 | 3.73 | 8.41 |
| 4 |  | R. Johnson | 3,112 | 373 | 182 | 98 | .650 | 364 | 3.20 | 78 | 29 | 2 | 2550.1 | 1,972 | 908 | 1,023 | 230 | 1,104 | 111 | 4 | 16 | 10,589 | 81 | 10.98 | 3.90 | 2.82 | 0.81 | 29.4 | 10.4 | 1.21 | .289 | 3.61 | 6.96 |
| 5 |  | S. Carlton | 2,929 | 519 | 231 | 175 | .569 | 505 | 3.33 | 166 | 32 | 1 | 3683.0 | 3,309 | 1,364 | 1,566 | 311 | 1,316 | 35 | 6 | 104 | 15,327 | 126 | 7.16 | 3.22 | 2.23 | 0.76 | 19.1 | 8.6 | 1.26 | .279 | 3.83 | 8.09 |
| 6 | | F. Tanana | 2,773 | 638 | 240 | 236 | .504 | 616 | 3.66 | 143 | 34 | 1 | 4188.1 | 4,063 | 1,702 | 1,910 | 448 | 1,255 | 129 | 10 | 116 | 17,641 | 119 | 5.96 | 2.70 | 2.21 | 0.96 | 15.7 | 7.1 | 1.27 | .277 | 4.10 | 8.73 |
| 7 | | D. Cone | 2,540 | 420 | 184 | 116 | .613 | 390 | 3.40 | 56 | 22 | 1 | 2745.0 | 2,336 | 1,038 | 1,135 | 237 | 1,067 | 96 | 9 | 37 | 11,485 | 140 | 8.33 | 3.50 | 2.38 | 0.78 | 22.1 | 9.3 | 1.24 | .278 | 3.72 | 7.66 |
| 8 |  | J. Morris | 2,478 | 549 | 254 | 186 | .577 | 527 | 3.90 | 175 | 28 | 0 | 3824.0 | 3,567 | 1,657 | 1,815 | 389 | 1,390 | 58 | 10 | 99 | 16,120 | 205 | 5.83 | 3.27 | 1.78 | 0.92 | 15.4 | 8.6 | 1.30 | .269 | 4.27 | 8.40 |
| 9 | | M. Langston | 2,464 | 457 | 179 | 158 | .531 | 428 | 3.97 | 81 | 18 | 0 | 2962.2 | 2,723 | 1,306 | 1,438 | 311 | 1,289 | 46 | 3 | 34 | 12,562 | 89 | 7.49 | 3.92 | 1.91 | 0.94 | 19.6 | 10.3 | 1.35 | .285 | 4.37 | 8.27 |
| 10 | | D. Eckersley | 2,401 | 1,071 | 197 | 171 | .535 | 361 | 3.50 | 100 | 20 | 390 | 3285.2 | 3,076 | 1,279 | 1,382 | 347 | 738 | 75 | 577 | 90 | 13,534 | 28 | 6.58 | 2.02 | 3.25 | 0.95 | 17.7 | 5.5 | 1.16 | .274 | 3.79 | 8.43 |
| 11 |  | G. Maddux | 2,388 | 477 | 243 | 137 | .639 | 473 | 2.82 | 100 | 32 | 0 | 3359.2 | 3,013 | 1,051 | 1,207 | 178 | 735 | 91 | 3 | 130 | 13,623 | 47 | 6.40 | 1.97 | 3.25 | 0.48 | 17.5 | 5.4 | 1.12 | .277 | 3.23 | 8.07 |
| 12 | | C. Finley | 2,368 | 476 | 183 | 153 | .545 | 419 | 3.77 | 61 | 14 | 0 | 2929.1 | 2,791 | 1,228 | 1,365 | 283 | 1,227 | 73 | 24 | 30 | 12,483 | 126 | 7.28 | 3.77 | 1.93 | 0.87 | 19.0 | 9.8 | 1.37 | .294 | 4.19 | 8.57 |
| 13 | | C. Hough | 2,350 | 846 | 216 | 216 | .500 | 440 | 3.74 | 107 | 13 | 59 | 3780.0 | 3,262 | 1,570 | 1,793 | 375 | 1,650 | 174 | 232 | 44 | 16,070 | 180 | 5.60 | 3.93 | 1.42 | 0.89 | 14.6 | 10.3 | 1.30 | .251 | 4.27 | 7.77 |
| 14 | | P. Niekro | 2,335 | 555 | 225 | 192 | .540 | 529 | 3.52 | 158 | 28 | 7 | 3789.0 | 3,608 | 1,482 | 1,696 | 341 | 1,422 | 88 | 17 | 54 | 16,069 | 144 | 5.55 | 3.38 | 1.64 | 0.81 | 14.5 | 8.8 | 1.33 | .275 | 4.03 | 8.57 |
| 15 |  | T. Seaver | 2,299 | 449 | 200 | 142 | .585 | 445 | 3.08 | 131 | 41 | 0 | 3195.1 | 2,702 | 1,093 | 1,201 | 266 | 976 | 44 | 1 | 86 | 13,039 | 91 | 6.48 | 2.75 | 2.36 | 0.75 | 17.6 | 7.5 | 1.15 | .258 | 3.38 | 7.61 |
| 16 | | D. Gooden | 2,293 | 430 | 194 | 112 | .634 | 410 | 3.51 | 68 | 24 | 3 | 2800.2 | 2,564 | 1,091 | 1,198 | 210 | 954 | 78 | 4 | 42 | 11,705 | 76 | 7.37 | 3.07 | 2.40 | 0.67 | 19.6 | 8.2 | 1.26 | .288 | 3.85 | 8.24 |
| 17 | | D. Sutton | 2,270 | 522 | 227 | 163 | .582 | 518 | 3.31 | 109 | 33 | 2 | 3586.2 | 3,199 | 1,319 | 1,455 | 345 | 911 | 51 | 3 | 54 | 14,698 | 72 | 5.70 | 2.29 | 2.49 | 0.87 | 15.4 | 6.2 | 1.15 | .257 | 3.65 | 8.03 |
| 18 | | D. Martinez | 2,149 | 692 | 245 | 193 | .559 | 562 | 3.70 | 122 | 30 | 8 | 3999.2 | 3,897 | 1,643 | 1,835 | 372 | 1,165 | 122 | 51 | 70 | 16,754 | 84 | 4.84 | 2.62 | 1.84 | 0.84 | 12.8 | 7.0 | 1.27 | .272 | 4.13 | 8.77 |
| 19 |  | J. Smoltz | 2,098 | 356 | 157 | 113 | .581 | 356 | 3.35 | 47 | 14 | 0 | 2414.1 | 2,092 | 898 | 986 | 195 | 774 | 38 | 0 | 55 | 9,947 | 119 | 7.82 | 2.89 | 2.71 | 0.73 | 21.1 | 7.8 | 1.19 | .277 | 3.68 | 7.80 |
| 20 | | F. Valenzuela | 2,074 | 453 | 173 | 153 | .531 | 424 | 3.54 | 113 | 31 | 2 | 2930.0 | 2,718 | 1,154 | 1,303 | 226 | 1,151 | 25 | 10 | 65 | 12,398 | 119 | 6.37 | 3.54 | 1.80 | 0.69 | 16.7 | 9.3 | 1.32 | .279 | 4.00 | 8.35 |
| 21 | | O. Hershiser | 2,014 | 510 | 204 | 150 | .576 | 466 | 3.48 | 68 | 25 | 5 | 3130.1 | 2,939 | 1,211 | 1,367 | 235 | 1,007 | 117 | 19 | 108 | 13,150 | 121 | 5.79 | 2.90 | 2.00 | 0.68 | 15.3 | 7.7 | 1.26 | .277 | 3.93 | 8.45 |
| 22 | | B. Welch | 1,969 | 506 | 211 | 146 | .591 | 462 | 3.47 | 61 | 28 | 8 | 3092.0 | 2,894 | 1,191 | 1,310 | 267 | 1,034 | 79 | 20 | 60 | 12,956 | 55 | 5.73 | 3.01 | 1.90 | 0.78 | 15.2 | 8.0 | 1.27 | .273 | 3.81 | 8.42 |
| 23 | | R. Reuschel | 1,956 | 543 | 208 | 185 | .529 | 517 | 3.38 | 99 | 24 | 5 | 3463.1 | 3,505 | 1,300 | 1,462 | 218 | 914 | 87 | 15 | 111 | 14,540 | 88 | 5.08 | 2.38 | 2.14 | 0.57 | 13.5 | 6.3 | 1.28 | .289 | 3.80 | 9.11 |
| 24 | | K. Brown | 1,947 | 387 | 174 | 115 | .602 | 385 | 3.19 | 72 | 17 | 0 | 2694.0 | 2,517 | 954 | 1,102 | 163 | 736 | 118 | 1 | 36 | 11,171 | 86 | 6.50 | 2.46 | 2.65 | 0.54 | 17.4 | 6.6 | 1.21 | .287 | 3.68 | 8.41 |
| 25 | | D. Darwin | 1,942 | 716 | 171 | 182 | .484 | 371 | 3.84 | 53 | 9 | 32 | 3016.2 | 2,951 | 1,286 | 1,432 | 321 | 874 | 81 | 171 | 101 | 12,716 | 52 | 5.79 | 2.61 | 2.22 | 0.96 | 15.3 | 6.9 | 1.27 | .277 | 4.27 | 8.80 |
StatMuse has game-level data for strikeouts going back to the 1901 season.
Some of the information used here was obtained free of charge from Retrosheet.
More MLB News
Jobe strikes out career-high 8, Tigers extend Rockies' slide to 7 games with 8-1 win
Boston's Willson Contreras activated from injured list as Anthony Seigler goes on IL
Orioles' Kyle Bradish goes on injured list with abdominal discomfort, ending season at 7-14
New York Yankees' Clarke Schmidt to be activated this week and pitch out of bullpen
Diamondbacks designate outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. for assignment
Phillies left-hander Tanner Banks comes off IL and righty Grant Holman is sent back to the minors
More Astros Stats
Team Batting Leaders 
HR
38
Alvarez
RBI
96
Alvarez
AVG
.310
Alvarez
Team Pitching Leaders 
W
8
Lambert
K
141
Lambert
ERA
3.30
Blubaugh
Team Rankings
HR
197
5th
R
669
15th
SO
1,305
10th
ERA
4.55
24th
Astros
Rangers
Mariners
Athletics
Angels
KCR
ATL
MLB 2026 Batting Leaders
MLB 2026 Pitching Leaders
MLB Fantasy 2026
MLB 2026 Betting
MLB 2026 Standings
| NL East | W | L | PCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
88 | 62 | .587 | ||
83 | 67 | .553 | 5.0 | |
73 | 76 | .490 | 14.5 | |
70 | 81 | .464 | 18.5 | |
69 | 80 | .463 | 18.5 | |
| NL Central | W | L | PCT | GB |
 Brewers - x | 93 | 56 | .624 | |
83 | 66 | .557 | 10.0 | |
74 | 75 | .497 | 19.0 | |
73 | 76 | .490 | 20.0 | |
69 | 79 | .466 | 23.5 | |
| NL West | W | L | PCT | GB |
90 | 58 | .608 | ||
80 | 68 | .541 | 10.0 | |
79 | 70 | .530 | 11.5 | |
62 | 87 | .416 | 28.5 | |
55 | 94 | .369 | 35.5 |
Phillies
Marlins
Nationals
Mets
Cubs
Pirates
Cardinals
Reds
Dodgers
Padres
Diamondbacks
Giants
Rockies| AL East | W | L | PCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Rays - x | 90 | 59 | .604 | |
86 | 63 | .577 | 4.0 | |
81 | 68 | .544 | 9.0 | |
75 | 75 | .500 | 15.5 | |
72 | 78 | .480 | 18.5 | |
| AL Central | W | L | PCT | GB |
76 | 72 | .514 | ||
75 | 74 | .503 | 1.5 | |
70 | 78 | .473 | 6.0 | |
70 | 79 | .470 | 6.5 | |
66 | 83 | .443 | 10.5 | |
| AL West | W | L | PCT | GB |
75 | 75 | .500 | ||
73 | 76 | .490 | 1.5 | |
70 | 79 | .470 | 4.5 | |
60 | 89 | .403 | 14.5 | |
56 | 93 | .376 | 18.5 |
Yankees
Red Sox
Blue Jays
Orioles
White Sox
Guardians
Twins
Tigers