Max Scherzer Passes Walter Johnson for 10th All-Time in MLB Strikeouts

Veteran pitcher Max Scherzer, at 42 years old, etched his name further into baseball history on August 8, 2026, by striking out his 3,516th batter. This monumental achievement placed him 10th on Major League Baseball's all-time strikeout list, surpassing the legendary Walter Johnson.

Scherzer's milestone moment occurred during his start against the Philadelphia Phillies, a fitting opponent given his historical success against them. He has recorded more strikeouts against the Phillies than any other team in his career, and his 116 strikeouts at Citizens Bank Park are the most by any visiting pitcher.

The historic strikeout, however, was followed by a turn of events that saw the Blue Jays' lead evaporate. After Scherzer's departure, the Phillies tied the game 2-2 with back-to-back solo home runs. Scherzer's final line for the game was 5.1 innings pitched, allowing 5 hits and 2 earned runs, with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks, leaving him with a season ERA of 7.25.

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Strikeout No. 3,516 for Max Scherzer! He passes Walter Johnson for 10th place on the all-time Ks leaderboard