Overview
- Scherzer recorded the milestone with a called third strike of Kyle Schwarber in the bottom of the sixth on Saturday night, giving him 3,516 career strikeouts under MLB’s official count.
- He left the game after 5 1/3 innings and four strikeouts when Trea Turner and Bryce Harper hit back-to-back solo home runs, and the contest later went to extra innings.
- The same game saw Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola reach 2,000 career strikeouts and exit with a bruised right knee that will receive further evaluation.
- Historical recordkeeping differences affect when Scherzer is said to have passed Johnson because Baseball-Reference lists Johnson at 3,509 career strikeouts while Elias lists him at 3,515, the figure MLB uses.
- At age 42 Scherzer ranks second among active pitchers behind Justin Verlander, is widely expected to reach the Hall of Fame after retirement, and now needs 18 more strikeouts to catch ninth-place Gaylord Perry at 3,534.