Justin Verlander reached a rare milestone in Major League Baseball on Sunday, becoming only the 10th pitcher in history to surpass 3,500 career strikeouts. This milestone was recorded during the game against the Washington Nationals when Verlander struck out Nathaniel Lowe, marking a significant moment in his decorated career at age 42. Despite the achievement, Verlander’s day ended on a difficult note as he gave up five runs in a loss to the San Francisco Giants, illustrating the ups and downs of his current season.
Although Verlander’s numbers this season show a 4.53 ERA and a career-high 1.500 WHIP through 20 starts, the veteran pitcher expressed no intention of retiring soon. In a conversation with John Shea of The San Francisco Standard before the game, Verlander shared his desire to pitch in the 2026 season, emphasizing his positive physical condition after recovering from a nerve injury last year.
“I was happy to get there, happy to have the moment with the fans,”
Verlander said.
“It’s a cool milestone. I really appreciate what it’s taken to get there.”
“I mean, I’d like to,” Verlander added about continuing his career.
“At this point in my career, if something goes really wrong, I’m not going to rehab a surgery or anything. I always understand that it could be it, but I think physically, I’ve shown some good health this season. As I’ve been on the mound, things have started to get better and better. To me, that’s a good sign with all the work I put in after my nerve injury last year, which notoriously takes a long time. The ball’s rolling in the right direction, and I would like to continue pitching. You never know. It’s a fickle game too, but I think the stuff is still there.”
The Rarity and Difficulty of Reaching 3,500 Strikeouts
Verlander is now firmly positioned among baseball’s all-time strikeout leaders and is expected to move past Walter Johnson for ninth place on the strikeout list soon, needing only seven more strikeouts to do so. His longevity and consistency put him in a class of pitchers that are becoming increasingly rare in modern baseball.
Currently, there are only 16 active pitchers with more than 1,500 career strikeouts, with Max Scherzer approaching Verlander’s milestone as well, needing 44 strikeouts to reach 3,500. Other notable pitchers like Clayton Kershaw, Chris Sale, and Gerrit Cole remain far from this figure due to age, injury, or workload limitations. For instance, Kershaw, 37, holds 3,014 strikeouts but shows signs his career may soon wind down, missing the necessary strikeout pace to close the gap.
Chris Sale, who led the National League with 225 strikeouts last year at age 35, currently has 2,528 career strikeouts but faces uncertain health and would need an exceptional workload of 767 innings pitched at his current strikeout rate to reach the 3,500 mark. Gerrit Cole, with 2,251 strikeouts while recovering from Tommy John surgery, would face a daunting requirement of over 1,100 innings pitched over the next six years to join the elite club. These challenges illustrate just how demanding reaching 3,500 strikeouts has become.
Modern Baseball Trends Making 3,500 Strikeouts a Steep Challenge
The 3,500 strikeouts milestone, while difficult anytime, looks even more unattainable given current pitching trends. Although the strikeout rate per nine innings has increased from 6.4 two decades ago to 8.4 this season, pitching workloads have decreased significantly. Teams now limit how long starters stay in games to protect arms from injury and to avoid giving hitters an advantage facing the same pitcher multiple times per game.
Verlander himself has averaged 6.43 innings per start throughout his career, while emerging prospects like Paul Skenes only average about 5.89 innings per start, showing a clear shift in pitcher management. Increasing injury rates add another layer of complexity for pitchers hoping to reach milestones that require high innings totals and sustained performance. This environment makes it unlikely that many future pitchers will achieve the kind of career strikeout numbers compiled by Verlander.
Contextual Highlights in Sports This Week
Beyond Verlander’s milestone, recent sports events have generated excitement and drama. Carlos Correa‘s return to the Houston Astros has energized the team both on and off the field, with his leadership and performance revitalizing the roster. Rookie quarterbacks also made significant impressions during NFL preseason debuts, showing promise through strong performances including efficient scoring drives and impactful dual-threat plays.
Golf competitions at the FedEx St. Jude Championship have been notable for playoff implications, where several players secured vital spots within the top 50 FedExCup points, extending their seasons, while others found their campaigns ending prematurely. Additionally, Liverpool, despite heavy summer spending, struggles with defensive concerns following their Community Shield loss. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace faces complications in UEFA competition eligibility despite qualifying, highlighting ongoing challenges in European football tournaments.
Memorable Moments and Performances from Recent Sports Events
The past few days have featured a range of notable plays and achievements. The World Games in China introduced the lesser-known sport of fistball, similar to volleyball but played on a large grass field. Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners hit his 45th home run, the best in <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB this season, rallying after a six-game slump. Brittney Sykes showcased impressive footwork with a clutch layup in a key game for the Seattle Storm, while Adolis García demonstrated exceptional athleticism with a juggling catch.
One of the most thrilling moments came courtesy of Isaac Collins, who secured a walk-off home run, pushing the Milwaukee Brewers to their ninth consecutive win. These highlights reflect the high level of competition and excitement across multiple sports during this period, adding layers of anticipation as seasons progress.