Max Scherzer consistently approaches pitching with an aggressive mindset, always looking to challenge hitters and navigate lineups while staying within the strike zone.

Over his 17-season career, the three-time Cy Young Award winner has amassed a significant number of strikeouts, now leading all active pitchers in this category. Scherzer recently climbed into 10th place on the all-time strikeout list, surpassing former teammate and fellow three-time Cy Young Award recipient Justin Verlander. This milestone came after Scherzer struck out a season-high nine batters in the Texas Rangers’ 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.

“This milestone represents durability and health over the years,” Scherzer commented. “Even though I’ve dealt with some injuries recently, my career has been marked by consistent health and resilience, allowing me to compete year after year and continually improve.”

Just two days before turning 40 and five days after a brief outing due to arm fatigue, Scherzer (2-3) threw 62 of 85 pitches for strikes, giving up only one run and one walk while allowing just three hits over six innings. This game was only his seventh start since undergoing back surgery in the offseason.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy praised Scherzer’s accomplishment, noting, “It’s been an incredible career, and reaching the top 10 in strikeouts is a remarkable achievement.”

Catcher Andrew Knizner added, “It was a tremendous bounce-back performance from Scherzer. He was dominant, with all his pitches working well—his slider was sharp, his fastball was strong, and he mixed his pitches effectively. It was a classic Scherzer game, and he seemed to improve as the game progressed.”

Scherzer’s 464th career game and 455th start are second only to Verlander’s 519 starts. His 216 career wins are the second-highest among active pitchers, behind Verlander’s 260. Verlander, who hasn’t pitched for Houston since June 9 due to neck stiffness, remains on the injured list.

In addition to his time with the Rangers, Scherzer has played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Mets. He has earned World Series titles with the Nationals in 2019 and the Rangers last season, following a trade deadline move from New York.

“For me, winning the World Series is the ultimate goal,” Scherzer said. “That’s what drives me. My sole focus is on achieving that, and everything else tends to fall into place when I keep that mindset.”

Scherzer and Verlander were teammates with the Tigers from 2010 to 2014, during which both earned baseball’s top pitching honor. Scherzer claimed the Cy Young Award in 2013, 2016, and 2017 with the Nationals, while Verlander won the award in 2011, 2019, and 2022 with the Astros.