Claudio is on pace to set Brewers record
By JERRY TAPP
Back in 1971, Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Ken “Bulldog” Sanders led the American League with 83 games pitched. Those 83 games pitched has been the team record for more than four decades. Ray King fell one game short of the record in 2001 when he pitched in 82 games for the Brew Crew.
The record, however, may be seriously challenged this season if Brewers skipper Craig Counsell continues to use left-handed reliever Alex Claudio the way he has in the first 119 games of this season.
Through games of August 11, Claudio, who came to the Brewers last December in a trade with the Texas Rangers, has appeared in 63 games for the Brewers. He is on a pace to finish the season with 86 games pitched, which would surpass Sanders 48-year record for most games pitched in a season.
Claudio has been a workhorse over the last three seasons having appeared in 70 games for Texas in 2017 and 66 for the Rangers last season.
Here’s a look at the Brewers leaderboard of most games pitched in a season:
83-Ken Sanders, 1971
82-Ray King, 2001
78-Will Smith, 2014; Francisco Rodriguez, 2012; Todd Coffey, 2009
77-Derrick Turnbow, 2007
76-Five tied
The major league record for most games pitched in a season is 106 held by Mike Marshall. He pitched in 106 games for the Dodgers in 1974.
Following are the nine times in MLB history where a pitcher appeared in 90 of more games in a season. Two pitchers, Mike Marshall and Kent Tekulve, did it three times each… Marshall did it with three different teams.
106-Mike Marshall, Los Angeles Dodgers, 1974
94-Salomon Torres, Pittsburgh, 2006
94-Kent Tekulve, Pittsburgh, 1979
92-Pedro Feliciano, New York Mets, 2010
92-Mike Marshall, Montreal, 1973
91-Kent Tekulve, Pittsburgh, 1978
90-Kent Tekulve, Philadelphia, 1987
90-Mike Marshall, Minnesota, 1979
90-Wayne Granger, Cincinnati, 1969
Claudio has now appeared in 60 or more games in three seasons in his career. While an impressive feat, consider this: Mariano Rivera, the New York Yankees reliever (and all-time saves leader) and recent inductee to Baseball’s hall of Fame, appeared in 60 or more games in 15 different seasons, tops in baseball history. Mike Stanton is second on this list with 13 season with 60 or more appearances.
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