Burnes is in ‘striking’ distance of Brewers records
By JERRY TAPP
In the Brewers June 20, 2-0 win over the division rival St. Louis Cardinals, starting pitcher Corbin Burnes gave up only two hits in seven innings of work for the win. That included 10 strikeouts, the fifth time this season he has struck out 10 or more batters in a start.
With his fifth double-digit strikeout game of the season, Burnes is now tied for sixth on the team’s all-time list for most 10-strikeout games in a season with five (he is also second on the list having recorded eight 10-strikeout games last season). Since the season is not even at the halfway point, Burnes has an excellent shot at breaking the team record of nine games with 10 or more strikeouts in a season (held by Ben Sheets in 2004).
Burnes, however, is even closer to another Brewers pitching record. He now has 17 career games with 10 or more strikeouts, just one off from tying the team career record of 18 games held by Yovani Gallardo.
Here is a look at the Brewers team record for most games in a season with 10 or more strikeouts and the team record for most career games with 10 or more strikeouts.
Most games in a season with 10 or more strikeouts (Brewers pitchers)
9-Ben Sheets, 2004
8-Corbin Burnes, 2021
7-Yovani Gallardo, 2010
7-Teddy Higuera, 1987
6-Jimmy Nelson, 2017
Most career games with 10 or more strikeouts in a game (Brewers pitchers)
18-Yovani Gallardo
17-Corbin Burnes
16-Teddy Higuera
15-Ben Sheets
12-Brandon Woodruff
Breaking the MLB record for these two stats, however, might be a little harder. There has been eight times in the majors that a pitcher has struck out 10 or more batters in 20 or more games in a season. Randy Johnson holds four of those eight seasons. They are:
Most games in a season with 10 or more strikeouts (all MLB pitchers)
23-Randy Johnson, Arizona, 2001
23-Randy Johnson, Arizona, 2000
23-Randy Johnson, Arizona, 1999
23-Nolan Ryan, California, 1973
21-Gerrit Cole, Houston, 2019
21-Sandy Koufax, LA Dodgers, 1965
20-Randy Johnson, Houston/Seattle, 1998
20-Nolan Ryan, California, 1977
The career record for most 10-strikeout games was basically a two-man race between Randy Johnson and Nolan Ryan. Ryan tops the list with 215 career games with 10 or more strikeouts, Johnson ended his career just three games short of Ryan with 212. Only three other MLB pitchers have 100 or more career games with 10 or more strikeouts… Roger Clemens (110), Pedro Martinez (108) and Max Scherzer (106).
