Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Braves hurler makes insane MLB history

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 7/21/23

Atlanta Braves starter Spencer Strider has shown a knack for posting strikeouts, and on Thursday, K's helped the young right-hander make mind-blowing baseball history.

During the Braves 7-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, Strider posted 13 strikeouts, giving him 354 for his career. According to ESPN Stats and Info, Strider has the most strikeouts by a hurler through their first 40 career starts since baseball moved the pitcher's mound to the modern-day distance back in 1893.

Spencer Strider's 11th and 12th Ks.

Thru 5. On 72 pitches. pic.twitter.com/y5kWb3EmS3
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 20, 2023

Meanwhile, Strider also made Braves franchise history, joining Hall of Famer John Smoltz (1996) as the only Atlanta pitcher to record 10 or more strikeouts in three consecutive starts. In Strider's previous two starts, he fanned 10 Chicago White Sox after posting 11 strikeouts against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Strider received a no-decision in Wednesday's victory, allowing four earned runs off four hits, lasting six innings on the mound. However, his double-digit strikeout day increased his lead atop MLB. The 24-year-old leads the league with 189, 36 more than second-place, occupied by Toronto Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman (153).

Along with his crazy-high strikeout numbers, Strider's 11-3 mark and a 3.78 ERA put him in contention for the National League Cy Young Award. Strider has the second-best odds (+325) to win it, trailing only Zac Gallen of the Diamondbacks (+240), per Oddschecker.

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