Braves History: Spencer Strider Becomes Fastest to 200 Strikeouts

In what has been an incredible rookie season for Atlanta Braves starter Spencer Strider, it became historic on Sunday when he became the quickest to 200 strikeouts. 

The Atlanta Braves weren’t sure what role Spencer Strider would play when the season began. But as they gear up for the postseason, it’s pretty evident he’s earned a spot in the big league rotation for a long time to come.

I wrote a couple of weeks ago that Spencer Strider had to chance to make history by becoming the quickest (in terms of innings) to reach 200 strikeouts.

Randy Johnson previously held the record for getting to 200 strikeouts in a season in just 130.2 innings back in 2001.

Entering Sunday’s start, Strider needed 8 more strikeouts to reach 200. And he needed to get those strikeouts in the first 4.2 innings of the game to break the record.

He did it in 4.1 innings with 2 strikeouts in the first, 1 in the second, 1 in the third, 3 in the fourth, and then he struck out the first batter of the fifth.

Strider would go on to strikeout 10 Phillies batters over 6 innings. And oh by the way, he had a no-hitter working through 5.2 innings.

He now has the second-most 10 strikeout games in a season in franchise history.

The righty became the first Braves rookie to reach 200 strikeouts in the modern era. Only three rookies in franchise history have reached 200 strikeouts and Kid Nichols and Bill Stemmeyer did it throwing 424 and 348.2 innings respectively.

Outside of franchise history, Spencer Strider become the first rookie to reach 200 strikeouts in a season since Yu Darvish in 2012. And Darvish had pitched many years professionally overseas already.

It’s been a truly incredible season for Spencer Strider with the Braves. And now he has etched his name in baseball history. If he keeps it up, he’ll be making much history during his time with the Atlanta Braves.