Verlander now 3rd all-time in strikeouts

Heading into his next start in Sunday's doubleheader action, Justin Verlander now stands 3rd all time in strikeouts and has moved into the top 10 this season in most every major pitching category.

The Hillsborough hurler has 250 strikeouts on the season and now stands at 2,750 strikeouts all time. His 2,733rd strikeout to overtake Roger Clemens for 3rd place came during a 14-strikeout, 1-0 masterpiece Game of the Week against Hopatcong. Unfortunately for Verlander, the game went 10 innings so his 9-inning one-hitter didn't qualify as a shutout, or even a complete game but it was among the highest Game Scores in DMBL this season (98).

The 37-year-old Verlander will have to wait until next season to move into 2nd all time in strikeouts. Next up is Pedro Martinez, 174 strikeouts away, at 2,924 strikeouts. Verlander could reach 3,000 next season but it will be awhile before anyone reaches Randy Johnson. The only pitcher in DMBL to reach 3,000 so far, he stands alone with 3,408 -- almost 500 strikeouts ahead of Pedro.

Now in his 15th DMBL season, most of them spent in Hillsborough, Verlander has reached several other career milestones this year. He became the 9th pitcher to reach 400 starts (followed soon after by teammate Zack Greinke), passing Tim Hudson, the late Roy Halladay and Bartolo Colon, and now stands at 425, 6th all-time.

He's also poised to pass Curt Schilling for 8th all-time in innings at 2,800.3. Verlander stands at 2,786.7 and with about 4 starts remaining, could reach Tom Glavine at No. 4 (2,831.3) before the season is out.

At 176 wins, Verlander also could equal or surpass Halladay for No. 6 in wins (179) before the year is out. That would put him behind the only five pitchers in DMBL to reach 200 wins:

1. Maddux, 232
2. Johnson, 230
3. Clemens, 211
4. Martinez, 207
5. Schilling, 205

It would take an epic 2021 season for Verlander to reach 200 wins next year.