![Justin Verlandet has led the American League in strikeouts five times. [Image Source: Flickr | Larry Syverson]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2019/5/6/660x290/b_502x220x82/justin-verlandet-has-led-the-american-league-in-strikeouts-five-times-image-source-flickr-larry-syverson_2259601.jpg "Justin Verlandet has led the American League in strikeouts five times. [Image Source: Flickr | Larry Syverson]")
On April 30, New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia joined an exclusive list by becoming the 17th pitcher to strikeout at least 3,000 hitters.
He is the only active pitcher to achieve the feat for now. Here are the next six active pitchers after Sabathia on the career strikeout list. The career strikeout leaders were taken from Baseball Reference.
Justin Verlandet - 2,766 strikeouts
Verlander led the American League in strikeouts for the fifth time last season with 290. He already has tallied another 60 in his first eight starts of 2019. Now 36 years old, he looks as if he may be able to reach 3,000 strikeouts early next season.
Max Scherzer - 2,511 strikeouts
The National League leader in strikeouts each of the last three seasons, Scherzer leads once again with 62 punch outs in seven starts. Barring injury, Scherzer (turns 35 on July 27) could reach the historic feat late in 2020.
