Justin Verlander Joins Elite Strikeout Club with 3,500th K as Nationals Dominate Giants – What’s Next for the Legendary Pitcher?

Justin Verlander etched his name deeper into baseball lore this past Sunday, stepping onto the mound at Oracle Park and becoming just the 10th pitcher ever to notch 3,500 strikeouts in a Major League Baseball career. It was a bittersweet moment for the Giants’ ace—three strikeouts in the first inning of an 8-0 loss to the Washington Nationals, a team he had never lost to before, marking a monumental personal achievement amid a tough outing. The crowd rose in respect as Verlander tipped his cap, a salute to a legendary journey that few have made. At 42, with the active lead in strikeouts and a spot firmly in the top ten all-time, Justin’s not just battling batters but the clock as well. His climb is nearing the towering figures like Walter Johnson and the all-time king Nolan Ryan, standing as a testament to longevity, skill, and fierce determination on baseball’s biggest stage. Fans and analysts alike know this milestone isn’t just a number—it’s the culmination of grit, grind, and countless innings of sheer mastery. For a closer look at Verlander’s historic night and what lies ahead for this Giants’ hurler, LEARN MORE.

Justin Verlander joined a very small group of pitchers in Major League Baseball history Sunday afternoon.

The San Francisco pitcher struck out three in the opening inning of the Giants’ 8-0 loss to the Washington Nationals. The third strikeout made him just the 10th pitcher in big-league history to record at least 3,500 strikeouts in his career.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner received a big ovation from the home crowd at Oracle Park as he closed the inning and slowly walked back to the dugout before tipping his cap.

Verlander is now 10th on MLB’s all-time strikeouts list, nine away from matching Walter Johnson. Nolan Ryan is the all-time leader with 5,714. Verlander is the active leader in the big leagues. Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw are the only other active players in the top 30.

“I was happy to get there, happy to have the moment with the fans,” Verlander said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “It’s cool. It’s a cool milestone, something that I really appreciate what it’s taken to get there.”

Despite the historic start, Verlander struggled the rest of the way against the Nationals, a team he was previously unbeaten against in his career. The 42-year-old allowed 11 hits and five runs in five innings. The Nationals put up four runs in the second inning, thanks to a two-RBI double from James Wood and a two-run homer from CJ Abrams.

The win was the second straight for the Nationals, who now sit at 47-70. The Giants are 59-59 and are third in the NL West. Verlander holds just a 1-9 record this year, his first with the Giants, in 20 starts and nearly 100 innings pitched. He signed a one-year, $15 million deal to join the Giants this season after a short run back with the Houston Astros.

San Francisco will be back in action Tuesday night to begin a three-game series with the San Diego Padres. Verlander is slated to make his next start Aug. 16 against the Tampa Bay Rays.