For pitchers in baseball, a lot of their statistics are based on the players around them. For example wins and losses are determined not only by how well the pitcher pitches but also by how much run support the offense provides. Earned Run Average (ERA) is a good measure of how well a pitcher is doing, but it can be greatly altered by where some of the batted balls land. A batter could hit a rocket 400 feet that is caught on the warning track for an out, while another hitter might reach base safely with a little dribbler the travels 30 feet. This irony in baseball lead to the phase: “Hit it where they ain’t.” So, due to the amount of factors that weigh into several of the pitchers’ statistics, strikeouts prove to be a great way to determine which pitchers are dominating. When a pitcher records a strikeout, he is helping his own cause and does not need to rely on the luck of having the ball be hit where his fielders can make a play. Here is a Top 10 list of the best strikeout pitchers in the Majors Leagues in 2014:
[new page = Zack Greinke]
10. Zack Greinke
Zack Greinke has struck out 119 batters pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season. He holds an 11-4 record with a 2.66 ERA. He won his first five decisions of the year.
[new page = Madison Bumgarner]
9. Madison Bumgarner
Pitching for the San Francisco Giants, Madison Bumgarner has struck out 120 batters this season. He has fanned 10 three times this year, including in back-to-back starts on May 25 and 30.
[new page = Corey Kluber]
8. Corey Kluber
Pitching for the Cleveland Indians, Corey Kluber has recorded 127 strikeouts this season. He has notched double digits in K’s three times, including a season high 13 against the Chicago White Sox on May 4.
[new page = Yu Darvish]
7. Yu Darvish
Yu Darvish has stuck out 128 batters this season as the ace of the Texas Rangers’ rotation. After recording only one win in his first five starts, he has bolstered his record to 8-4 and holds a 2.42 ERA.
[new page = Masahiro Tanaka]
T-5. Masahiro Tanaka
In his first year in the Majors, Masahiro Tanaka has made a splash, striking out 130 batters. He holds a 12-3 record and a 2.27 ERA, which is the second best in the American League. His 12 wins is the most in the league.
[new page = Johnny Cueto]
T-5. Johnny Cueto
Johnny Cueto has also struck out 130 batters this year, pitching for the Cincinnati Reds. His 1.99 ERA ranks second best in the Majors. He has fanned 12 in a game twice this year.
[new page = Stephen Strasburg]
4. Stephen Strasburg
Pitching for the Washington Nationals, Steven Strasburg had fanned a NL-best 131 batters in 112 innings pitched. His season-high 12 strikeouts came against the Miami Marlins on April 10. He has posted an 8-6 record with a 3.53 ERA this year.
[new page = Felix Hernandez]
3. Felix Hernandez
Felix Hernandez has recorded 137 strikeouts pitching for the Seattle Mariners. He has posted a 10-2 record with an AL-best 2.10 ERA. He has won seven of his last eight decisions.
[new page = Max Scherzer]
2. Max Scherzer
Max Scherzer has struck out 139 batter this year for the Detroit Tigers. He has a 10-3 record with a 3.47 ERA. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner fanned a season-high 13 batters on June 28 on the road against the Houston Astros.
[new page = David Price]
1. David Price
Tampa Bay Rays’ ace David Price has stuck out the most batters in the Major Leagues with 153. He has fanned at least 10 batters eight times this year, including all five of his starts in the month of June. He holds a 7-7 record with a 3.50 ERA.