Jacob deGrom 2000 Strikeouts: 2nd-Fastest in MLB

Jacob deGrom's 2,000 strikeouts arrived in the first inning, then he kept punching the clock. The Associated Press reported that the Texas Rangers right-hander fanned the first two Washington Nationals he saw Thursday night — Daylen Lile and Abimelec Ortiz, both chasing sliders below the zone — on the way to 10 strikeouts in a 2-0 win. Globe Life Field stood up. deGrom tapped his cap over his heart. Then he went back to work.

The line: six innings, one hit, one walk, 94 pitches, zero earned runs. Both the single and the walk belonged to Brady House. He struck out the side in the fourth. The 10 Ks matched a season high. deGrom moved to 9-8 with a 3.77 ERA. AP said he finished the night with 2,008 strikeouts in 1,666 1/3 innings over 272 starts since his 2014 Mets debut. That is the whole career in one box score.

Jacob deGrom 2000 strikeouts: second-fewest games and innings

AP called it the second-fewest games and innings pitched in major league history. Hall of Famer Randy Johnson got there in 262 appearances. Chris Sale still owns the innings record at 1,626. deGrom is 38. He is the 95th pitcher to reach 2,000 and the ninth active, AP said, and the fourth this season after Kevin Gausman, Sonny Gray, and Aaron Nola. MLB.com, citing Elias, added the Rangers franchise footnote: he is the third pitcher to record his 2,000th strikeout in a Texas uniform, after Ferguson Jenkins (Aug. 31, 1974) and Cole Hamels (June 12, 2016).

MLB.com also logged the hat-tip moment and the quotes. "It was very cool," deGrom said. "Obviously I've said it before, personal accomplishments are cool, but the goal is to win." Catcher Danny Jansen called him a legend. Manager Skip Schumaker, who faced him and never struck out against him, went further: "We're watching a Hall of Famer." AP had Schumaker shorter and louder after the 10-K night: "It was vintage deGrom."

The triceps scare that almost made this an IL story

This was not a clean run-up. AP said deGrom was pulled from his Aug. 13 start after two innings with triceps fatigue. Schumaker was among those who feared the injured list. Texas pushed the Washington start back one day instead. Then he threw 94 pitches and punched out 10. The Jacob deGrom 2,000 strikeouts night is the version of him Rangers fans bought: the two-time Cy Young, still missing bats, still one bad triceps from a conversation nobody wants.

He will not sit with the milestone yet. "Maybe whenever my career is over I'll look at that kind of stuff," deGrom told AP. "But even when the season's over, I'm like, 'I've got to figure out a way to get outs the following year.'" MLB.com said he sat on 1,999 for two starts. Thursday he went through it in eight pitches, then piled seven more Ks on top. Elsewhere in the league, the Giants are walking Rafael Devers back into Fenway and Seattle is handing the ball to Kade Anderson on Saturday. deGrom just reminded everyone what an ace still looks like when the arm holds.

Jacob deGrom 2000 strikeouts FAQ

When did Jacob deGrom reach 2,000 strikeouts? Thursday night, Aug. 20, in a 2-0 Rangers win over the Nationals. AP said he struck out Daylen Lile and Abimelec Ortiz to open the game, then finished with 10 Ks.

How fast did Jacob deGrom get to 2,000 strikeouts? Second-fewest games and innings in MLB history, per AP. Randy Johnson did it in 262 games. Chris Sale needed 1,626 innings. deGrom got there in 272 starts.

How many strikeouts does Jacob deGrom have now? 2,008 after Thursday, AP reported, in 1,666 1/3 innings. He is 9-8 with a 3.77 ERA this season and had been pulled Aug. 13 after two innings with triceps fatigue.