Twins pitchers have shot at top-10 strikeout season in MLB history
The Twins pitching staff is on pace to have one of the best strikeout seasons in team history, but also has a shot at finishing as one of the best strikeout staffs in Major League Baseball history.
Entering play Tuesday, Twins pitchers have recorded 1,146 strikeouts in 2023, good for eighth all time in Twins history. The best Twins strikeout seasons:
- 1,463 strikeouts - 2019 Twins
- 1,337 - 2018
- 1,336 - 2022
- 1,317 - 2021
- 1,191 - 2016
- 1,166 - 2017
- 1,164 - 2006
- 1,146 - 2023
At the current pace of 9.55 strikeouts per game, the 2023 staff could move into fifth place in franchise history by the end of the upcoming weekend series against the Pirates.
Through 120 games the Twins' 1,146 strikeouts leads the majors and they're on pace to finish with 1,547 strikeouts. That would be good enough for 20th all time. The top 10 wouldn't be too far out of reach for the Twins.
- 1,687 strikeouts- 2018 Houston Astros
- 1,671 - 2019 Houston Astros
- 1,634 - 2019 New York Yankees
- 1,633 - 2019 Boston Red Sox
- 1,621 - 2019 Tampa Bay Rays
- 1,618 - 2021 Milwaukee Brewers
- 1,614 - 2017 Cleveland Indians
- 1,599 - 2021 Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1,593 - 2017 Houston Astros
- 1,588 - 2021 Chicago White Sox
If Minnesota improved its strikeouts by one per game, to 10.55, they would surpass the 2021 Chicago White Sox by one for tenth all-time.
How likely is it that the Twins can improve an already league-leading strikeout number? Let's have a look at their remaining 42 games to see.
- 2 games vs Detroit Tigers (1,049 strikeouts - 8.89/game)(23.8% strikeout rate)
- 2 games vs Milwaukee Brewers (1,063 - 8.93/game)(23.9%)
- 3 games vs New York Mets (938 - 7.88/game)(21.1%)
- 3 games vs Tampa Bay Rays (1,046 - 8.65/game)(23%)
- 3 games vs Pittsburgh Pirates (1,058 - 8.89/game)(23.8%)
- 3 games vs Cincinnati Reds (1,106 - 9.22/game)(24.1%)
- 3 games vs Los Angeles Angels (1,114 - 9.28/game)(24.3%)
- 3 games vs Oakland A's (1,082 - 9.09/game)(24.5%)
- 3 games vs Colorado Rockies (1,127 - 9.47/game)(25.5%)
- 4 games vs Chicago White Sox (1,055 - 8.67/game)(23.8%)
- 6 games vs Cleveland Guardians (828 - 6.96/game)(18.5%)
- 7 games vs Texas Rangers (1,030 - 8.66/game)(22.2%)
Only the Guardians, Mets and Rangers have a better than league average strikeout rate at this point of the season. So you're telling me there's a chance?
Taking it one step further, let's look at where each of those teams stands in terms of playoff races, and how likely they are to bring in depth to look at for the future. You know, those young prospects who tend to strike out a lot..
The only division leaders the Twins play down the stretch are the Rangers (7 games) and Brewers (2 games). The Rays (3 games) are the lone team currently in a Wild Card spot while the Reds (3 games) sit one game out of a Wild Card spot. No other team on Minnesota's remaining schedule sits within seven games of a wild card spot.
It's just too bad the Twins can't face their own batters (1,227 strikeouts, 10.23 K's/game, 27% K-rate) down the stretch.
