Atlanta Braves' Spencer Strider Continues to Be the Strikeout King of 2023

As the Atlanta Braves go after the best record in baseball this season, Spencer Strider leads the world in strikeout-related categories.

The Atlanta Braves enter play on Friday with the best record in baseball at 82-44. They've won seven of their last 10 games and are working towards securing the No. 1 seed in the National League playoffs.

A huge reason for the Braves' success this year has been the powerful and home run-hitting lineup, but another key reason has been the power pitching of Spencer Strider.

In the wake of significant injuries to Max Fried and Kyle Wright this season, Strider has carried the staff, going 14-4 this year with a 3.57 ERA. He has struck out an unbelievable 227 batters in 146.1 innings, leading baseball in strikeouts by 32 over Kevin Gausman.

He also leads baseball in games of 10+ strikeouts, per @Statmuse

Most games with 10+ SO this season: 

10 — Spencer Strider 

7 — Kevin Gausman 

6 — Shohei Ohtani 

The only players with more than five.

Most games with 10+ SO this season:

10 — Spencer Strider
7 — Kevin Gausman
6 — Shohei Ohtani

The only players with more than five. pic.twitter.com/kIOoRS9aUt

— StatMuse Baseball (@statmusemlb) August 24, 2023

Gausman is also having a phenomenal year for the Blue Jays, going 9-8 with a 3.23 ERA. He's struck out 195 batters in 150.1 innings. He's made 25 starts.

Sadly, Ohtani will not get a chance to add to his season totals this year, as he will stop pitching for the rest of the season in order to heal a torn UCL. It's unknown yet whether or not Ohtani will need surgery but it's a possibility.

He finished the year at 10-5 on the mound.

Strider will take the ball on Friday night as the Braves take on the San Francisco Giants. First pitch is 10:15 p.m. ET.

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