Rays set franchise season record for strikeouts, sit within reach of MLB record
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Rays' pitchers have set a new franchise standard for strikeouts, and the major-league record could come next.
Sunday, right-hander Nathan Karns struck out Josh Phegley on an 82-mph curveball to begin the fifth inning of the Chicago White Sox's 10-5 victory at Tropicana Field. The sequence marked the 1,384th strikeout for Rays' pitchers this season, passing their old record set in 2012.
"Great job," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Obviously, we've been a very powerful pitching staff all season, even while missing some really key players, although some of the young guys who have come up have been great, especially within the bullpen."
Right-hander Jake Odorizzi leads Tampa Bay with 171 strikeouts, followed by right-handers Chris Archer (167) and Alex Cobb (141), then left-hander Drew Smyly (133) and reliever Brad Boxberger (103) round out those within the Rays' staff who own at least 100 strikeouts this season. Reliever Jake McGee, with 87 strikeouts, also has produced a strong total.
With the Rays (75-81) standing at 1,389 strikeouts after Karns and relievers Cesar Ramos, Kirby Yates and Boxberger combined for nine Sunday, the major-league record for most strikeouts in a season remains well within reach with six games to play. The 2013 Detroit Tigers produced 1,428 strikeouts.
"Great job by the pitching staff," Maddon said. "There are still some games left. I guess we're chasing some other records, and I guess playing .500 is still within reach."
The Rays have competition for the majors' single-season strikeout record, though. The Cleveland Indians, with 15 strikeouts in a victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, passed Tampa Bay for the most strikeouts and stand at 1,391 through 156 games. It marks the first time Tampa Bay hasn't led the majors in strikeouts this season since the end of play June 18, when the Los Angeles Dodgers paced the league in the category.
But the Rays' feat is noteworthy, considering they were without left-hander Matt Moore for all but two starts this season because of a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow that required Tommy John surgery. Cobb, meanwhile, missed more than five weeks with a left oblique strain in parts of April and May. In addition, left-hander David Price led the Rays with 189 strikeouts before his trade to the Detroit Tigers on July 31, and his total isn't reflected in Tampa Bay's current mark.
"We're not really setting goals for that, in terms (of) by the end of the season," Cobb said of the single-season strikeout record. "It would be really cool to have it. ... So it's something we'd like to do if we do it. But it's not something we're going out there and saying, 'Let's go strike everybody out.'"
You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.
