List of Major League Baseball career games started leaders

In baseball statistics, a pitcher is credited with a game started (denoted by GS) if he is the first pitcher to pitch for his team in a game.

Cy Young, the all-time leader in career starts

Cy Young[1][2][3] holds the Major League Baseball games started record with 815. Young is the only pitcher in MLB history to start more than 800 career games. Nolan Ryan[4] (773), Don Sutton[5] (756), Greg Maddux[6] (740), Phil Niekro[7] (716), Steve Carlton[8] (709), Roger Clemens[9] (707), and Tommy John[10] (700) are the only other pitchers to have started 700 or more games their career.

Key edit

RankRank amongst leaders in career wins. A blank field indicates a tie.
Player (2024 GS)Number of games started during the 2024 Major League Baseball season
GSTotal career games started
*Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame.
BoldDenotes active player.[note 1]

List edit

Zack Greinke, the active leader in career games started and 34th all-time.
  • Stats updated as of May 29, 2024.[11]
RankPlayer (2024 GS)GS
1Cy Young*815
2Nolan Ryan*773
3Don Sutton*756
4Greg Maddux*740
5Phil Niekro*716
6Steve Carlton*709
7Roger Clemens707
8Tommy John700
9Gaylord Perry*690
10Pud Galvin*688
11Bert Blyleven*685
12Tom Glavine*682
13Walter Johnson*666
14Warren Spahn*665
15Tom Seaver*647
16Jamie Moyer638
17Jim Kaat*625
18Frank Tanana616
19Early Wynn*612
20Robin Roberts*609
21Randy Johnson*603
22Grover Cleveland Alexander*600
23Ferguson Jenkins*594
Tim Keefe*594
25Bobby Matthews568
26Dennis Martínez562
27Kid Nichols*561
28CC Sabathia560
29Eppa Rixey*554
30Bartolo Colón552
Christy Mathewson*552
32Mickey Welch*549
33Jerry Reuss547
34Zack Greinke (0)541
35Red Ruffing*538
36Mike Mussina*536
37Eddie Plank*529
Rick Reuschel529
39Jerry Koosman527
Jack Morris*527
41Jim Palmer*521
Andy Pettitte521
43Jim Bunning*519
44John Clarkson*518
45Justin Verlander (8)517
46Jack Powell516
47Gus Weyhing505
48Tony Mullane504
49Charlie Radbourn*503
50Joe Niekro500
RankPlayer (2024 GS)GS
51Bob Friend497
Burleigh Grimes*497
53Mickey Lolich496
54Mark Buehrle493
55David Wells489
56Claude Osteen488
57Sad Sam Jones487
58Jim McCormick485
59Bob Feller*484
Ted Lyons*484
Luis Tiant484
62Red Faber*483
Bobo Newsom483
64Bob Gibson*482
65John Smoltz*481
66Tim Hudson479
67Kevin Brown476
Catfish Hunter*476
69Liván Hernández474
Kenny Rogers474
71Vida Blue473
Earl Whitehill473
73Vic Willis*471
74Chuck Finley467
75Orel Hershiser466
76Don Drysdale*465
Milt Pappas465
78Doyle Alexander464
79Tim Wakefield463
80Bob Welch462
81Curt Simmons462
82Mike Torrez458
83Lefty Grove*457
Juan Marichal*457
85Rick Wise455
86Jon Lester451
87Max Scherzer (0)448
88Jim Perry447
89John Lackey446
90Paul Derringer445
91Kevin Millwood443
Jack Quinn443
Javier Vázquez443
94Charlie Hough440
Mike Moore440
96Whitey Ford*438
97Curt Schilling436
98Mel Harder433
Carl Hubbell*433
Billy Pierce433

Notes edit

  1. ^ A player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or not played for a full season.

References edit

  1. ^ "Cy Young Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  2. ^ Nowlin - Southwick, Bill - David. "Cy Young Bio". Society For American Baseball Research. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  3. ^ "Cy Young Hall of Fame Profile". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  4. ^ "Nolan Ryan Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  5. ^ "Don Sutton Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  6. ^ "Greg Maddux Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  7. ^ "Phil Niekro Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  8. ^ "Steve Carlton Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "Roger Clemens Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  10. ^ "Tommy John Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  11. ^ MLB.com – Career Leaders for Games Started

External links edit