logo
Ketel Marte's game-tying two-run homer (18)

Ketel Marte's game-tying two-run homer (18)

Yahoo5 hours ago
Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson on the key to his success in win against the Blue Jays
Arizona Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson allowed one run on one hit in 5 2/3 innings, and the Diamondbacks left Toronto with a 9-5 win.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings

Fox News

time27 minutes ago

  • Fox News

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team that compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Vikings have the most conference championship appearances of non-winning Super Bowl teams. Minnesota is one of four teams to appear in a conference championship every decade since the 1970s. Multiple Pro Football Hall of Famers have played quarterback for Minnesota like Warren Moon, Brett Favre, and Fran Tarkenton. Former Vikings running back, Adrian Peterson, won MVP in 2012 while rushing for 2,097 yards, the second most rushing yards in a season in NFL history. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson, 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, stars on the Vikings offense.

Which MLB pitchers could be next to join 3,000-strikeout club?
Which MLB pitchers could be next to join 3,000-strikeout club?

USA Today

time33 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Which MLB pitchers could be next to join 3,000-strikeout club?

Now that Clayton Kershaw has officially become the 20th pitcher in major league history to record 3,000 career strikeouts, baseball fans' attention can turn to the question of who might be the next pitcher to join him. Kershaw is now the third active member of MLB's 3,000-strikeout club, along with Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. On the horizon though, only four current pitchers are even two-thirds of the way to the milestone. So let's take a look at some of the best strikeout pitchers in the game today and see how likely it is they'll become part of that exclusive group. Next closest to 3,000 strikeouts Only four pitchers currently on MLB rosters have even surpassed 2,000 career strikeouts. Unfortunately, the top two are currently on the injured list, putting a halt to their climb up the leaderboard. Sale, 36, went on the injured list June 21 after suffering a fractured ribcage diving for a popup in a game against the New York Mets. He was later moved to the 60-day injured list, which means he can't return until at least mid-August. The reigning NL Cy Young award winner had continued to be one of the league's best pitchers this season -- with 114 strikeouts in 89 ⅓ innings (11.5 K/9). However, staying healthy has proved to be a challenge for Sale throughout his 16-year career. At his current career rate of 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings as a starter (and his career average of 6.3 innings per start), Sale would need to make another 60 starts to get to 3,000. Assuming five more starts this season, Sale would be on pace to hit the milestone toward the end of the 2027 season at age 38. Cole, 34, is out for the season after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in March. He's expected to be able to resume throwing in September with an eye toward being ready for the start of the 2026 season. Pitchers have been able to come back from elbow surgery and have successful careers -- Verlander was one who did it and won a Cy Young at age 39 – so it's certainly possible Cole will make it to 3,000 strikeouts. If he can maintain his career strikeout rate, Cole would need 106 more starts to hit 3K. If his recovery is successful, he could potentially get there during the 2029 season. At age 41, Morton is unlikely to make it to 3,000 – even though he has averaged 192.8 strikeouts a year over the past four full seasons. Even at that amazing pace, he's still need to pitch until he's 45 to get there. Probably the most surprising member of the 2K club, Darvish has yet to pitch this season as he works his way back from elbow inflammation he first developed this spring. Since he began his pro career in Japan and only started pitching in MLB in 2012, Darvish, 38, probably doesn't have enough time to get to 3,000 K's. However, he did lead the majors in strikeouts with 277 in 2013. Possible late-career surge Of the 10 remaining pitchers at least halfway to 3,000, Nola, 32, has the best combination of accumulated strikeouts and potential production. However, he also is currently on the 60-day injured list with ankle and rib issues. He's averaged 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings over his 11-year career -- one that has been largely injury free. Over the past six full MLB seasons, he's averaged 203 strikeouts per year. At that pace, he would have needed almost seven full seasons to get to 3,000. This year's injury seemingly would extend that into 2032 before he'd be able to reach 3,000 K's. Ray, 33, will likely pass the injured Nola sometime this month. He's 20 months older, but has a better career whiff rate (11.0 K/9) than the Phillies star. In fact, Ray has the third highest strikeout rate in major league history of pitchers with at least 1,000 career innings. However, he's dealt with health issues over the past two seasons – pitching a total of 34 innings in 2023 and 2024 combined. Back in top form this season, the 2021 AL Cy Young winner would need to continue his historic whiff rate over another 200 starts to get to 3,000 strikeouts. So optimistically, 2032. Too early to tell The road to 3K is long and filled with obstacles. Even the most talented pitchers need to avoid catastrophic injuries and have lengthy careers to have a shot. But they all have to start somewhere and bat-missing talent is a good place to start. The defending AL Cy Young award winner just might be the most dominant pitcher in the game right now. He led the majors in strikouts last season with 228 and is just six behind Garrett Crochet's 144 for the MLB lead this year. Projecting his career over at least another decade is tricky, but let's give it a shot. He's whiffed 10.4 batters per nine innings over 120 major league starts, averaging 5.6 innings per start. At that pace, Skubal would need to make 344 more starts to reach 3,000 strikeouts. He made a career-high 31 starts last season, so if he's able to do that every year going forward ... it would take Skubal until the second half of 2036 to hit the 3,000 mark. Just for kicks, let's do last seasons's NL Rookie of the Year. Now in his first full major league campaign, Skenes is just slighly ahead of Skubal in averaging 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings over his 41 big-league starts. Needing just 2,715 more strikeouts to join the 3K club, Skenes would need to stay healthy and maintain his current pace for strikeouts and innings pitched per game for another 392 starts. Let's be optimistic and say he makes 34 starts per season every year. That's another 14 in 2025, plus 11 full seasons and another four starts in 2037. Good luck fellas. Clayton will see ya' in Cooperstown!

Fever Coach Stephanie White Reveals Clear Thoughts on Playing Without Caitlin Clark
Fever Coach Stephanie White Reveals Clear Thoughts on Playing Without Caitlin Clark

Yahoo

time35 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Fever Coach Stephanie White Reveals Clear Thoughts on Playing Without Caitlin Clark

Fever Coach Stephanie White Reveals Clear Thoughts on Playing Without Caitlin Clark originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Fever played the final game of the WNBA's Commissioner Cup on Tuesday against the Minnesota Lynx. Star guard Caitlin Clark was unable to suit up due to a strained groin, and it seemed to mean the Lynx had a sizable advantage in this game. Advertisement But the Fever won convincingly, 74-59. Veteran forward Natasha Howard, who joined them in the offseason as a free agent, was named the MVP with 16 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Overall, Indiana has now won seven of its last 11 games (Tuesday's game, however, doesn't count toward its official season record), even though Clark has been in and out of the lineup. Head coach Stephanie White feels that having to go to war without the reigning Rookie of the Year will pay off in the long run. "Learning to play without [Caitlin], learning to make big plays in tough moments on both ends of the floor is important because that's gonna pay dividends down the stretch of the season for us," White said. Advertisement Even though Clark has been struggling with her shooting, especially her 3-point shooting, she remains a huge threat who makes life easier for her teammates. But Indiana still has a decent amount of talent outside of her. Overall, the team has five players averaging double figures in scoring, including Howard, who was at 11.2 points in 23.8 minutes a game coming into Tuesday. Guard Kelsey Mitchell leads Indiana with an average of 18.9 points per game. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) missed the Commissioner's Cup matchup due to a lingering groin Johnson-Imagn Images The Fever trailed by as many as 13 points against the Lynx and scored just seven points in the second quarter. But they fought back thanks to a team effort, as well as a team defense that held Minnesota to 32 points after halftime. Advertisement Clark is averaging 18.2 points and 8.9 assists per contest so far this season, although she's shooting just 39% from the field and 29.5% from 3-point range. Related: Dick Vitale Had Animated Response to Unexpected Caitlin Clark News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store