Yesterday, Max Scherzer and Mike Fiers each struck out 14 batters in their respective starts against the Pirates and Cubs. When such a thing happens, there’s a danger in concluding that this sort of thing must not be special, and that it happens all the time. The wiser among us — and me — know that this is still pretty rare. But just how rare? I decided to investigate.

Now, if I’m using the Baseball-Reference Play Index correctly, and lord knows I might not be, I see that in their searchable regular season database — which runs from 1914 to the present — there have been 342,540 games started. But I wanted also to eliminate those rare occasions where the starting pitcher, either through ineptitude or injury, fails to record an out. Using the “at least 1 out” criteria lops off another 1,000 or so games, so now we’re working with 341,258 games started. I also limited things to nine-inning starts, since no one cares that Tom Cheney struck out 21 batters in a 16-inning start in 1962. This actually knocked our sample down much more significantly, all the way down 309,263 starts. I feel that that is justified, otherwise not everyone is operating on the same playing field. If you disagree, feel free to let me know about it in the comments.

From there, I calculated the percentages and came up with this handy table. Since I’m a glutton for punishment, I also added in a couple of extra year-based filters to put things into further context and so that you have the freedom of choice in selecting your arguments on Scherzer’s, Fiers’, and/or any other pitcher’s behalf. After all, this is America.

Pitcher Strikeouts Breakdown, Games Started With At Least 1 Out Recorded & 9 Innings Or Fewer
	1914-2014		1947-2014		1995-2014
Strikeouts	Total	Percentage	Total	Percentage	Total	Percentage
0	26,484	8.564%	14,831	6.323%	3,075	3.565%
1	43,611	14.102%	27,980	11.928%	7,743	8.977%
2	51,413	16.624%	36,362	15.502%	11,939	13.842%
3	50,630	16.371%	38,611	16.461%	14,036	16.273%
4	43,493	14.063%	34,985	14.915%	13,892	16.106%
5	33,734	10.908%	28,481	12.142%	12,004	13.917%
6	23,307	7.536%	20,248	8.632%	8,829	10.236%
7	15,422	4.987%	13,693	5.838%	6,119	7.094%
8	9,373	3.031%	8,476	3.613%	3,894	4.515%
9	5,389	1.743%	4,921	2.098%	2,117	2.454%
10	3,107	1.005%	2,891	1.232%	1,303	1.511%
11	1,590	0.514%	1,474	0.628%	651	0.755%
12	853	0.276%	802	0.342%	334	0.387%
13	467	0.151%	442	0.188%	171	0.198%
14	200	0.065%	188	0.080%	72	0.083%
15	97	0.031%	91	0.039%	36	0.042%
16	56	0.018%	55	0.023%	21	0.024%
17	17	0.005%	15	0.006%	10	0.012%
18	11	0.004%	10	0.004%	2	0.002%
19	6	0.002%	6	0.003%	2	0.002%
20	3	0.001%	3	0.001%	2	0.002%

Note: My look here is pretty simplistic. If you want a more detailed look, check out Neil Weinberg’s post over at Beyond the Box Score from May. It has cool graphs and junk.

One of the first things that pops out at me, besides how rare the 14-strikeout game, is that across all years, a two-strikeout game is more common than a zero- or one-strikeout game. I wouldn’t have guessed that.

We can also see that while 14-strikeout games have become ever so slightly more frequent, they aren’t even close to one percent of all games started. That’s pretty legit.

Below, is the list of all the pitchers who managed the feat since 1995. Feast upon them.

Pitcher Strikeouts Breakdown, Games Started With At Least 1 Out Recorded & 9 Innings Or Fewer

Player	Date	Tm	Opp	Rslt	App/Dec	IP	H	R	BB	SO	HR	Pit	Str	GSc	WPA	RE24
Kerry Wood	5/6/1998	CHC	HOU	W 2-0	SHO9 W	9	1			20		122	84	105	0.673	4.742
Roger Clemens	9/18/1996	BOS	DET	W 4-0	SHO9 W	9	5			20		151	101	97	0.482	5.42
Randy Johnson	8/8/1997	SEA	CHW	W 5-0	SHO9 W	9	5		3	19		148	91	93	0.312	4.893
Randy Johnson	6/24/1997	SEA	OAK	L 1-4	CG 9 L	9	11	4		19	2	142	100	68	-0.021	0.893
Ben Sheets	5/16/2004	MIL	ATL	W 4-1	CG 9 W	9	3	1	1	18	1	116	91	94	0.355	3.671
Roger Clemens	8/25/1998	TOR	KCR	W 3-0	SHO9 W	9	3			18		130	89	99	0.572	5.044
Anibal Sanchez	4/26/2013	DET	ATL	W 10-0	GS-8 W	8	5		1	17		121	84	88	0.195	4.107
Brandon Morrow	8/8/2010	TOR	TBR	W 1-0	SHO9 W	9	1		2	17		137	97	100	0.751	4.56
Johan Santana	8/19/2007	MIN	TEX	W 1-0	GS-8 W	8	2			17		112	83	95	0.593	4.179
Randy Johnson	9/14/2002	ARI	MIL	W 5-0	SHO9 W	9	3		2	17		126	86	96	0.376	4.954
Randy Johnson	4/21/2002	ARI	COL	W 7-1	CG 9 W	9	2	1	1	17		118	82	97	0.266	3.954
Curt Schilling	4/7/2002	ARI	MIL	W 2-0	SHO9 W	9	1		2	17		127	85	100	0.705	4.369
Pedro Martinez	5/6/2000	BOS	TBD	L 0-1	CG 9 L	9	6	1	1	17		130	91	87	0.383	4.54
Pedro Martinez	9/10/1999	BOS	NYY	W 3-1	CG 9 W	9	1	1		17	1	120	80	98	0.625	4.202
Randy Johnson	6/30/1999	ARI	CIN	L 0-2	CG 8 L	8	7	2		17	1	134	96	77	0.201	2.571
Hideo Nomo	4/13/1996	LAD	FLA	W 3-1	CG 9 W	9	3	1	3	17	1			91	0.424	3.379
Cliff Lee	5/6/2011	PHI	ATL	L 0-5	GS-7 L	7	9	3	1	16		117	87	62	-0.099	0.233
Ricky Nolasco	9/30/2009	FLA	ATL	W 5-4	GS-8 W	7.2	4	2	2	16		123	83	81	0.243	1.719
Jake Peavy	4/25/2007	SDP	ARI	L 2-3	GS-7	7	2		3	16		117	75	86	0.474	3.938
Jason Schmidt	6/6/2006	SFG	FLA	W 2-1	CG 9 W	9	7	1	1	16	1	124	81	84	0.596	3.863
Jake Peavy	5/22/2006	SDP	ATL	L 1-3	GS-7 L	7	3	2	1	16	1	114	74	78	0.067	1.437
Mark Prior	6/26/2003	CHC	MIL	L 3-5	GS-8	8	4	2		16	1	127	86	82	0.387	2.188
Randy Johnson	8/25/2002	ARI	CHC	W 7-0	SHO9 W	9	6		2	16		129	89	89	0.513	4.954
Randy Johnson	9/27/2001	ARI	MIL	W 13-11	GS-7 W	6.2	7	5	2	16	1	126	81	54	0.124	1.157
Randy Johnson	8/23/2001	ARI	PIT	L 1-5	GS-7 L	7	5	4	2	16	1	115	78	65	-0.003	-0.21
Pedro Martinez	4/8/2001	BOS	TBD	W 3-0	GS-8 W	8	3		3	16		112	75	89	0.493	4.43
Ron Villone	9/29/2000	CIN	STL	W 8-1	CG 9 W	9	2	1	5	16		150	90	92	0.281	4.093
Pedro Martinez	6/4/1999	BOS	ATL	W 5-1	CG 9 W	9	3	1	2	16	1	114	78	91	0.407	4.519
Randy Johnson	8/28/1998	HOU	PIT	W 2-0	SHO9 W	9	7			16		133	101	89	0.645	4.51
Kerry Wood	8/26/1998	CHC	CIN	W 9-2	GS-8 W	8	3	2	3	16	1	133	85	83	0.256	2.17
Curt Schilling	9/1/1997	PHI	NYY	W 5-1	GS-8 W	8	7	1		16		124	86	80	0.283	3.107
David Wells	7/30/1997	NYY	OAK	W 7-0	SHO9 W	9	3		3	16		138	96	94	0.215	4.994
Randy Johnson	7/18/1997	SEA	KCR	W 5-4	CG 9 W	9	9	4	3	16	1	155	106	66	0.265	0.893
Roger Clemens	7/12/1997	TOR	BOS	W 3-1	GS-8 W	8	4	1		16				86	0.419	3.527
David Cone	6/23/1997	NYY	DET	W 5-2	GS-8 W	8	4	2	2	16	2	127	82	80	0.25	2.394
Randy Johnson	7/15/1995	SEA	TOR	W 3-0	SHO9 W	9	3		2	16		140	94	95	0.501	5.172
Hideo Nomo	6/14/1995	LAD	PIT	W 8-5	GS-8 W	8	6	3	2	16		125	76	74	0.249	1.179
Clayton Kershaw	6/18/2014	LAD	COL	W 8-0	SHO9 W	9				15		107	79	102	0.156	3.857
Felix Hernandez	6/8/2014	SEA	TBR	W 5-0	GS-7	7	4		1	15		100	66	83	0.427	3.202
Jon Lester	5/3/2014	BOS	OAK	W 6-3	GS-8 W	8	1		2	15		119	76	93	0.173	3.767
Yu Darvish	8/12/2013	TEX	HOU	W 2-1	GS-8 W	8	1	1	1	15	1	115	74	90	0.428	2.838
James Shields	10/2/2012	TBR	BAL	L 0-1	CG 9 L	9	2	1		15	1	106	70	94	0.305	3.238
Francisco Liriano	7/13/2012	MIN	OAK	L 3-6	GS-8 L	8	4	4	1	15	1	112	75	74	-0.06	-0.117
Chris Sale	5/28/2012	CHW	TBR	W 2-1	GS-8 W	7.1	3	1	2	15		115	80	81	0.36	2.519
Max Scherzer	5/20/2012	DET	PIT	W 4-3	GS-7 W	7	4	2	1	15	2	115	80	75	0.09	1.641
Jered Weaver	4/10/2011	LAA	TOR	W 3-1	GS-8 W	7.2	4	1	4	15		125	77	78	0.304	2.272
Zack Greinke	8/25/2009	KCR	CLE	W 6-2	GS-8 W	8	5	2	1	15	1	117	77	78	0.292	2.206
Tim Lincecum	7/27/2009	SFG	PIT	W 4-2	CG 9 W	9	4	2	3	15		115	80	87	0.354	2.57
Erik Bedard	7/7/2007	BAL	TEX	W 3-0	SHO9 W	9	2			15		109	79	98	0.617	5.004
Cole Hamels	4/21/2007	PHI	CIN	W 4-1	CG 9 W	9	5	1	2	15	1	115	82	86	0.484	3.923
John Smoltz	4/10/2005	ATL	NYM	L 1-6	GS-8 L	7.1	8	2		15	1	113	84	69	-0.004	1.827
Randy Johnson	7/31/2002	ARI	MON	W 5-1	CG 9 W	9	8	1	3	15		149	102	79	0.398	3.591
Mike Mussina	9/24/2000	BAL	BOS	W 1-0	GS-7 W	7	5			15		106	79	82	0.485	4.309
Mike Mussina	8/1/2000	BAL	MIN	W 10-0	SHO9 W	9	1		2	15		125	85	98	0.293	5.113
Pedro Martinez	7/23/2000	BOS	CHW	W 1-0	SHO9 W	9	6			15		131	95	90	0.819	5.54
Pedro Martinez	5/12/2000	BOS	BAL	W 9-0	SHO9 W	9	2			15		113	77	98	0.361	5.113
Pedro Martinez	9/4/1999	BOS	SEA	W 4-0	GS-8 W	8	2		3	15		126	81	90	0.463	4.818
Pedro Martinez	8/24/1999	BOS	MIN	W 7-1	GS-8 W	8	4	1	1	15		109	75	86	0.316	3.862
Pedro Martinez	5/12/1999	BOS	SEA	W 9-2	GS-8 W	8	4	2	1	15	1	126	83	80	0.301	2.906
Pedro Martinez	5/7/1999	BOS	ANA	W 6-0	GS-8 W	8	6			15		125	80	85	0.418	4.906
Randy Johnson	4/10/1999	ARI	ATL	W 8-3	CG 9 W	9	6	3	2	15	2	123	83	76	0.162	1.944
Roger Clemens	9/21/1998	TOR	BAL	W 3-1	GS-8 W	8	7	1	3	15		133	87	76	0.425	3.483
Sterling Hitchcock	8/29/1998	SDP	MON	L 1-3	GS-8 L	8	6	3		15	2	103	73	73	-0.055	0.758
Randy Johnson	7/11/1998	SEA	ANA	W 2-0	SHO9 W	9	5		2	15		137	93	90	0.613	5.044
Randy Johnson	5/24/1998	SEA	TBD	W 3-1	CG 9 W	9	7	1	2	15		135	93	82	0.545	4.044
Randy Johnson	4/10/1998	SEA	BOS	L 7-9	GS-8	8	2	2	3	15	1	132	78	82	0.297	2.615
Curt Schilling	4/5/1998	PHI	ATL	W 2-1	CG 9 W	9	5	1	1	15	1	128	87	87	0.673	3.601
Curt Schilling	7/21/1997	PHI	PIT	L 2-3	GS-8 L	8	6	3	1	15	2	130	89	72	-0.009	1.107
Randy Johnson	6/8/1997	SEA	DET	W 2-0	GS-8 W	8	1		3	15		125	82	92	0.643	4.394
Randy Johnson	5/28/1997	SEA	TEX	W 5-0	GS-8 W	8	4		1	15		132	88	88	0.469	4.35
Randy Johnson	9/23/1995	SEA	OAK	W 7-0	GS-8 W	7.1	4		3	15		127	80	82	0.214	4.01
Randy Johnson	6/24/1995	SEA	CAL	W 3-2	CG 9 W	9	5	2	3	15		134	89	81	0.488	3.172
Chuck Finley	5/23/1995	CAL	NYY	W 10-0	SHO9 W	9	2		2	15		144	85	96	0.256	5.073
Yu Darvish	2013-05-27 (2)	TEX	ARI	L 4-5	GS-8	7.2	7	4		14	1	116	83	63	-0.197	-0.478
Oliver Perez	2004-09-09 (1)	PIT	HOU	W 3-1	GS-8 W	8	3	1	1	14		114	80	87	0.431	3.107
Curt Schilling	1998-08-20 (1)	PHI	ARI	W 11-1	CG 9 W	9	4	1	2	14		126	87	87	0.2	3.692
Mike Fiers	8/14/2014	MIL	CHC	W 6-2	GS-6 W	6	3		1	14		106	71	79	0.211	2.731
Max Scherzer	8/14/2014	DET	PIT	W 5-2	GS-8 W	8	3		2	14		121	81	88	0.507	4.036
Jose Fernandez	4/22/2014	MIA	ATL	W 1-0	GS-8 W	8	3			14		109	77	90	0.599	3.534
Cliff Lee	9/16/2013	PHI	MIA	W 12-2	GS-8 W	8	8	2		14		113	84	72	0.16	1.579
Jose Fernandez	8/2/2013	MIA	CLE	W 10-0	GS-8 W	8	3		1	14		108	75	89	0.199	3.614
Yu Darvish	8/1/2013	TEX	ARI	W 7-1	GS-7 W	7	5			14		111	78	81	0.273	3.524
Chris Sale	6/14/2013	CHW	HOU	L 1-2	CG 8 L	8	6	2	1	14		124	85	79	0.071	1.838
Yu Darvish	5/5/2013	TEX	BOS	W 4-3	GS-7	7	4	3	2	14	2	127	78	69	0.033	0.524
Yu Darvish	4/2/2013	TEX	HOU	W 7-0	GS-9 W	8.2	1			14		111	78	96	0.447	4.097
Justin Verlander	8/6/2012	DET	NYY	W 7-2	GS-8 W	8	9	2	1	14		132	96	73	0.118	2.162
Yovani Gallardo	7/15/2012	MIL	PIT	W 4-1	GS-7 W	7	4	1		14	1	108	71	79	0.232	2.492
Matt Cain	6/13/2012	SFG	HOU	W 10-0	SHO9 W	9				14		125	86	101	0.124	3.808
Dan Haren	5/24/2012	LAA	SEA	W 3-0	SHO9 W	9	4			14		126	83	93	0.451	4.097
Anibal Sanchez	4/28/2012	MIA	ARI	W 3-2	GS-7	7	3	2	4	14		110	66	73	0.064	1.398
David Price	8/28/2011	TBR	TOR	W 12-0	GS-7 W	7	3		2	14		111	75	83	0.21	3.649
Roy Halladay	8/16/2011	PHI	ARI	L 2-3	CG 9 L	9	8	3	1	14		122	89	72	-0.251	1.157
CC Sabathia	7/26/2011	NYY	SEA	W 4-1	GS-7 W	7	1	1	3	14		102	71	82	0.159	1.874
Justin Verlander	6/25/2011	DET	ARI	W 6-0	GS-8 W	8	4		1	14		119	84	87	0.287	4.09
Tommy Hanson	6/12/2011	ATL	HOU	W 4-1	GS-7 W	7	3	1	2	14		112	79	79	0.308	2.139
Roy Halladay	4/24/2011	PHI	SDP	W 3-1	GS-9 W	8.2	5	1	1	14		130	94	83	0.365	2.433
Bud Norris	8/14/2010	HOU	PIT	W 3-2	GS-7 W	7	5	2	1	14	1	110	74	72	0.106	1.312
Stephen Strasburg	6/8/2010	WSN	PIT	W 5-2	GS-7 W	7	4	2		14	1	94	65	75	0.12	1.382
Max Scherzer	5/30/2010	DET	OAK	W 10-2	GS-6 W	5.2	2		4	14		113	75	75	0.237	2.6
Roy Halladay	6/2/2009	TOR	LAA	W 6-4	CG 9 W	9	7	4	1	14		133	88	70	0.385	0.883
John Maine	9/29/2007	NYM	FLA	W 13-0	GS-8 W	7.2	1		2	14		115	68	89	0.14	3.89
Kelvim Escobar	6/12/2007	LAA	CIN	L 3-5	GS-6	6	5	3	1	14		116	78	63	-0.006	0.282
Brad Penny	5/7/2007	LAD	FLA	W 6-1	GS-7 W	7	5			14		110	76	81	0.223	3.571
Jake Peavy	9/2/2006	SDP	CIN	W 7-1	CG 9 W	9	2	1	2	14	1	114	77	91	0.339	3.419
Curt Schilling	9/21/2004	BOS	BAL	W 3-2	GS-8	8	3		1	14		114	90	89	0.595	4.756
Johan Santana	9/19/2004	MIN	BAL	W 5-1	GS-8 W	8	7			14		103	78	82	0.49	4.58
A.J. Burnett	8/29/2004	FLA	COL	W 8-4	GS-8 W	8	5	1	2	14		108	73	80	0.156	2.946
Jeremy Bonderman	8/23/2004	DET	CHW	W 7-0	SHO9 W	9	7		1	14		114	82	86	0.282	4.752
Randy Johnson	8/20/2004	ARI	CIN	L 0-2	GS-8 L	7.2	4	2	3	14		122	77	76	0.151	1.555
Randy Johnson	8/15/2004	ARI	NYM	W 2-0	GS-9 W	8.1	5		1	14		119	88	86	0.529	4.049
Randy Johnson	7/25/2004	ARI	COL	L 2-3	GS-8	8	6			14		112	81	84	0.571	4.358
Mark Prior	9/21/2003	CHC	PIT	W 4-1	GS-8 W	7.2	6	1	2	14		131	91	75	0.248	2.432
Curt Schilling	8/22/2003	ARI	CHC	L 1-4	GS-8 L	8	6	4		14	3	103	81	68	-0.068	0.474
Wade Miller	5/30/2003	HOU	CHC	W 9-1	CG 9 W	9	2	1	1	14	1	105	76	92	0.207	3.712
Curt Schilling	5/14/2003	ARI	PHI	W 2-0	SHO9 W	9	2		1	14		106	75	96	0.609	4.329
Javier Vazquez	4/9/2003	MON	CHC	L 0-3	GS-7 L	7	5	2		14	1	96	66	73	0.052	1.664
Randy Johnson	8/10/2002	ARI	FLA	W 9-2	GS-8 W	8	5	2	2	14	1	125	83	76	0.281	2.403
Pedro Martinez	7/1/2002	BOS	TOR	W 4-0	GS-8 W	8	7			14		117	83	82	0.383	4.483
Curt Schilling	5/3/2002	ARI	MON	W 6-3	GS-7 W	7	5	3	1	14	2	103	74	68	0.115	0.853
Randy Johnson	7/24/2001	ARI	SDP	W 11-0	GS-8 W	7.1	1		2	14		114	69	88	0.379	4.241
Randy Johnson	6/3/2001	ARI	SDP	W 8-4	GS-6 W	6	7	4		14	1	106	72	58	0.008	-0.591
Kerry Wood	5/25/2001	CHC	MIL	W 1-0	SHO9 W	9	1		2	14		114	73	97	0.741	4.49
Hideo Nomo	5/25/2001	BOS	TOR	W 4-0	SHO9 W	9	1			14		117	77	99	0.626	4.984
Greg Maddux	5/2/2001	ATL	MIL	W 1-0	SHO9 W	9	2		1	14		109	76	96	0.773	4.873
Kerry Wood	4/27/2001	CHC	SFG	W 7-3	GS-6 W	6	2	3	3	14	1	112	66	67	0.101	-0.067
Randy Johnson	4/13/2001	ARI	COL	W 7-3	GS-7 W	7	6	3		14	1	127	88	67	0.204	1.488
Chan Ho Park	8/29/2000	LAD	MIL	W 7-2	GS-8 W	8	1	2	3	14	1	129	82	83	0.218	2.35
Randy Johnson	8/31/1999	ARI	MON	L 1-2	GS-8 L	8	4	2	1	14	1	110	76	81	0.112	2.483
Shane Reynolds	8/15/1999	HOU	PIT	L 0-2	CG 9 L	9	5	2		14	2	104	77	83	0.212	2.944
Pedro Martinez	7/7/1999	BOS	TBD	L 2-3	CG 8 L	8	7	3	2	14		130	88	68	0.009	1.721
Randy Johnson	6/25/1999	ARI	STL	L 0-1	CG 9 L	9	5	1	2	14		123	84	85	0.299	4.044
Randy Johnson	6/9/1999	ARI	CHC	W 8-7	GS-7 W	7	10	6	3	14	1	132	89	44	0.05	-1.095
Randy Johnson	9/7/1998	HOU	CIN	W 1-0	SHO9 W	9	6		1	14		129	94	88	0.734	4.51
Darryl Kile	8/20/1998	COL	MON	W 6-3	GS-7 W	7	9	3	3	14	1	130	88	58	0.118	0.508
Roger Clemens	8/2/1998	TOR	MIN	W 6-4	GS-8 W	8	6	2	1	14		115	79	77	0.321	2.571
David Cone	6/7/1998	NYY	FLA	W 4-1	CG 9 W	9	2	1	2	14		120	83	91	0.378	3.944
Bartolo Colon	5/29/1998	CLE	TOR	W 7-3	CG 9 W	9	5	3	2	14		121	80	77	0.232	2.044
Roger Clemens	9/7/1997	TOR	TEX	W 4-0	SHO9 W	9	2			14		137	91	97	0.411	4.944
Randy Johnson	7/13/1997	SEA	TEX	L 2-4	GS-7	7	5	2	5	14		131	83	68	0.185	1.806
Mike Mussina	7/5/1997	BAL	DET	L 5-6	GS-8	7	6	4	3	14	1	127	79	60	-0.011	0.45
Jeff Juden	7/1/1997	MON	TOR	W 2-1	GS-9 W	8.1	2	1	2	14	1	114	71	87	0.465	3.378
Pedro Martinez	6/14/1997	MON	DET	W 1-0	SHO9 W	9	3		2	14		136	94	93	0.747	4.57
Roger Clemens	5/10/1997	TOR	MIN	W 6-4	GS-7 W	7	8	4		14	1	113	75	59	0.082	-0.116
Jason Bere	6/28/1995	CHW	MIN	W 4-3	GS-9 W	8.1	6	3	4	14		143	96	71	0.232	1.916
Hideo Nomo	5/17/1995	LAD	PIT	L 2-3	GS-7	7	2		3	14		107	62	84	0.395	3.289