Sometimes players break records using Hall of Fame talent. Sometimes they break records through longevity and opportunity.
Sometimes they're Steve Carlton and they do both.
Carlton struck out a staggering 464 Mets hitters in his career, a total that dwarfs that of the other players in the top five for strikeouts against the team: Bob Gibson (306), Greg Maddux (291), John Smoltz (280), and Phil Niekro (248).
© Eric Hartline | 2014 Aug 10The next-highest Phillie on the list is Cole Hamels, with 218 strikeouts against the Metropolitans. Aaron Nola is eleventh with 205 Ks.
While there's no disputing Carlton's talent, his record number of strikeouts against the Mets is in large part due to his record number of starts against the team (76). That's a number Hamels (34 starts) and Nola (28 starts) will never approach.
Carlton also pitched in an era that allowed him to throw 27 complete games against the Mets in his career. His innings total against the team (550.2) is likely another unbreakable record.
Among players with at least 100 Ks against New York, Max Scherzer has the highest K/9 rate at 11.91. Nola is second, at 11.25 K/9.
And for the same group of players, Sandy Koufax has the best ERA: 1.44, with Clayton Kershaw (2.03) a distant second. Koufax also has the best WHIP (0.864).
Aaron Nola struck out 10 straight Mets hitters before allowing a double to Pete Alonso.
That ties Tom Seaver (1970) for the most consecutive strikeouts in MLB history. pic.twitter.com/fgiqPTKeC4
Carlton is now 80 years old, but given the current state of the Phillies' bullpen... Dave Dombrowski may want to see how that left arm feels.
