With Clayton Kershaw now a member of the 3,000-strikeout club, the focus shifts to the next pitchers who might achieve this milestone. Currently, only four active pitchers have surpassed 2,000 strikeouts, but injuries complicate their journeys. Chris Sale leads with 2,528 strikeouts but is sidelined with a fractured rib. Gerrit Cole, with 2,251 strikeouts, is out for the season due to elbow surgery. Charlie Morton and Yu Darvish are also in pursuit but face challenges due to age and injury.

Aaron Nola and Robbie Ray, both possessing impressive strikeout rates, might be contenders if they can avoid injuries. Newly emerging talents like Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes show promise but face the daunting task of maintaining performance and health over many seasons. The road to 3,000 strikeouts is fraught with uncertainty, making each pitch critical.