List of Major League Baseball career games started leaders
In baseball statistics, a pitcher is credited with a game started if he is the first pitcher to pitch for his team in a game.
Cy Young holds the Major League Baseball games started record with 815; Nolan Ryan is second with 773. Young is the only pitcher in MLB history to start more than 800 career games. Nolan Ryan, Don Sutton, Greg Maddux, Phil Niekro, Steve Carlton, Roger Clemens, and Tommy John are the only other pitches to have started 700 or more games their career.
Key
Career leaders in games started
- Stats updated as July 26, 2020
Rank | Player | GS |
1 | Cy Young * | 815 |
2 | Nolan Ryan * | 773 |
3 | Don Sutton * | 756 |
4 | Greg Maddux * | 740 |
5 | Phil Niekro * | 716 |
6 | Steve Carlton * | 709 |
7 | Roger Clemens | 707 |
8 | Tommy John | 700 |
9 | Gaylord Perry * | 690 |
10 | Pud Galvin * | 688 |
11 | Bert Blyleven * | 685 |
12 | Tom Glavine * | 682 |
13 | Walter Johnson * | 666 |
14 | Warren Spahn * | 665 |
15 | Tom Seaver * | 647 |
16 | Jamie Moyer | 638 |
17 | Jim Kaat | 625 |
18 | Frank Tanana | 616 |
19 | Early Wynn * | 611 |
20 | Robin Roberts * | 609 |
21 | Randy Johnson * | 603 |
22 | Grover Cleveland Alexander * | 600 |
23 | Ferguson Jenkins * | 594 |
Tim Keefe * | 594 | |
25 | Bobby Mathews | 568 |
26 | Dennis Martínez | 562 |
Kid Nichols * | 562 | |
28 | CC Sabathia | 560 |
29 | Eppa Rixey * | 554 |
30 | Bartolo Colón | 552 |
Christy Mathewson * | 552 | |
32 | Mickey Welch * | 549 |
33 | Jerry Reuss | 547 |
34 | Red Ruffing * | 538 |
35 | Mike Mussina * | 536 |
36 | Eddie Plank * | 529 |
Rick Reuschel | 529 | |
38 | Jerry Koosman | 527 |
Jack Morris * | 527 | |
40 | Jim Palmer * | 521 |
Andy Pettitte | 521 | |
42 | Jim Bunning * | 519 |
43 | John Clarkson * | 518 |
44 | Jack Powell | 516 |
45 | Gus Weyhing | 505 |
46 | Tony Mullane | 504 |
47 | Charlie Radbourn * | 502 |
48 | Joe Niekro | 500 |
49 | Bob Friend | 497 |
Burleigh Grimes * | 497 |