Shane Bieber continues to set strikeout records. With 13 K on Sunday, Bieber helped the Indians beat the Reds 6-3, and became the first pitcher to start a season with at least ten strikes in his first four starts. In addition:

The AL Cy Young Award winner has 48 strikeouts this year, matching Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan for the most through the first four start of a season. Bieber has fanned at least eight in a 16 straight starts, one short of Randy Johnson’s major league mark.

Chron.com

The most strikeouts through the end of April is 65, accomplished by Curt Schilling in 1998 and Gerrit Cole in 2019. With ten today, Cole is at 39 for the season.

Starters tend to top out at 32 starts per season in this era. So four starts would represent 1/8 of a pitcher’s workload. Forty eight times eight equals 384. The single season strikeout record since 1900 belongs to Nolan Ryan, who struck out 383 batters in 1973. Ryan made 39 starts and two relief appearances that year, accumulating 326 innings. If Bieber reaches that mark, he’ll do it many fewer innings.