Let’s be honest for a second. The win is a trash stat. We know it, the nerds know it, and the guys standing on the mound definitely know it. You can give up six runs in five innings, get bailed out by a lineup that’s hitting beach balls, and walk away with a "W." Or you can be Jacob deGrom, throw eight innings of one-run ball, and watch your bullpen set the stadium on fire.
But despite the flaws, there’s something about the most wins active pitchers list that still feels like a heavy-duty measurement of greatness. It’s a survival stat. It tells you who stayed healthy, who played for good teams, and who was "The Guy" for two decades.
As we look at the landscape in 2026, the numbers are getting a little scary. Not "scary good," but scary because we might never see a 300-game winner again. Like, ever.
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The Last of the Mohicans: Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander is 42 years old. By the time the 2026 season really gets rolling, he’ll be 43. Most people his age are worried about their 401ks or their kid’s travel soccer schedule, but JV is still out there trying to find a way to make a baseball spin 2,500 times per minute.
As of right now, Verlander sits at 266 career wins.
He’s the undisputed king of the active hill. He spent a chunk of last year with the Giants, and honestly, the first half was a disaster. He went 16 starts without a win. You read that right. Sixteen. He was 0-8. But then, because he’s a freak of nature, he figured out a sweeper and finished with a 2.60 ERA over his final 13 starts.
Does he get to 300? Probably not. He’d need 34 more wins. In the modern game, where starters are yanked after 85 pitches and teams treat the third time through the order like a biological hazard, 34 wins is at least three full seasons of elite health and lucky run support.
The Dodgers Legend and the Free Agent Madman
Right behind him, we have a tie that feels like a piece of history. Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer.
Kershaw just retired. Well, "retired" is a strong word because he’s pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic this year, but his MLB days seem done after 18 seasons with the Dodgers. He finished with 223 wins. That 2.53 career ERA is actually the more impressive number, but 223 wins for a guy whose back basically turned into papier-mâché in his 30s is incredible.
Then you have Max Scherzer at 221 wins.
Scherzer is a fascinating case because he’s a mercenary now. Arizona, Detroit, DC, LA, New York, Texas, Toronto—the guy has seen more clubhouses than a clubhouse manager. He struggled in 2025 (5.19 ERA), and he's currently a free agent. If someone gives him a ball in 2026, he’ll likely pass Kershaw. But 300? Forget about it. He’s 41. The odometer is blinking red.
The Massive Gap: Who is next?
This is where things get depressing if you like big, round numbers. Once you move past the "Big Three" of this generation, the list of most wins active pitchers falls off a literal cliff.
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- Gerrit Cole: 153 wins.
- Charlie Morton: 147 wins.
- Chris Sale: 145 wins.
Think about that. Gerrit Cole is arguably the best "traditional" starter left in the game. He’s 34. He’s 147 wins away from 300. He would have to average 15 wins a year until he’s 44 years old.
It isn't happening.
The way managers use pitchers now basically prevents it. In the 90s, Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson were expected to finish what they started. Today, if a guy like Logan Webb or Framber Valdez goes seven innings, the local media treats it like a religious experience.
Why 200 is the new 300
Honestly, we need to recalibrate our brains. If a pitcher gets to 200 wins in 2026 or beyond, they should probably get a Hall of Fame plaque immediately.
Look at someone like Chris Sale. He’s sitting at 145. He’s 36. He has found a second life lately, but the injury history is longer than a CVS receipt. If he can grind out four more seasons and hit 180, that's a miracle.
Even Zack Wheeler (113 wins) or Aaron Nola (109 wins)—guys who are "workhorses"—are barely halfway to the 200 mark in their mid-30s.
What Really Matters for the 2026 Season
If you're tracking these milestones this year, don't look for the 300-win chase. It's a ghost. Instead, watch these specific "mini-chases" that actually have a chance of happening:
- Gerrit Cole's march to 2,500 strikeouts: He's at 2,251. He should cruise past this.
- Verlander passing the legends: He’s currently just behind Bob Feller (266). Passing "The Heater from Van Meter" is a massive legacy move.
- The 100-win club entrants: Jacob deGrom (96), Eduardo Rodriguez (94), and Carlos Rodón (93) are all knocking on the door. It sounds small, but in this era, 100 wins means you've survived a decade in the most volatile job in sports.
Actionable Insights for the Modern Fan
If you want to sound smart at the bar when talking about most wins active pitchers, stop comparing them to Cy Young or Nolan Ryan. It’s a different sport now.
Instead, look at Innings Pitched per Win.
Verlander and Kershaw have high career win totals because they pitched in an era that still allowed them to go seven or eight innings. The new crop—the Logan Webbs and Tarik Skubals of the world—might have better "stuff," but they will never have the volume.
If you're betting on or drafting these guys in fantasy for 2026, prioritize the guys on high-scoring teams like the Dodgers, Braves, or Yankees. Wins are a team stat disguised as a pitcher stat.
The hunt for 300 is over. We’re in the era of the 200-win legend. Enjoy Justin Verlander while he’s still breathing fire, because once he hangs them up, that 250+ win club is going to be empty for a long, long time.
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To keep up with the shifting milestones, track the Active Leaderboard on Baseball-Reference monthly. The names at the top are changing from "Iron Men" to "Efficiency Experts," and the 2026 season will likely be the final time we see three 200-win pitchers active at the same time.