Reid Detmers became the first Angels pitcher since Shohei Ohtani and the first left-hander since Chuck Finley to reach 200 strikeouts in a season.
Reid Detmers has put himself in some impressive company after a remarkable return to the starting rotation.
The Los Angeles Angels left-hander reached 200 strikeouts for the first time in his career Saturday, becoming just the 12th pitcher in franchise history to reach the mark in a season.
Detmers struck out five to push his season total to 204.
Detmers is also the first Angels left-hander to reach the milestone since Chuck Finley in 1999.
"It's a good achievement," Detmers told MLB.com. "Obviously, it's a number that everybody looks or works toward throughout the year as a starting pitcher. It's cool to get there."
The milestone is even more impressive considering where Detmers was a year ago.
After struggling as a starter in 2024, Detmers spent the entire 2025 season in the bullpen. He returned to the rotation this year and has responded with one of the best seasons of his career.
The 27-year-old has a 3.47 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 204 strikeouts in 179 innings. He's one of only eight major-league pitchers to reach 200 strikeouts this season.
His best work has come in the second half.
Even after allowing four runs over five innings Saturday, Detmers has a 2.05 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings since the All-Star break.
Saturday also snapped a streak of seven consecutive quality starts. That run included a dominant performance against the Boston Red Sox earlier this month in which Detmers allowed just one hit and struck out nine.
The turnaround has helped Detmers emerge as a centerpiece of an Angels pitching staff that has undergone a dramatic second-half transformation.
Manager Kurt Suzuki put Detmers' accomplishment in perspective after Saturday's game.
"I thought he was grinding out there, but 200 strikeouts, that's a huge milestone," Suzuki told MLB.com. "Special season for him. He's been phenomenal."
Detmers now joins a franchise 200-strikeout group headlined by Nolan Ryan, who reached the mark seven times with the Angels, along with Finley and Frank Tanana, who each did it three times.
Detmers could have one more opportunity to add to his total before the season ends.
Whatever happens, his return to the rotation has already produced a milestone season.
