List of Major League Baseball career games played as a pitcher leaders

Games played (most often abbreviated as G or GP) is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated (in any capacity); the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested. In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game, are included on a starting lineup card or are announced as ex ante substitutes, whether or not they play;Section 20 of the official scorer guidelines however, in Major League Baseball, the application of this statistic does not extend to consecutive games played streaks. A starting pitcher, then, may be credited with a game played even if he is not credited with a game started or an inning pitched. The pitcher is the player who pitches the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. The pitcher is often considered the most important player on the defensive side of the game, playing the most difficult and specialized position, and as such is regarded as being at the right end of the defensive spectrum. Pitchers play far less than players at other positions, generally appearing in only two or three games per week; only one pitcher in major league history has appeared in 100 games in a single season. There are many different types of pitchers, generally divided between starting pitchers and relief pitchers, which include the middle reliever, lefty specialist, setup man, and closer. In the scoring system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is assigned the number 1.

The sharp rise in the importance of relief pitching after 1950, and increased specialization in later decades, has led to a great increase in the number of players with high totals in games as a pitcher. Through the 2024 season, the top 24 players in career games pitched were all relief pitchers whose careers began after 1950, only two of whom were active before 1968; the top three pitchers are all left-handed. Jesse Orosco is the all-time leader in career games played as a pitcher with 1,252. Only sixteen different players have pitched in over 1,000 games during their careers.

Key Rank Rank amongst leaders in career games played. A blank field indicates a tie. Player (2027 Gs) Number of games played during the 2027 Major League Baseball season Throws Denotes right-handed (R) or left-handed (L) pitcher MLB Total career games played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball*Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame BoldDenotes active playerA player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or has not played for a full season.

List

Stats updated as of 2026 season. RankPlayer (2027 Gs)ThrowsGames as pitcherOther leagues, notes MLB American League National League1Jesse OroscoL1,2526865662Mike StantonL1,1785606183John FrancoL1,11901,1194Mariano Rivera*R1,1151,11505Dennis Eckersley*R1,071869202Held major league record, 1998-1999; held American League record, 1995-2008; held record for right-handed pitchers, 1998-20136Hoyt Wilhelm*R1,070622448Held major league record, 1968-19987Dan PlesacL1,0646274378Mike TimlinR1,058894164Held American League record, 2008-20099Kent TekulveR1,05001,050Held National League record, 1986-200410LaTroy HawkinsR1,04252551711Trevor Hoffman*R1,03501,03512José MesaR1,022540482Lee Smith*R1,02225177114Roberto HernándezR1,01069631415Mike JacksonR1,00565035516Goose Gossage*R1,00265634617Lindy McDanielR98734364418Kenley Jansen (0)R98321776619Todd JonesR98253045220David WeathersR9644791721Fernando RodneyR95177118022Francisco RodriguezR94852042823Rollie Fingers*R94467926524Gene GarberR93110482725Aroldis Chapman (0)L91649642026Eddie GuardadoL9088783027Cy Young*R906390516Held major league record, 1905-1968; held American League record, 1902-191128Arthur RhodesL90066623429Sparky LyleL89980792Held American League record, 1982-1995; held record for left-handed pitchers, 1980-1997; held AL record for left-handed pitchers, 1977-200830Jim Kaat*L89862027831Craig Kimbrel (0)R89731358432Kyle FarnsworthR89347342033Tom GordonR89066922134Paul AssenmacherL88437950535Mike MyersL883456427Held the single-season record for left-handed pitchers, 1997-2001 (tie)36Alan EmbreeL88246341937David RobertsonR88173115038Jeff ReardonR88035252839Don McMahonR87433154340Joe SmithR86671415241Phil Niekro*R86412474042Charlie HoughR85840245643Billy Wagner*L8531583844Roy FaceR8482846Held National League record, 1967-1986; held NL record for right-handed pitchers, 1966-198645Doug JonesR84657427246Chad QuallsR84415369147Paul QuantrillR84158725448Javier LópezL83917266749Bob WickmanR83556427150Steve ReedR83320163251Julián TavárezR82821861052Tug McGrawL8240824Held the National League record for left-handed pitchers, 1982-199853Sergio RomoR82123858354Tyler ClippardR807291516Nolan Ryan*R80742038756Walter Johnson*R8028020Held American League record, 1921-1982; held AL record for right-handed pitchers, 1917-199557Francisco CorderoR80041738358Jeff NelsonR798798059Rick HoneycuttL79760619160Steve KlineL79687709Held the single-season record for left-handed pitchers, 2001-2010Bryan Shaw (0)R79656722962Joe NathanR78765613163Buddy GroomL7867493764Gaylord Perry*R77731845965Jeremy AffeldtL774184590Don Sutton*R77417460067Joakim SoriaR7736878668Bob HowryR76943433569Darren OliverL76662114570Mark GuthrieL765397368Darold KnowlesL765470295Held record for left-handed pitchers, 1979-198072Joaquín BenoitR76459217273Armando BenítezR762239523Kenny RogersL7627501275Tommy JohnL76057818276Octavio DotelR75833142777Jack QuinnR756563103Includes 90 in Federal League78Ron ReedR7515170079Warren Spahn*L7500750Held National League record, 1964-1967; held record for left-handed pitchers, 1964-1979; held NL record for left-handed pitchers, 1964-198280Matt ThorntonL7486529681Tom BurgmeierL7457450Gary LavelleL7459864783Willie HernándezL744358386Greg Maddux*R744074485Guillermo MotaR7433470986Steve Carlton*L7414669587Ryan MadsonR740171569Russ SpringerR74013960189Brad ZieglerR73925648390Steve CishekR737207530Ron PerranoskiL737280457Held the single-season record for left-handed pitchers, 1962-196592Ron KlineR73640233493Rick AguileraR732520212Steve BedrosianR73256676Mark MelanconR7325667696Clay CarrollR7313769497Randy MyersL72816456498Adam Ottavino (0)R72716955899Jason IsringhausenR724210514Mike MarshallR724231493Holds the single-season record of 106 (set in 1974); holds the American League single-season record of 90 (set in 1979)

Other Hall of Famers PlayerThrowsGames as pitcherOther leagues, notes MLB American League National LeagueJohn Smoltz*R7238715Pud Galvin*R7050610Includes 61 in American Association, 26 in Players' League, 8 in National Association; held major league record, 1888-1905; held the single-season record, 1883-1964Grover Cleveland Alexander*R6960696Held National League record, 1928-1964Bert Blyleven*R692587105Eppa Rixey*L6920692Held the National League record for left-handed pitchers, 1928-1964Early Wynn*R6916910Tom Glavine*L6820682Robin Roberts*R676113563Waite Hoyt*R674458216Red Faber*R6696690Ferguson Jenkins*R664255409Bruce Sutter*R6610661Tom Seaver*R65697559Christy Mathewson*R6360636Held National League record, 1915-1928Red Ruffing*R6246240Eddie Plank*L6235810Includes 42 in Federal League; held American League record, 1911-1921; held AL record for left-handed pitchers, 1902-1906, 1907-1933Kid Nichols*R6210621Held National League record, 1905-1915Randy Johnson*L618341277Herb Pennock*L6176170Held the American League record for left-handed pitchers, 1933-1977Burleigh Grimes*R61610606Lefty Grove*L6166160Tim Keefe*R6000444Includes 126 in American Association, 30 in Players' LeagueTed Lyons*R5945940Jim Bunning*R591304287Bob Feller*R5705700Mickey Welch*R5650565CC Sabathia*L56154417Jim Palmer*R5585580Jesse Haines*R5550555Jack Morris*R5495490Mike Mussina*R5375370Rube Marquard*L5360536Held the National League record for left-handed pitchers, 1920-1928Carl Hubbell*L5350535John Clarkson*R5310531Bob Gibson*R5280528Charles Radbourn*R5270486Includes 41 in Players' League; held the single-season record, 1883-1964Don Drysdale*R5180518Vic Willis*R5130513Catfish Hunter*R5005000Whitey Ford*L4984980Hal Newhouser*L4884880Mordecai Brown*R4810411Includes 70 in Federal LeaguePedro Martínez*R476203273Juan Marichal*R47111460Joe McGinnity*R46573392Held American League record, 1901-1902Amos Rusie*R4630463Bob Lemon*R4604600Chief Bender*R45938647Includes 26 in Federal LeagueClark Griffith*R453153266Includes 34 in American AssociationStan Coveleski*R4504500Dazzy Vance*R44210432Ed Walsh*R4304264Roy Halladay*R416313103Rube Waddell*L40733572Satchel Paige*R3981790Includes 91 in Negro National League (first), 85 in Negro American League, 43 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete)Sandy Koufax*L3970397Jack Chesbro*R392270122Lefty Gomez*L3683680Ichiro Suzuki*R101

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