List of Major League Baseball career games started leaders

In baseball statistics, a pitcher is credited with a game started (denoted by GS) if he is the first pitcher to pitch for his team in a game.

Cy Young^[1]^[2]^[3] holds the Major League Baseball games started record with 815. Young is the only pitcher in MLB history to start more than 800 career games. Nolan Ryan^[4] (773), Don Sutton^[5] (756), Greg Maddux^[6] (740), Phil Niekro^[7] (716), Steve Carlton^[8] (709), Roger Clemens^[9] (707), and Tommy John^[10] (700) are the only other pitchers to have started 700 or more games their career.

Key

Rank	Rank amongst leaders in career wins. A blank field indicates a tie.
Player (2025 GS)	Number of games started during the 2025 Major League Baseball season
GS	Total career games started
*	Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Bold	Denotes active player.^{[note 1]}

Zack Greinke, the active leader in career games started and 34th all-time.

^ A player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or not played for a full season.

^ "Cy Young Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
^ Nowlin - Southwick, Bill - David. "Cy Young Bio". Society For American Baseball Research. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
^ "Cy Young Hall of Fame Profile". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
^ "Nolan Ryan Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
^ "Don Sutton Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
^ "Greg Maddux Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
^ "Phil Niekro Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
^ "Steve Carlton Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
^ "Roger Clemens Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
^ "Tommy John Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
^ MLB.com – Career Leaders for Games Started