Yovani Gallardo sets new Brewers franchise strikeout record

Yovani Gallardo is officially the Milwaukee Brewers' strikeout king.

With a second-inning strikeout during the team's contest against the Marlins on Monday, Gallardo officially passed Ben Sheets for the most strikeouts of any pitcher in franchise history. That strikeout, Gallardo's fifth on the day, gave him 1,207 for his career, one more than Sheets' 1,206 as a Brewer.

Gallardo, like Sheets, was drafted and developed by Milwaukee. He has spent most of the last eight seasons in the majors, though much of 2008 was lost to a torn ACL. Over that time, Gallardo also has a 3.66 ERA and an 8.6 K/9.

Though he is just 28 years old, Gallardo has lost a little velocity on his fastball and has become less of a strikeout pitcher. His K/9 has gone from a high of 9.9 in 2009, to 9.7 in 2010, to an even 9.0 in both 2011 and 2012 to 7.2 last season. Gallardo has just a 6.6 K/9 in 2014, the lowest of his career.

Despite that, this season is turning into one of the finest of his career. He has a career-best 3.43 ERA along with a 1.26 WHIP, his second-best ever. Though his strikeouts are down, he is also walking fewer batters than ever.

Gallardo has struck seven individual players out at least 10 times over the years. It's little surprise that all seven have spent significant time in the NL Central.

Gallardo has particularly feasted on Pirates pitchers, against whom he has a grand total of 158 Ks. The Cubs are next with 127. Against non-NLC foes, Gallardo has most enjoyed playing the Mets, against whom he has 87 strikeouts in 10 games.

The Brewers hold a team option on Gallardo for 2015 worth $13 million. If the Brewers choose not to exercise that option, he will receive a $600,000 buyout and become a free agent for the first time in his career. No matter how much longer he has with the team, Gallardo has cemented his place among the best pitchers in Brewers' history.