Atlanta ace John Smoltz blanked the Mets for seven innings Thursday night to claim his 200th career win. The veteran right-hander, who turned 40 on May 15, outdueled good friend and former teammate Tom Glavine to secure a 2-1 victory for the Braves in a key National League East matchup.

With Thursday’s win, Smoltz became the first major league pitcher in history to secure 200 wins and post triple-digit save totals. He picked up 154 saves in four seasons (2001-2004) as the Braves’ closer before returning to the rotation two years ago. The next-highest save total among the 200-game winners belongs to knuckleballer Charlie Hough, who spent 25 years in the majors before retiring at age 46 in 1994.

Most Saves among 200-Game Winners

Pitcher. . . . . . . . . . . Wins. . . . . . . . Saves
John Smoltz. . . . . . . . 200. . . . . . . . . 154
Charlie Hough. . . . . . .216. . . . . . . . . . 61
Jack Quinn. . . . . . . . .247. . . . . . . . . . 57
Lefty Grove. . . . . . . . 300. . . . . . . . . . 55
Waite Hoyt. . . . . . . . .237. . . . . . . . . . 52

Hall of Famer and long-time A’s closer Dennis Eckersley fell three wins shy of 200. He was a starter for 12 seasons before switching to the bullpen in 1987. With Oakland and St. Louis, he closed for 11 seasons and retired with 390 saves. Eckersley would top the leader board if he had managed three more wins.

Most likely Smoltz wouldn’t be in this position if not for his return to the Atlanta rotation in his late 30s. He’s gone 37-18 with a 3.18 ERA in 79 starts since ditching ninth-inning duties. He’s pitching as effectively as ever this spring.

Smoltz is 7-2 with a 2.58 ERA that ranks sixth in the NL. After shutting down the Mets Thursday, he hasn’t given up a run to three of his last five opponents. This stretch of five starts began with Smoltz going seven innings in a 4-0 win over the Dodgers on May 4. He worked seven scoreless in each of his last two outings as well, blanking the Red Sox on three hits last Saturday before subduing the Mets.

Over these five starts, Smoltz is 4-1 with a 1.04 ERA. Despite dislocating his right pinky finger on May 14, the day before his 40th birthday, he’s given up just four runs over 34.2 innings, striking out 30 and walking only five. Batters are hitting just .211 against him.

The dislocated pinky couldn’t slow him down. Apparently his history of elbow woes and Father Time can’t, as well. Wouldn’t it be something to see Smoltz win 20 games for the first time since 1996, the only other season he has reached the plateau in a long and productive career.