He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox.

[3] In 2012, he pitched to a 9–3 win–loss record and a 1.48 earned run average (ERA), helping the Neosho County Panthers reach the 2012 National Junior College Athletic Association World Series.

Strahm required Tommy John surgery during the 2013 season to repair damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.

[16] However, after acquiring Nate Karns, Travis Wood, and Jason Hammel, Ned Yost, the Royals' manager, announced at the start of spring training that Strahm would be a reliever in 2017.

[17] Strahm made 24 appearances, including three starts for the Royals in 2017 before being shut down for the season with a torn patellar tendon in his left knee.

Overall during parts of two seasons with the Royals, Strahm compiled a 4–7 record in 45 games (3 starts) with a 3.81 ERA while striking out 67 batters in 56+2⁄3 innings.

[18] On July 24, 2017, the Royals traded Strahm, Travis Wood, and Esteury Ruiz to the San Diego Padres for Trevor Cahill, Ryan Buchter, and Brandon Maurer.

On April 17, 2021, Strahm was placed on the 60-day injured list as he continued to recover from patellar tendon surgery on his right knee that he underwent in October 2020.

[21] Overall during parts of four seasons with the Padres, Strahm compiled a 9–17 record in 112 games (22 starts) with a 3.81 ERA while striking out 206 batters in 203+1⁄3 innings.

The ejection and subsequent fine was largely due to the introduction of the pitch clock, intended to speed up the game and prevent unnecessary delays.

After the game, Strahm told reporters that the standoff was "embarrassing" and "...probably not the wisest decision I’ve made in my big-league career.