List of Arizona Diamondbacks Opening Day starting pitchers

Randy Johnson, the Opening Day starter from 1999 to 2004

The Arizona Diamondbacks are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Phoenix, Arizona. They play in the National League West division. The first game of the new baseball season for a team is played on Opening Day, and being named the Opening Day starter is an honor, which is often given to the player who is expected to lead the pitching staff that season,[1] though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day.[2] The Diamondbacks have used seven different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 17 seasons. The seven starters have a combined Opening Day record of seven wins, five losses (7–5), and five no decisions.[3][4] No decisions are only awarded to the starting pitcher if the game is won or lost after the starting pitcher has left the game.

Randy Johnson holds the Diamondbacks' record for most Opening Day starts with six, and has an Opening Day record of 3–2. Brandon Webb started four Opening Days, and Ian Kennedy has been the Opening Day starter thrice.[3] Andy Benes, Javier Vázquez, Dan Haren, and Wade Miley have started one Opening Day each.[3] Kennedy has the best winning percentage as the Opening Day starting pitcher with a record of 2–0.[3][5] Benes, Vázquez, and Miley are tied for the worst Opening Day record, at 0–1.[3] Webb is Arizona's only pitcher with multiple no-decisions on Opening Day (three), and Johnson is the only pitcher to have won three or more opening games.[3]

Overall, the Diamondbacks have a record of 6–5 at home on Opening Day, compared to a 4–2 record at away games.[3] The Diamondbacks went on to play in the National League Division Series (NLDS) playoff games in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2007 and 2011, winning the National League Championship Series and World Series in 2001.

Key

Season Each year is linked to an article about that particular Diamondbacks season.
W Win
L Loss
ND (W) No decision by starting pitcher; Diamondbacks won game
ND (L) No decision by starting pitcher; Diamondbacks lost game
Pitcher (#) Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Diamondbacks
* Advanced to the postseason
** Won National League Championship Series
† Won World Series

Pitchers

Andy Benes was the starter for the 1998 Opening Day, Arizona's first season
Season Pitcher Decision Opponent Location Ref(s)
1998 Benes, AndyAndy Benes L Colorado Rockies Chase Field [3]
1999* Johnson, RandyRandy Johnson ND (L) Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium [3]
2000 Johnson, RandyRandy Johnson (2) W Philadelphia Phillies Chase Field [3]
2001† Johnson, RandyRandy Johnson (3) W Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium [3]
2002* Johnson, RandyRandy Johnson (4) W San Diego Padres Chase Field [3][6]
2003 Johnson, RandyRandy Johnson (5) L Los Angeles Dodgers Chase Field [3][7]
2004 Johnson, RandyRandy Johnson (6) L Colorado Rockies Chase Field [3][8]
2005 Vázquez, JavierJavier Vázquez L Chicago Cubs Chase Field [3][9]
2006 Webb, BrandonBrandon Webb ND (L) Colorado Rockies Coors Field [3][10]
2007* Webb, BrandonBrandon Webb (2) ND (W) Colorado Rockies Coors Field [3][11]
2008 Webb, BrandonBrandon Webb (3) W Cincinnati Reds Great American Ball Park [12][13]
2009 Webb, BrandonBrandon Webb (4) ND (W) Colorado Rockies Chase Field [5]
2010 Haren, DanDan Haren W San Diego Padres Chase Field [4]
2011* Kennedy, IanIan Kennedy ND (W) Colorado Rockies Coors Field [14]
2012 Kennedy, IanIan Kennedy (2) W San Francisco Giants Chase Field [15]
2013 Kennedy, IanIan Kennedy (3) W St. Louis Cardinals Chase Field [16]
2014 Miley, WadeWade Miley L Los Angeles Dodgers Sydney Cricket Ground [17]
2015 Collmenter, JoshJosh Collmenter L San Francisco Giants Chase Field
2016 Greinke, ZackZack Greinke L Colorado Rockies Chase Field

References

  1. ↑ Bastian, Jordan (March 22, 2010). "Marcum tapped for Jays' Opening Day". MLB.com. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  2. ↑ Dilbeck, Steve (February 24, 2014). "Dodgers may not start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Arizona Diamondbacks Opening Day Starters and Results". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  4. 1 2 "Arizona 6, San Diego 3". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  5. 1 2 "Arizona 9, Colorado 8". Yahoo!. 2009-04-06. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  6. ↑ "Diamondbacks 2, Padres 0". ESPN. 2002-04-01. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  7. ↑ "Dodgers' Nomo tosses four-hit shutout". ESPN. 2003-03-31. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  8. ↑ "Johnson gives up six hits, Estes just two". ESPN. 2004-04-06. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  9. ↑ "Lee leads assault with four hits, 5 RBI". ESPN. 2005-04-04. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  10. ↑ "Arizona Apr 3, 2006, Diamondbacks at Rockies Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference. 2006-04-03. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  11. ↑ "Apr 2, 2007, Diamondbacks at Rockies Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference. 2007-04-02. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  12. ↑ "Reds lose opener to D-backs". The Northerner. 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  13. ↑ "Diamondbacks spoil Baker's debut as Reds manager". ESPN. 2008-03-31. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  14. ↑ "Opening Day 2011: Arizona 7, Colorado 6". Baseball Reference. 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
  15. ↑ "Opening Day 2012: Arizona 5, San Francisco 4". Baseball Reference. 2012-04-06. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
  16. ↑ "D-Backs 6, Cardinals 2". MLB.com. 2013-04-01. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  17. ↑ "Dodgers 3, D-Backs 1". MLB.com. 2014-03-22. Retrieved 2014-04-06.

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