List of Arizona Diamondbacks Opening Day starting pitchers explained

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 10 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 21 seasons. The 10 starters have a combined Opening Day record of eight wins, seven losses (8 - 7), and six no decisions. 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. Andy Benes, Javier Vázquez, Dan Haren, and Wade Miley have started one Opening Day each. Kennedy has the best winning percentage as the Opening Day starting pitcher with a record of 2 - 0. Benes, Vázquez, and Miley are tied for the worst Opening Day record, at 0 - 1. 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.

Overall, the Diamondbacks have a record of 8 - 7 at home on Opening Day, compared to a 4 - 2 record at away games. The Diamondbacks went on to play in the National League Division Series (NLDS) playoff games in,,,,,, and, winning the National League Championship Series in 2001 and 2023, and the World Series in 2001.

Key

SeasonEach year is linked to an article about that particular Diamondbacks season.
WWin
LLoss
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

SeasonPitcherDecisionOpponentLocationRef(s)
1998LColorado RockiesChase Field[3]
1999ND (L)Los Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium
2000WPhiladelphia PhilliesChase Field
2001†WLos Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium
2002WSan Diego PadresChase Field[4]
2003LLos Angeles DodgersChase Field[5]
2004LColorado RockiesChase Field[6]
2005LChicago CubsChase Field[7]
2006ND (L)Colorado RockiesCoors Field[8]
2007ND (W)Colorado RockiesCoors Field[9]
2008WCincinnati RedsGreat American Ball Park[10] [11]
2009ND (W)Colorado RockiesChase Field[12]
2010WSan Diego PadresChase Field[13]
2011ND (W)Colorado RockiesCoors Field[14]
2012WSan Francisco GiantsChase Field[15]
2013WSt. Louis CardinalsChase Field[16]
2014LLos Angeles DodgersSydney Cricket Ground[17]
2015LSan Francisco GiantsChase Field[18]
2016LColorado RockiesChase Field[19]
2017ND (W)San Francisco GiantsChase Field[20]
2018WColorado RockiesChase Field[21]
2019ND (L)Los Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium[22]
2020LSan Diego PadresPetco Park[23]
2021ND (L)San Diego PadresPetco Park[24]
2022ND (W)San Diego PadresChase Field[25]
2023LLos Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium[26]
2024WColorado RockiesChase Field[27]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Marcum tapped for Jays' Opening Day. Jordan. Bastian. MLB.com. March 22, 2010. September 26, 2010. November 5, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121105103440/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100322&content_id=8868046&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb. live.
  2. Web site: Steve. Dilbeck. Dodgers may not start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney. Los Angeles Times. February 24, 2014. February 25, 2014. April 22, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140422214253/http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgersnow/la-sp-dn-dodgers-clayton-kershaw-sydney-20140224,0,2715593.story#axzz2uMohA5cD. live.
  3. Web site: Arizona Diamondbacks Opening Day Starters and Results. Baseball-Reference. 2008-09-12. 2020-04-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20200402000620/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ARI/opening.shtml. live.
  4. Web site: Diamondbacks 2, Padres 0. ESPN. 2008-09-12. 2002-04-01. 2012-10-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20121024144624/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=220401129. dead.
  5. Web site: Dodgers' Nomo tosses four-hit shutout. ESPN. 2008-09-12. 2003-03-31. 2015-04-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20150423094728/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=230331129. dead.
  6. Web site: Johnson gives up six hits, Estes just two. ESPN. 2008-09-12. 2004-04-06. 2012-10-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20121024144636/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240406129. dead.
  7. Web site: Lee leads assault with four hits, 5 RBI. ESPN. 2008-09-12. 2005-04-04. 2012-10-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20121024144646/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250404129. live.
  8. Web site: Arizona Apr 3, 2006, Diamondbacks at Rockies Box Score and Play by Play. Baseball-Reference. 2008-09-12. 2006-04-03. 2020-07-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20200714040053/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/COL/COL200604030.shtml. live.
  9. Web site: Apr 2, 2007, Diamondbacks at Rockies Play by Play and Box Score. Baseball-Reference. 2008-09-12. 2007-04-02. 2020-07-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20200711184408/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/COL/COL200704020.shtml. live.
  10. Web site: Reds lose opener to D-backs. The Northerner. 2008-09-12. 2008-04-02.
  11. Web site: Diamondbacks spoil Baker's debut as Reds manager. ESPN. 2008-09-23. 2008-03-31. 2013-03-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20130328191442/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280331117. dead.
  12. Web site: Arizona 9, Colorado 8. Yahoo!. 2009-04-06. 2009-04-06. 2013-07-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20130720053716/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=290406129. live.
  13. Web site: Arizona 6, San Diego 3. Yahoo!. 2010-04-06. 2012-10-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20121023034816/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=300405129. live.
  14. Web site: Opening Day 2011: Arizona 7, Colorado 6. Baseball Reference. 2012-04-12. 2011-04-01. 2020-12-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20201229042937/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/COL/COL201104010.shtml. live.
  15. Web site: Opening Day 2012: Arizona 5, San Francisco 4. Baseball Reference. 2012-04-12. 2012-04-06. 2020-07-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20200722195823/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ARI/ARI201204060.shtml. live.
  16. Web site: D-Backs 6, Cardinals 2. MLB.com. 2014-04-06. 2013-04-01. 2014-04-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20140408211751/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_04_01_slnmlb_arimlb_1&mode=box. live.
  17. Web site: Dodgers 3, D-Backs 1. MLB.com. 2014-04-06. 2014-03-22. 2016-03-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040102/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_03_22_lanmlb_arimlb_1&mode=box. live.
  18. Web site: San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks Box Score, April 6, 2015. Baseball Reference. April 10, 2021. July 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200719143438/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ARI/ARI201504060.shtml. live.
  19. Web site: Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks Box Score, April 4, 2016. Baseball Reference. April 10, 2021. February 9, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230209091601/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ARI/ARI201604040.shtml. live.
  20. Web site: San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks Box Score, April 2, 2017. Baseball Reference. April 10, 2021. February 9, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230209091614/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ARI/ARI201704020.shtml. live.
  21. Web site: Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks Box Score, March 29, 2018. Baseball Reference. April 10, 2021. February 9, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230209091606/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ARI/ARI201803290.shtml. live.
  22. Web site: Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score, March 28, 2019. Baseball Reference. April 10, 2021. February 9, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230209091608/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN201903280.shtml. live.
  23. Web site: Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres Box Score, July 24, 2020. Baseball Reference. April 10, 2021. February 9, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230209091615/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN202007240.shtml. live.
  24. Web site: Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres Box Score, April 1, 2021. Baseball Reference. April 10, 2021. February 9, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230209091608/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN202104010.shtml. live.
  25. Web site: San Diego Padres at Arizona Diamondbacks Box Score, April 7, 2022. Baseball Reference. May 29, 2022. October 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221026050039/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ARI/ARI202204070.shtml. live.
  26. Web site: Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score, March 30, 2023. Baseball Reference. March 30, 2023. June 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230613074826/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN202303300.shtml. live.
  27. Web site: Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks Box Score, March 28, 2024. Baseball Reference. March 28, 2024. April 4, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240404110942/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ARI/ARI202403280.shtml. live.

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