A memorable Opening Day start for every team
Each season, solely a choose group of pitchers will get the glory of beginning on Opening Day, taking the ball for his or her groups with an opportunity to set the tone for the months forward.
While many of those outings fade into historical past, others stand the check of time. So as we have fun the announcement of the 2023 Opening Day starters, here’s a look again at a very memorable instance from every of the 30 groups. These are performances that not solely characteristic sturdy numbers but in addition carry some bigger significance.
An honorable point out can be listed for every membership.
Blue Jays: Jack Morris (April 6, 1992 at Tigers)
CG, 9 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 Ok (4-2 win)
After 14 seasons in Detroit, Morris signed with the Twins in 1991 — a season that ended fairly memorably for each events. The Hall of Fame righty moved on to Toronto in ’92, becoming a member of a franchise that was nonetheless on the lookout for a championship of its personal after struggling three ALCS defeats over the earlier seven years. Signed partly for his successful popularity, Morris bought the Opening Day name again at his previous stomping grounds, Tiger Stadium. Only two solo homers within the ninth inning stored him from a shutout, and the win set the tone for the ‘92 Blue Jays, who went 96-66 behind Morris (21-6) earlier than an October triumph that culminated within the World Series in opposition to Atlanta.
HM — Roy Halladay (2005 at TB): 7 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 Ok (5-2 win)
Orioles: Rick Sutcliffe (April 6, 1992 vs. Cleveland)
CG, 9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 Ok
With Oriole Park at Camden Yards making its grand debut, the Opening Day begin went to Sutcliffe, a veteran right-hander who joined the O’s as a free agent after 5 seasons with the Dodgers, three with Cleveland and eight with the Cubs. Although Baltimore’s beautiful new park was the primary attraction, Sutcliffe wasn’t too shabby himself. The 35-year-old held Cleveland to 5 hits, all singles, in a shutout. Sutcliffe additionally tossed a shutout in his second begin at Camden Yards 11 days later in opposition to Detroit, although he’d end 1992 with a 16-15 file and a 4.47 ERA over 237 1/3 innings.
HM — Jim Palmer (1975 at DET): CG, 9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 Ok (10-0 win)
Rays: James Shields (March 31, 2008 at Orioles)
7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 Ok (6-2 win)
Before Shields earned his “Big Game James” moniker, he was a budding ace behind Scott Kazmir. After signing a four-year, $11.25 million contract previous to the beginning of 2008, Shields began the season sturdy when, after an damage to Kazmir, he made his first profession Opening Day begin and delivered seven sturdy innings. In whole, Shields completed 2008 with a 3.56 ERA in 215 innings (his second straight 12 months crossing the 215-inning plateau) on a Rays workforce that made a stunning run to the World Series.
HM — Tyler Glasnow (2021 at MIA): 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 Ok (1-0 win)
Red Sox: Pedro Martinez (April 4, 2000 at Mariners)
7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 Ok (2-0 win)
In 1999, Martinez put collectively an unbelievable season, going 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA en path to a unanimous AL Cy Young Award choice. Somehow, he managed to one-up himself in 2000, as he completed the season with a league-leading 1.74 ERA — he had an ERA of 0.99 in the course of June — to go together with 4 shutouts and 284 strikeouts. Those stats helped him win his second straight Cy. Eleven of these strikeouts got here on Opening Day, when Martinez tore by way of the Mariners’ lineup.
HM — Lefty Grove (1940 at WSH): 9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 Ok (1-0 win)
Yankees: Slow Joe Doyle (April 14, 1908 vs. Philadelphia Athletics)
CG, 12 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 Ok (1-0 win)
Here’s the record of gamers since 1901 to throw 12-plus shutout innings as an Opening Day starter: Hall of Famer Walter Johnson (twice), Kaiser Wilhelm and Doyle, who put collectively the beginning of his life within the first outing of his third season. Doyle and Athletics starter Nick Carter placed on a pitchers’ duel for the ages, with every one going the gap in New York’s 1-0, 12-inning win. However, this efficiency didn’t set the stage for large issues to return for the franchise then often called the Highlanders. Doyle himself solely made three extra begins that 12 months attributable to damage, whereas New York went on to complete 51-103-1 — nonetheless, probably the most losses in a season in franchise historical past.
HM — Whitey Ford (1955 vs. WSH): 9 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 8 Ok (19-1 win)
Cleveland: Bob Feller (April 16, 1940 at White Sox)
CG, 9 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 8 Ok (1-0 win)
The 1939 season marked a breakout for the youthful Feller, who led the AL in wins (24), full video games (24) and innings (296 2/3) and the Majors in strikeouts (246) whereas posting a 2.85 ERA on the age of 20. He made his first Opening Day begin that 12 months and tossed a complete-game three-hitter in a 5-1 win over the Tigers. “Rapid Robert” managed to high himself one 12 months later in opposition to the White Sox, tossing the primary and solely Opening Day no-hitter in AL/NL historical past. It was the primary of three profession no-hitters for Feller, who received the AL pitching Triple Crown in 1940 with 27 wins, a 2.61 ERA and 261 Ok’s over 320 1/3 innings, finishing 31 of his 37 begins.
HM — Shane Bieber (2020 vs. KC): 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 14 Ok (2-0 win)
Royals: Edinson Vólquez (April 3, 2016 vs. Mets)
6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 Ok (4-3 win)
Roughly 5 months after the Royals edged the Mets in 5 video games for the second World Series win in franchise historical past, the 2 groups confronted off in a rematch, and the Royals turned to Vólquez, who had additionally thrown six sturdy innings in that championship clincher. Vólquez was even sharper to kick off the 2016 season. Facing off in opposition to New York’s Matt Harvey — who additionally began in opposition to Vólquez in each Games 1 and 5 of the 2015 Fall Classic — Vólquez allowed two hits in six shutout innings. This is each the one time in MLB historical past that the 2 groups that performed in a World Series confronted off throughout the subsequent season’s Opening Day, and the one time that the 2 beginning pitchers from the ultimate sport of a World Series confronted off throughout the subsequent season’s Opening Day (no matter whether or not they had modified groups within the offseason).
HM — Bud Black (1985 vs. TOR): 7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 Ok (2-1 win)
Tigers: Justin Verlander (April 5, 2012 vs. Red Sox)
8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 Ok (3-2 win)
Long earlier than Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer reunited this offseason, they had been teammates in Detroit, together with the 2012 workforce that received the AL pennant earlier than being swept by the Giants within the World Series. That 12 months’s star-studded rotation additionally featured the likes of Rick Porcello, Doug Fister, and Aníbal Sánchez, however Opening Day was notoriously Verlander’s property — and this sport confirmed why. Fresh off his first profession Cy Young Award within the 2011 season, Verlander picked up proper the place he left off, shredding a deep Boston lineup that featured Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Adrián González to the tune of eight shutout innings. Verlander really didn’t get the win attributable to a Jose Valverde blown save, however he nonetheless outdueled Jon Lester in Detroit’s 3-2 win.
HM — Denny McLain (1969 vs. CLE): 9 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 Ok (6-2 win)
Twins: Pedro Ramos (April 11, 1961 at Yankees)
CG, 9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 Ok (6-0 win)
One 12 months earlier, Camilo Pascual had set a still-standing Opening Day file with 15 strikeouts in opposition to the Red Sox. That was the ultimate opener for the Washington Senators, who relocated from D.C. to Minnesota in 1961 and tabbed Ramos to start out in opposition to the high-powered Bronx Bombers at Yankee Stadium. While this could be a giant 12 months for New York, with Roger Maris breaking Babe Ruth’s single-season dwelling run file and the Bronx Bombers successful the primary of two straight titles, the membership was stymied by Ramos on Opening Day. Although he led the AL in losses yearly from 1958-60 and would accomplish that once more in 1961, Ramos held the high-powered Yanks to a few hits in a complete-game shutout.
HM — Walter Johnson (1926 vs. PHA): CG, 15 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 9 Ok (1-0 win)
^For Washington Senators
White Sox: Mark Buehrle (April 4, 2005 vs. Cleveland)
8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 Ok (1-0 win)
In a sport that featured solely six hits and one whole run, it was an error that offered the margin of victory. Paul Konerko scored the sport’s lone run within the backside of the seventh following a Jhonny Peralta miscue, after the previous had reached on a double to guide off that inning. Cleveland’s Jake Westbrook pitched a whole sport within the loss, however he was outdueled by Buehrle, who shut down the likes of Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez and Coco Crisp with eight innings of two-hit ball. Buehrle’s dominant outing set the tone for a legendary 12 months in Chicago, because the White Sox went on to win their first World Series since 1917, changing into the second consecutive World Series winner to snap a title drought of 85-plus years (Boston: 1918 to 2004).
HM — Jack McDowell (1991 at BAL): 9 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 Ok (9-1 win)
Angels: Nolan Ryan (April 6, 1973 vs. Royals)
CG, 9 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 12 Ok (3-2 win)
Ryan broke out in 1972 following a commerce from the Mets to the Angels, hanging out 329 batters over 284 innings. The flamethrower managed to high himself the next season, setting a Modern Era file (since 1900) with 383 Ok’s. It started with 12 strikeouts within the Halos’ season opener in opposition to the Royals, as Ryan — making his first profession Opening Day begin — tossed a whole sport in a one-run win. He’d file a double-digit strikeout whole in 23 begins that 12 months, tied with Randy Johnson (3 times) for probably the most in a single season.
HM — Eli Grba (1961 at BAL): CG, 9 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 Ok (7-2 win)
Astros: J.R. Richard (April 10, 1980 vs. Dodgers)
8 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 13 Ok (3-2 win)
A longtime Astro, Richard earned his first profession All-Star nod in 1980. He began his incredible season off with a gem in opposition to the Dodgers, permitting two hits and recording 13 strikeouts in a Houston win. That season proved to be Richard’s final, nevertheless, as he suffered a stroke whereas enjoying catch on the Astrodome that July due to an enormous blockage in his proper carotid artery, which required emergency surgical procedure. He’d by no means throw a pitch within the Major Leagues once more.
HM — Roy Oswalt (2006 vs. FLA): 8 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 Ok (1-0 win)
Athletics: Sonny Gray (April 6, 2015 vs. Rangers)
8 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 Ok (8-0 win)
Opening Day 2015 was a Gray Day for the A’s — and for the Rangers offense. Gray took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning, with a success batter and an error representing Texas’ solely two baserunners till Ryan Rua’s leadoff single within the eighth. He completed the inning as Oakland cruised to an 8-0 win. His standout begin was the start of a memorable season that noticed Gray pitch to a 2.73 ERA in 208 innings. Then in his third season, Gray earned an All-Star nod and completed third within the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2015.
HM — Tim Hudson (2003 vs. SEA): 8 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 Ok (5-0 win)
Mariners: Félix Hernández (April 2, 2007 vs. A’s)
8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 Ok (4-0 win)
King Félix actually lived as much as his regal nickname in his 11 Opening Day begins for the Mariners. The right-hander reigned supreme over the competitors in these begins, posting a 1.53 ERA with 78 strikeouts throughout 76 2/3 innings. Of the 16 pitchers on file with no less than 10 Opening Day begins within the reside ball period (since 1920), none has a decrease Opening Day ERA than Hernández. He made his first Opening Day begin simply six days previous to his twenty first birthday in 2007 and gave Mariners followers a glimpse of the ace he’d quickly develop into, fanning 12 batters over eight shutout innings in opposition to the A’s.
HM — Randy Johnson (1993 vs. TOR): 8 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 14 Ok (8-1 win)
Rangers: Bert Blyleven (April 7, 1977 at Orioles)
CG, 10 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 Ok (2-1 win)
After six-plus seasons with Minnesota, Blyleven was dealt to the Rangers in a six-player commerce in June 1976. The right-hander already had 5 Opening Day begins beneath his belt with the Twins — the final two of which, coincidentally, got here in opposition to Texas — when he took the mound for the Rangers within the first sport of their 1977 season. In a marquee pitching matchup between a pair of future Hall of Famers, Blyleven outdueled the Orioles’ Jim Palmer — the winner of the AL Cy Young Award in 1973, ‘75 and ‘76 — with 10 innings of one-run ball. Texas pulled ahead on Bump Wills’ two-out RBI single off Palmer within the high of the tenth, and Blyleven completed off his masterful full sport with an ideal inning within the backside of the body.
HM — Gaylord Perry (1976 vs. MIN): CG, 11 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 Ok (2-1 win)
Braves: Tom Glavine (April 7, 1992 at Astros)
CG, 9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 Ok (2-0 win)
The Braves have had many esteemed hurlers take the mound on Opening Day of their pitching-rich historical past, however Glavine’s 1992 efficiency stands out among the many relaxation. Coming off his first NL Cy Young Award in 1991, the left-hander struck out 9 in a two-hit shutout on the Astrodome. He’d go on to toss an MLB-high 5 shutouts that season, ending second within the NL Cy Young race to future teammate Greg Maddux.
HM — Warren Spahn (1959^ at PIT): CG, 9 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 Ok (8-0 win)
^For Milwaukee Braves
Marlins: Kevin Brown (April 1, 1997 vs. Cubs)
7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 Ok (4-2 win)
The Marlins completed beneath .500 in every of their first 4 seasons, however they made it clear from the get-go that 1997 was going to be totally different. Coming off an MLB-leading 1.89 ERA in 1996, Brown bought the ball on Opening Day in opposition to the Cubs and restricted Chicago to at least one hit over seven scoreless innings in a 4-2 victory. The Marlins ended up clinching their first postseason berth earlier than occurring to win the World Series.
HM — José Fernández (2014 vs. COL): 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 Ok (10-1 win)
Mets: Dwight Gooden (April 5, 1993 vs. Rockies)
CG, 9 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 Ok (3-0 win)
The Rockies’ inaugural Major League sport after becoming a member of MLB as an enlargement workforce in 1993? It got here in opposition to Gooden and the Mets at Shea Stadium, and it didn’t go properly for Colorado. “Doc” placed on a clinic, tossing a shutout in a 3-0 Mets win. Gooden sat down 12 straight Rockies from the fifth by way of eighth innings. He was a vibrant spot for a Mets workforce that completed the season at 59-103, the franchise’s worst file since 1965.
HM — Tom Seaver (1975 vs. PHI): CG, 9 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 Ok (2-1 win)
Nationals: Stephen Strasburg (April 1, 2013 vs. Marlins)
7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 Ok (2-0 win)
Strasburg adopted up an All-Star marketing campaign in his first full Major League season with a formidable Opening Day outing. He stymied Miami over seven shutout innings, permitting simply three hits in a 2-0 Washington win at Nationals Park. Strasburg was backed by a pair of solo homers by Bryce Harper in opposition to Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco, and he retired 19 consecutive hitters after Juan Pierre singled to guide off the sport. Strasburg completed the season with a 3.00 ERA in 183 innings, serving to the Nats publish a successful file for the second time since their transfer from Montreal.
HM — Steve Rogers (1982^ at PHI): CG, 9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 Ok (2-0 win)
^For Montreal Expos
Phillies: Roy Halladay (April 5, 2012 at Pirates)
8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 Ok (1-0 win)
After the Phillies’ 2011 season ended with an NLDS loss to the Cardinals (wherein an injured Halladay was on the mound for the deciding Game 5), he threw a classic efficiency on Opening Day in opposition to the Pirates. After hitting a batter within the eighth inning to place a runner on, Halladay struck out Nate McLouth on a breaking ball to silence the record-setting crowd of 39,585 at PNC Park.
HM — Steve Carlton (1972 at CHC): 8 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 Ok (4-2 win)
Brewers: Ben Sheets (April 2, 2007 vs. Dodgers)
CG, 9 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 Ok (7-1 win)
The 2007 season marked 25 years because the Brewers received the AL — sure, AL — pennant. On Opening Day, Sheets helped flip again the clock with a complete-game win over the Dodgers. A leadoff dwelling run by Jeff Kent within the second inning was the one harm in opposition to Sheets, who proceeded to retire the subsequent 22 L.A. batters earlier than Brady Clark’s one-out double within the ninth. Current Brewers supervisor Craig Counsell drove in a run in Milwaukee’s 7-1 victory. Sheets earned his third All-Star nod in 2007, serving to the Brewers end second within the NL Central.
HM — Teddy Higuera (1988 at BAL): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 Ok (12-0 win)
Cardinals: Bob Gibson (April 11, 1967 vs. Giants)
CG, 9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 13 Ok (6-0 win)
The 1967 season will ceaselessly reside in Cardinals lore, and Gibson is a big cause why. But earlier than Gibson was named MVP of the 1967 Fall Classic, he was the star of Opening Day, shutting out a stacked Giants lineup. Gibson was electrical from the beginning, as he struck out the primary 5 batters of the sport — a gaggle that included Willie Mays and Willie McCovey — and didn’t give up a success till the third inning. It was one in all 10 Opening Day begins Gibson made for the Redbirds.
HM — Adam Wainwright (2014 at CIN): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 9 Ok (1-0 win)
Cubs: Jake Arrieta (April 4, 2016 at Angels)
7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 Ok (9-0 win)
Coming off a memorable second half in 2015 that received him the NL Cy Young Award, Arrieta began the 2016 season in type. In Anaheim, Arrieta kicked off a season that resulted within the Cubs’ first World Series win since 1908. He scattered two hits over seven scoreless innings in Chicago’s 9-0 victory over the Angels. Arrieta even held Mike Trout hitless and struck him out twice. In 2016, he allowed the fewest hits per 9 innings within the Major Leagues and was named an All-Star for the primary time earlier than the Cubs captured the crown in opposition to Cleveland.
HM — Fergie Jenkins (1971 vs. STL): CG, 10 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 Ok
Pirates: Bob Veale (April 12, 1965 vs. Giants)
CG, 10 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 Ok (1-0 win)
After spending the primary two years of his profession as each a reliever and a starter, Veale turned a full-time starter in 1964 and led the National League in strikeouts. He bested himself in ‘65, recording 276 strikeouts (the franchise’s Modern Era file), 10 of which got here in his Opening Day gem in opposition to the Giants. After tossing 9 scoreless innings, Veale went out for the tenth and recorded two strikeouts earlier than Bob Bailey hit a walk-off dwelling run within the backside of the inning.
HM — Dock Ellis (1971 vs. PHI): CG, 9 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 Ok (4-2 win)
Reds: Johnny Vander Meer (April 21, 1943 vs. Cardinals)
CG, 11 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 3 Ok (1-0 win)
Vander Meer is greatest recognized for pitching no-hitters in two consecutive begins in 1938, however his Opening Day efficiency in 1943 deserves recognition. The Reds hurler tossed 11 scoreless innings in opposition to the Cardinals, incomes the win after a walk-off single within the backside of the eleventh by Max Marshall. Since 1990, just one pitcher — the Yankees’ Andy Hawkins — has gone greater than 11 innings in a single sport. Vander Meer made his fourth All-Star Game in 1943, however he left baseball for the subsequent two years to serve within the Navy throughout World War II. He returned in 1946 and pitched six extra Major League seasons.
HM — Johnny Cueto (2015 vs. PIT): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 Ok (5-2 win)
D-backs: Randy Johnson (April 1, 2002 vs. Padres)
CG, 9 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 Ok (2-0 win)
Despite being 38 years previous at the beginning of the 2002 season, Johnson confirmed he was nonetheless as dominant as ever, scattering six hits over 9 innings whereas blanking the Padres. The begin kicked off what could be the most effective season of Johnson’s profession, as he went 24-5 with 2.32 ERA en path to successful his fourth straight NL Cy Young Award. The win additionally gave Johnson a novel piece of baseball historical past, as he additionally received the ultimate two video games of the 2001 World Series, making him the second pitcher in MLB historical past to win three consecutively-scheduled regulation video games. The solely different pitcher to perform the feat is Walter Johnson.
HM — Johnson (2001 at LAD): 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 10 Ok (3-2 win)
Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw (April 1, 2013 vs. Giants)
CG, 9 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 Ok (4-0 win)
Kershaw has now made 9 Opening Day begins for the Dodgers. His third — in 2013 in opposition to rival San Francisco — is at the moment in line to go down as his greatest. The southpaw delivered a traditional efficiency, outlasting Matt Cain and tossing a shutout at Dodger Stadium in a 4-0 win for Los Angeles. Oh, yeah — he additionally socked a solo dwelling run off reliever George Kontos within the backside of the eighth to interrupt the scoreless tie earlier than L.A. added three extra runs. The blast to middle subject stays Kershaw’s solely Major League homer.
HM — Don Drysdale (1960 vs. CHC): CG, 11 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 14 Ok (3-2 win)
Giants: Juan Marichal (April 12, 1966 vs. Cubs)
CG, 9 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 Ok (9-1 win)
The 1966 marketing campaign was the fifth of eight straight All-Star seasons for Marichal, and he bought off to a scorching begin in opposition to the Cubs at Candlestick Park. Chicago’s solely run got here within the seventh inning, and it was unearned after a fielding error at first base broke up Marichal’s perfect-game bid. He labored round singles within the eighth and ninth to notch one in all six full video games with zero or one earned run allowed that he authored for the Giants on Opening Day between 1962-73.
HM — Tim Lincecum (2010 at HOU): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 Ok (5-2 win)
Padres: Dick Selma (April 8, 1969 vs. Astros)
CG, 9 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 12 Ok (2-1 win)
Selma set the bar excessive for Padres pitchers by authoring a whole sport with 12 strikeouts within the franchise’s first sport. After he gave up a leadoff single to Jesus Alou (beginning the Padres’ streak of 8,205 video games with no no-hitter), Selma was almost unhittable the remainder of the evening. He helped out his personal trigger by recording two of San Diego’s 4 hits and laying down a sacrifice bunt.
HM — Jake Peavy (2008 vs. HOU): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 Ok (4-0 win)
Rockies: Mike Hampton (April 2, 2001 vs. Cardinals)
8 1/3 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 Ok (8-0 win)
Hampton’s time with the Rockies after signing an eight-year, $121 million deal isn’t fondly remembered, however his tenure couldn’t have began a lot better in 2001. Colorado’s offense put up 15 hits and eight runs in opposition to the Cardinals on Opening Day at Coors Field, and Hampton took a shutout into the ninth earlier than handing the ball off to Jose Jimenez to shut out the win.
HM — Kyle Freeland (2019 at MIA): 7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 Ok (6-3 win)
