List of Milwaukee Brewers Opening Day starting pitchers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a Major League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They play in the National League Central division. Established in Seattle, Washington, as the Seattle Pilots in 1969,[2] the team became the Milwaukee Brewers after relocating to Milwaukee in 1970.[3] The first game of the new baseball season for a team is played on Opening Day, and being named the Opening Day starting pitcher is an honor which is given to the player who is expected to lead the pitching staff that season,[4] though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day.[5] The Brewers have used 32 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 52 seasons.[6]
The Pilots, whose home ballpark was Sick's Stadium,[7] played their inaugural Opening Day game on the road against the California Angels at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California, on April 8, 1969. Marty Pattin was their starting pitcher that day; he earned the win in a game the Pilots won, 4–3.[8] In 1970, the team relocated to Wisconsin and began playing their home games at Milwaukee County Stadium.[9] The Brewers opened their first season in Milwaukee at home with Opening Day starter Lew Krausse Jr. taking the loss in a 12–0 defeat by the California Angels on April 9.[10] County Stadium was home to the Brewers for 31 seasons through 2000.[9] Their final Opening Day game at the facility occurred on April 26, 1995. Starter Ricky Bones took a no decision in the Brewers' 12–3 win over the Chicago White Sox.[11] Steve Woodard received an unusual no decision in 2000, when the team's Opening Day game against the Cincinnati Reds was called in the sixth inning due to rain, with the score tied at 3.[12] The team moved into American Family Field, then known as Miller Park, in 2001,[9] but they did not play their first Opening Day game at the new stadium until five years later. In that game, held on April 3, 2006, Milwaukee defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5–2; starter Doug Davis did not figure in the decision.[13]
The Brewers' 32 Opening Day starting pitchers have a combined Opening Day record of 17 wins, 16 losses, and 19 no decisions in 52 Opening Day starts. They earned a win in their only Opening Day start in Seattle. In Milwaukee, they have 16 wins, 16 losses, and 19 no decisions in 51 Opening Day starts. At Milwaukee County Stadium, they had a record of 3 wins, 2 losses, and 5 no decisions in 10 Opening Days. At American Family Field, they have a record of 3 wins, 4 losses, and 3 no decisions in 10 Opening Days. The Brewers have an aggregate record of 6 wins, 6 losses, and 8 no decisions in 20 Opening Day starts played at home. Milwaukee's starters have a record of 11 wins, 10 losses, and 11 no decisions in 32 Opening Day starts on the road.[6]
Ben Sheets has the most Opening Day starts for the Brewers, with six, followed by Yovani Gallardo (5); Teddy Higuera and Jim Slaton (3); and Ricky Bones, Mike Caldwell, Jim Colborn, Cal Eldred, Marty Pattin, Don Sutton, and Bill Wegman (2). Gallardo (2010–2014) made five consecutive Opening Day starts. Sheets (2002–2005) made four consecutive starts, while Higuera (1986–1988) made three and Bones (1995–1996), Colborn (1973–1974), Sheets (2007–2008), Slaton (1975–1976), Sutton (1983–1984), and Wegman (1992–1993) made back-to-back starts.[6]
Opening Day results
Season | Each year is linked to an article about that particular Brewers season. |
---|---|
Pitcher (#) | Number indicates multiple appearances as a Brewers Opening Day starter |
Score (#) | Game score with Brewers runs listed first; number of innings in a game that was shorter or longer than 9 innings in parentheses |
Location | Stadium in italics denotes a Brewers home game |
W | Win |
L | Loss |
ND (W) | No decision by starting pitcher; Brewers won game |
ND (L) | No decision by starting pitcher; Brewers lost game |
* | Advanced to the postseason |
** | Won the American League Championship Series |
Pitchers
Opening Day starting pitchers are listed in descending order by the number of Opening Day starts for the Brewers.
Pitcher | Starts | Wins | Losses | No decisions | Win % | Season(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ben Sheets | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1.000 | 2002,[43] 2003,[44] 2004,[45] 2005,[46] 2007,[47] 2008[48] |
Yovani Gallardo | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0.333 | 2010,[50] 2011,[51] 2012,[52] 2013,[53] 2014[54] |
Teddy Higuera | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1986,[29] 1987,[30] 1988[31] |
Jim Slaton | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | 1975,[18] 1976,[19] 1980[23] |
Mike Caldwell | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1979,[22] 1981[24] |
Marty Pattin | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1969,[8] 1971[14] |
Ricky Bones | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 1995,[11] 1996[38] |
Jim Colborn | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.000 | 1973,[16] 1974[17] |
Cal Eldred | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 1994,[37] 1998[40] |
Don Sutton | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.000 | 1983,[26] 1984[27] |
Bill Wegman | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.000 | 1992,[35] 1993[36] |
Jerry Augustine | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1978[21] |
Jhoulys Chacín | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 2019[59] |
Mark Knudson | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1991[34] |
Bill Parsons | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1972[15] |
Pete Vuckovich | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1982[25] |
Chase Anderson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 2018[58] |
Don August | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 1989[32] |
Chris Bosio | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 1990[33] |
Doug Davis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 2006[13] |
Junior Guerra | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 2017[57] |
Moose Haas | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 1985[28] |
Lew Krausse Jr. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 1970[10] |
Kyle Lohse | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 2015[55] |
Ben McDonald | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 1997[39] |
Wily Peralta | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 2016[56] |
Rafael Roque | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 1999[41] |
Jeff Suppan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 2009[49] |
Bill Travers | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 1977[20] |
Steve Woodard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 2000[12] |
Brandon Woodruff | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 2020[60] |
Jamey Wright | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 2001[42] |
References
- "Jim Colborn Stats". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
- "Brewers Timeline 1960s". Milwaukee Brewers. Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
- "Brewers Timeline 1970s". Milwaukee Brewers. Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
- Bastian, Jordan (March 22, 2010). "Marcum Tapped for Jays' Opening Day". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
- Dilbeck, Steve (February 24, 2014). "Dodgers May Not Start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
- "Milwaukee Brewers Opening Day Starters". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- "1969 Seattle Pilots Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- "Seattle Pilots at California Angels Box Score, April 8, 1969". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Brewers Ballparks". Milwaukee Brewers. Major League Baseball. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- "California Angels at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 7, 1970". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Chicago White Sox at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 26, 1995". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, April 3, 2000". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Pittsburgh Pirates at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 3, 2006". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Minnesota Twins Box Score, April 6, 1971". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Cleveland Indians Box Score, April 15, 1972". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Baltimore Orioles Box Score, April 6, 1973". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Boston Red Sox at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 5, 1974". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Box Score, April 8, 1975". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "New York Yankees at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 8, 1976". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at New York Yankees Box Score, April 7, 1977". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Baltimore Orioles at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 7, 1978". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at New York Yankees Box Score, April 5, 1979". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Boston Red Sox at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 10, 1980". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Cleveland Indians Box Score, April 11, 1981". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Toronto Blue Jays Box Score, April 9, 1982". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at California Angels Box Score, April 5, 1983". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Oakland Athletics Box Score, April 3, 1984". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Chicago White Sox at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 9, 1985". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago White Sox Box Score, April 7, 1986". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Boston Red Sox at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 6, 1987". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Baltimore Orioles Box Score, April 4, 1988". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Cleveland Indians Box Score, April 3, 1989". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago White Sox Box Score, April 9, 1990". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Texas Rangers Box Score, April 8, 1991". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Minnesota Twins at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 6, 1992". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at California Angels Box Score, April 6, 1993". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Oakland Athletics at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 5, 1994". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at California Angels Box Score, April 2, 1996". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Texas Rangers Box Score, April 1, 1997". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Atlanta Braves Box Score, March 31, 1998". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, April 5, 1999". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score, April 2, 2001". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Houston Astros Box Score, April 2, 2002". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, March 31, 2003". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, April 5, 2004". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score, April 4, 2005". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, April 5, 1999". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs Box Score, March 31, 2008". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at San Francisco Giants Box Score, April 7, 2009". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Colorado Rockies at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 5, 2010". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, March 31, 2011". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 6, 2012". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Colorado Rockies at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 1, 2013". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Atlanta Braves at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, March 31, 2014". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Colorado Rockies at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 6, 2015". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "San Francisco Giants at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 4, 2016". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Colorado Rockies at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 3, 2017". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at San Diego Padres Box Score, March 29, 2018". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, March 28, 2019". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs Box Score, July 24, 2020". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.