List of Minnesota Twins Opening Day starting pitchers

The Minnesota Twins are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the American League Central division. They formerly played in Washington, D.C. as the Washington Senators before moving to Minnesota after the 1960 season. 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 Twins have used 26 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 51 seasons in Minnesota. Starters have a combined Opening Day record of 14 wins, 25 losses and 12 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.[3][4][5]

Bert Blyleven made six Opening Day starts for the Minnesota Twins.

Brad Radke holds the Minnesota Twins record for most Opening Day starts with nine. He has a record in Opening Day starts for the Twins of four wins and two losses (4–2) with three no decisions. Bert Blyleven had six Opening Day starts for the Twins and Frank Viola had four.[3] Radke has the record for most wins in Minnesota Twins Opening Day starts with four. Liván Hernández, Mudcat Grant, and Dean Chance share the best winning percentage in Opening Day starts with one win and no losses (1–0) each. Kevin Tapani has the worst winning percentage, losing both Opening Day starts he made for the Twins (0–2).[3]

Overall, Minnesota Twins Opening Day starting pitchers have a record of 4–7 with three no decisions at Metropolitan Stadium and a 1–4 record with one no decision at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Their first home opener in their current ballpark of Target Field was in 2013. This gives their Opening Day starting pitchers' combined home record 5–11 with four no no decisions. Their away record is 9–14 with eight no decisions. The Twins went on to play in the World Series in 1965, 1987, and 1991, winning in 1987 and 1991. The Twins lost both Opening Day games in the years in which they won the World Series.[3]

Key
Season Each year is linked to an article about that particular Twins season.
W Win
L Loss
ND (W) No decision by starting pitcher; Twins won game
ND (L) No decision by starting pitcher; Twins lost game
Final
Score		 Game score with Twins runs listed first
Location Stadium in bold for home game
Pitcher (#) Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Twins
* Advanced to the post-season
** Won American League Championship Series
† Won World Series

Pitchers
Scott Baker was the Twins' Opening Day starting pitcher in 2010.
Season Pitcher Decision Final
score		 Opponent Location Ref(s)
1961 Pedro Ramos W 6–0 New York Yankees Yankee Stadium (I) [6]
1962 Jack Kralick L 2–4 Kansas City Athletics Municipal Stadium [7]
1963 Camilo Pascual L 4–5 Cleveland Indians Metropolitan Stadium [8]
1964 Camilo Pascual (2) ND (W) 7–6 Cleveland Indians Cleveland Stadium [9]
1965** Jim Kaat ND (W) 5–4 New York Yankees Metropolitan Stadium [10]
1966 Mudcat Grant W 2–1 Kansas City Athletics Metropolitan Stadium [11]
1967 Jim Kaat (2) L 3–6 Baltimore Orioles Memorial Stadium [12]
1968 Dean Chance W 2–0 Washington Senators Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium [13]
1969* Tom Hall ND (L) 3–4 Kansas City Royals Municipal Stadium [14]
1970* Jim Perry W 12–0 Chicago White Sox Comiskey Park [15]
1971 Jim Perry (2) L 2–7 Milwaukee Brewers Metropolitan Stadium [16]
1972 Bert Blyleven ND (L) 3–4 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum [17]
1973 Bert Blyleven (2) W 8–3 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum [18]
1974 Bert Blyleven (3) ND (W) 6–4 Kansas City Royals Royals Stadium [19]
1975 Bert Blyleven (4) W 11–4 Texas Rangers Arlington Stadium [20]
1976 Bert Blyleven (5) ND (L) 2–1 Texas Rangers Arlington Stadium [21]
1977 Dave Goltz L 4–7 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum [22]
1978 Dave Goltz (2) L 2–3 Seattle Mariners Kingdome [23]
1979 Dave Goltz (3) W 5–3 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum [24]
1980 Jerry Koosman ND (W) 9–7 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum [25]
1981 Jerry Koosman (2) L 1–5 Oakland Athletics Metropolitan Stadium [26]
1982* Pete Redfern L 7–11 Seattle Mariners Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [27]
1983 Brad Havens L 3–11 Detroit Tigers Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [28]
1984 Albert Williams L 1–8 Detroit Tigers Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [29]
1985 Frank Viola W 6–2 California Angels Anaheim Stadium [30]
1986 Frank Viola (2) W 3–2 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum [31]
1987† Bert Blyleven (6) ND (W) 5–4 Oakland Athletics Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [32]
1988 Frank Viola (3) L 0–8 New York Yankees Yankee Stadium (I) [33]
1989 Frank Viola (4) L 2–4 New York Yankees Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [34]
1990 Allan Anderson L 3–8 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum [35]
1991† Jack Morris L 2–7 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum [36]
1992 Scott Erickson ND (W) 4–2 Milwaukee Brewers Milwaukee County Stadium [37]
1993 Kevin Tapani L 5–10 Chicago White Sox Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [38]
1994 Kevin Tapani (2) L 2–8 California Angels Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [39]
1995 Scott Erickson (2) L 0–9 Boston Red Sox Fenway Park [40]
1996 Brad Radke W 8–6 Detroit Tigers Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [41]
1997 Brad Radke (2) ND (W) 7–5 Detroit Tigers Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [42]
1998 Bob Tewksbury L 2–3 Toronto Blue Jays SkyDome [43]
1999 Brad Radke (3) W 6–1 Toronto Blue Jays Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [44]
2000 Brad Radke (4) L 0–7 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [45]
2001 Brad Radke (5) W 3–2 Detroit Tigers Comerica Park [46]
2002* Brad Radke (6) ND (W) 8–6 Kansas City Royals Kauffman Stadium [47]
2003* Brad Radke (7) W 3–1 Detroit Tigers Comerica Park [48]
2004* Brad Radke (8) ND (W) 7–4 Cleveland Indians Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [49]
2005 Brad Radke (9) L 1–5 Seattle Mariners Safeco Field [50]
2006* Johan Santana L 3–6 Toronto Blue Jays Rogers Centre [51]
2007 Johan Santana (2) W 7–4 Baltimore Orioles Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [52]
2008 Livan Hernandez W 3–2 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [53]
2009* Francisco Liriano L 1–6 Seattle Mariners Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [4]
2010* Scott Baker L 3–6 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Angel Stadium of Anaheim [5]
2011 Carl Pavano L 3–11 Toronto Blue Jays Rogers Centre [54]
2012 Carl Pavano (2) L 2–4 Baltimore Orioles Oriole Park at Camden Yards [55]
2013 Vance Worley L 2–4 Detroit Tigers Target Field [56]
2014 Ricky Nolasco L 3–5 Chicago White Sox U.S. Cellular Field [57]
2015 Phil Hughes L 0–4 Detroit Tigers Comerica Park
2016 Ervin Santana ND (L) 2–3 Baltimore Orioles Camden Yards
2017 Ervin Santana (2) W 7–1 Kansas City Royals Target Field
2018 Jake Odorizzi ND (L) 2–3 Baltimore Orioles Camden Yards
2019 José Berríos W 2–0 Cleveland Indians Target 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. "Minnesota Twins Opening Day Starters and Results". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
  4. "Seattle 6, Minnesota 1". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  5. "LA Angels 6, Minnesota 3". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  6. "Twins Opening Day 1961". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  7. "Twins Opening Day 1962". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  8. "Twins Opening Day 1963". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  9. "Twins Opening Day 1964". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  10. "Twins Opening Day 1965". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  11. "Twins Opening Day 1966". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  12. "Twins Opening Day 1967". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  13. "Twins Opening Day 1968". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  14. "Twins Opening Day 1969". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  15. "Twins Opening Day 1969". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  16. "Twins Opening Day 1971". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
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  18. "Twins Opening Day 1973". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  19. "Twins Opening Day 1974". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  20. "Twins Opening Day 1975". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  21. "Twins Opening Day 1976". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
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  30. "Twins Opening Day 1985". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
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  43. "Twins Opening Day 1998". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
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  51. "Twins Opening Day 2006". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  52. "Twins Opening Day 2007". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  53. "Twins Opening Day 2008". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  54. "Toronto 13, Minnesota 3". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
  55. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320406101
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  57. "Twins Opening Day 2014". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
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