List of Colorado Rockies Opening Day starting pitchers
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Denver, Colorado. 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 Rockies have used 20 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 28 seasons. Since the Rockies' first season in 1993, the 20 starters have a combined Opening Day record of eleven wins, nine losses (11–9), and eight 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]
Eight Rockies pitchers have started on two Opening Days: Kevin Ritz, Darryl Kile, Mike Hampton, Jason Jennings, Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jiménez, Jorge de la Rosa, and Jon Gray. Kile has the best Opening Day record with two wins and no losses. Armando Reynoso is the only Rockies pitcher to start on Opening Day in Colorado's former home of Mile High Stadium. Rockies starting pitchers have an Opening Day record of four wins, two losses, and one no decision when at home. With the exception of one lost game at Mile High Stadium, the other games were played at Colorado's current home stadium of Coors Field. On the road for Opening Day, Colorado starting pitchers have accumulated a record of seven wins, seven losses, and seven no decisions. The Rockies have a record of two wins and three losses on Opening Day for seasons in which they would later go on to participate in post-season play.[3]
The longest Opening Day winning streak for Rockies starting pitchers is three years, when Colorado won in 2004, 2005, and 2006, under three different pitchers, Shawn Estes, Joe Kennedy, and Jason Jennings. Rockies starters have lost twice in two consecutive years, once in 1993 and 1994, and once from 2002 to 2003.[3]
Key
[edit]Season | Each year is linked to an article about that particular Rockies season. |
W | Win |
L | Loss |
ND (W) | No decision by starting pitcher; Rockies won game |
ND (L) | No decision by starting pitcher; Rockies lost game |
Pitcher (#) | Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Rockies |
* | Advanced to the post-season |
** | NL Champions |
Pitchers
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Bastian, Jordan (March 22, 2010). "Marcum tapped for Jays' Opening Day". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ Dilbeck, Steve (February 24, 2014). "Dodgers may not start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 22, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag "Colorado Rockies Opening Day Starters and Results". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ a b "Colorado 5, Milwaukee 3". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 2013-07-26. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
- ^ "Cardinals 10, Rockies 2". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "Kent slugs homer in first at-bat with Astros". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "Johnson gives up six hits, Estes just two". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "Rockies rally off Hoffman in ninth inning". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "Holliday, Rockies nip Diamondbacks in 11". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "D-Backs chase Rockies with three in 8th to prevail". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "Nix's bases-loaded walk caps off two-run eighth for Rockies". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2016-02-02. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "Instant offense: Lopez ignites D-backs (0-1)". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
- ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado Rockies Box Score, April 1, 2021". Baseball Reference. Archived from the original on July 16, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2021.