Every year I update this long-running XLS for this increasingly anachronistic relic of tracking Opening Day Starter honors for teams.
After this year’s opening day, which was delayed for nearly a week thanks to the Nats Covid outbreak, here’s some cool trivia:
- Most Opening Day Starts, Active Leaders:
- Justin Verlander remains the current leader with 12, though he’s out for the season with injury.
- Clayton Kershaw made his 9th opening day start after missing a couple in a row, making him the pitcher with the highest number that is still actively making opening day starts.
- Felix Hernandez and Jon Lester have 10 and 8 opening day starts respectively, but neither
- After these guys, the players with the most are Madison Bumgarner (7), Max Scherzer (6) and Julio Teheran (6).
- Current Leading Consecutive streak:
- both Max Scherzer and Aaron Nola are on a consecutive opening day start streak of 4 starts.
- Number of first-time Opening Day Starters in 2021: Just 7. This is after 18 last year.
- Number of Opening Day Starters who now have exactly two opening day starts: 14 of the 30.
- Most surprising opening-day starters in 2021:
- Chad Kuhl: well someone had to pitch opening day for Pittsburgh, who may lose 115 games this year.
Historically, here’s the all-time record holders:
- Most Ever Opening day Starts: Tom Seaver with 16. Tied for 2nd place with 14 is Jack Morris, Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton
- Most Consecutive Opening Day Starts: Jack Morris, all of whom’s 14 opening day starts were in a row.
Hope you enjoy this useless trivia!