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List of Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day starting pitchers

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For the Opening Day starting pitchers before 1958, see List of Brooklyn Dodgers Opening Day starting pitchers.
Clayton Kershaw holds the Dodgers' record for most Opening Day starts with nine (2011–2018 & 2021).

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Los Angeles. 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 Dodgers have used 26 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 67 seasons in Los Angeles. The 26 starters have a combined Opening Day record of 29 wins, 27 losses and 10 no decisions.[3][4]

The Dodgers started playing in Los Angeles in 1958, after moving from Brooklyn.[5] The first Opening Day game for the Dodgers in Los Angeles was played in San Francisco against the San Francisco Giants on April 15, 1958.[3] California native Don Drysdale was the Dodgers' Opening Day starting pitcher that day, in a game the Dodgers lost 8–0.[3][6] Dodgers starting pitchers won both of their Opening Day starts in their first home ballpark in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.[3][4]

Clayton Kershaw's nine Opening Day starts for the Dodgers from 2011 to 2018 and 2021 are the most ever by a Dodgers starter, two more than Don Drysdale and Don Sutton.[3] Fernando Valenzuela, Ramón Martínez and Orel Hershiser have had at least four Opening Day starts, with six, five and four respectively.[3] Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, who won three Cy Young Awards during the 1960s, only made one Opening Day start for the Dodgers, in 1964.[3][7] Drysdale and Kershaw are also tied for the Los Angeles Dodgers record for most wins as an Opening Day starter, with five wins. They both also have two losses.[3]

Koufax (1964), Chan Ho Park (2001), Brad Penny (2008), Hiroki Kuroda (2009) and Julio Urías (2023) are the only Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day starting pitchers to have won all their Opening Day decisions, Martinez and Derek Lowe share the Los Angeles Dodgers record for most Opening Day losses, with three.[3] The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series championship in 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988 and 2020. Drysdale (1959, 1963 and 1965), Fernando Valenzuela (1981 and 1988) and Dustin May (2020) were the Dodgers' Opening Day starting pitchers those years.[3] The Dodgers' starting pitcher won the Opening Day game in 1963, 1965 and 1981, but lost in 1959 and 1988. In 2020 the starter did not factor in the decision.[8][9][10][11][12]

Key

[edit]
Dodger Stadium has been the Los Angeles Dodgers' home field since 1962. Dodgers' Opening Day starting pitchers have a record there of nine wins, ten losses and five no decisions.
Season Each year is linked to an article about that particular Dodgers season.
Pitcher (#) Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Dodgers
W Win
L Loss
ND (W) No decision by starting pitcher; Dodgers won game
ND (L) No decision by starting pitcher; Dodgers lost game
Final score Game score with Dodgers runs listed first
Location Stadium in italics for home game
* Advanced to the post-season
** NL Champions
† World Series Champions

Pitchers

[edit]
Hiroki Kuroda was the Dodgers' Opening Day starting pitcher in 2009.
Brad Penny was the Dodgers' Opening Day starting pitcher in 2008.
Orel Hershiser made four Opening Day starts for the Dodgers in the 1980s and 1990s.
Chan Ho Park was the Dodgers' Opening Day starter in 2001.
Hideo Nomo made two Opening Day starts for the Dodgers in 2003 and 2004.
Season Pitcher Decision Final
score 		Opponent Location Ref(s)
1958 Don Drysdale L 0–8 San Francisco Giants Seals Stadium [13]
1959† Don Drysdale (2) L 1–6 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field [8]
1960 Don Drysdale (3) W 3–2 Chicago Cubs Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum [14]
1961 Don Drysdale (4) W 6–2 Philadelphia Phillies Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum [15]
1962 Johnny Podres L 3–6 Cincinnati Reds Dodger Stadium [9]
1963† Don Drysdale (5) W 5–1 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field [16]
1964 Sandy Koufax W 4–0 St. Louis Cardinals Dodger Stadium [17]
1965† Don Drysdale (6) W 6–1 New York Mets Shea Stadium [10]
1966** Claude Osteen W 3–2 Houston Astros Dodger Stadium [18]
1967 Bob Miller L 1–6 Cincinnati Reds Crosley Field [19]
1968 Claude Osteen (2) L 0–2 Philadelphia Phillies Dodger Stadium [20]
1969 Don Drysdale (7) W 3–2 Cincinnati Reds Dodger Stadium [21]
1970 Claude Osteen (3) L 0–4 Cincinnati Reds Dodger Stadium [22]
1971 Bill Singer L 2–5 Houston Astros Astrodome [23]
1972 Don Sutton W 3–1 Cincinnati Reds Riverfront Stadium [24]
1973 Don Sutton (2) L 2–4 San Diego Padres San Diego Stadium [25]
1974** Don Sutton (3) W 1–2 San Diego Padres Dodger Stadium [26]
1975 Don Sutton (4) ND (L) 1–2 Cincinnati Reds Riverfront Stadium [27]
1976 Don Sutton (5) L 2–4 San Francisco Giants Candlestick Park [28]
1977** Don Sutton (6) W 5–1 San Francisco Giants Dodger Stadium [29]
1978** Don Sutton (7) W 13–4 Atlanta Braves Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [30]
1979 Burt Hooton ND (L) 3–4 San Diego Padres Dodger Stadium [31]
1980 Burt Hooton (2) L 2–3 Houston Astros Astrodome [32]
1981† Fernando Valenzuela W 2–0 Houston Astros Dodger Stadium [11]
1982 Jerry Reuss ND (W) 4–3 San Francisco Giants Dodger Stadium [33]
1983* Fernando Valenzuela (2) ND (W) 16–7 Houston Astros Astrodome [34]
1984 Fernando Valenzuela (3) L 7–11 St. Louis Cardinals Dodger Stadium [35]
1985* Fernando Valenzuela (4) L 1–2 Houston Astros Astrodome [36]
1986 Fernando Valenzuela (5) W 2–1 San Diego Padres Dodger Stadium [37]
1987 Orel Hershiser L 3–4 Houston Astros Astrodome [38]
1988† Fernando Valenzuela (6) L 1–5 San Francisco Giants Dodger Stadium [12]
1989 Tim Belcher L 4–6 Cincinnati Reds Riverfront Stadium [39]
1990 Orel Hershiser (2) ND (W) 4–2 San Diego Padres Dodger Stadium [40]
1991 Tim Belcher (2) W 6–4 Atlanta Braves Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [41]
1992 Ramón Martínez L 1–8 San Francisco Giants Dodger Stadium [42]
1993 Orel Hershiser (3) L 3–6 Florida Marlins Joe Robbie Stadium [43]
1994 Orel Hershiser (4) ND (W) 4–3 Florida Marlins Dodger Stadium [44]
1995* Ramón Martínez (2) W 8–7 Florida Marlins Joe Robbie Stadium [45]
1996* Ramón Martínez (3) W 4–3 Houston Astros Astrodome [46]
1997 Ramón Martínez (4) L 0–3 Philadelphia Phillies Dodger Stadium [47]
1998 Ramón Martínez (5) L 0–6 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Memorial Stadium [48]
1999 Kevin Brown ND (W) 8–6 Arizona Diamondbacks Dodger Stadium [49]
2000 Kevin Brown (2) W 10–4 Montreal Expos Olympic Stadium [50]
2001 Chan Ho Park W 1–0 Milwaukee Brewers Dodger Stadium [51]
2002 Kevin Brown (3) L 2–9 San Francisco Giants Dodger Stadium [52][53]
2003 Hideo Nomo W 8–0 Arizona Diamondbacks Bank One Ballpark [54][55]
2004* Hideo Nomo (2) L 2–8 San Diego Padres Dodger Stadium [56][57]
2005 Derek Lowe L 2–4 San Francisco Giants SBC Park [58][59]
2006* Derek Lowe (2) L 10–11 Atlanta Braves Dodger Stadium [60][61]
2007 Derek Lowe (3) L 1–7 Milwaukee Brewers Miller Park [62][63]
2008* Brad Penny W 5–0 San Francisco Giants Dodger Stadium [64][65]
2009* Hiroki Kuroda W 4–1 San Diego Padres Petco Park [4]
2010 Vicente Padilla L 5–11 Pittsburgh Pirates PNC Park [66]
2011 Clayton Kershaw W 2–1 San Francisco Giants Dodger Stadium [67]
2012 Clayton Kershaw (2) ND (W) 5–3 San Diego Padres Petco Park [68]
2013* Clayton Kershaw (3) W 4–0 San Francisco Giants Dodger Stadium [69]
2014* Clayton Kershaw (4) W 3–1 Arizona Diamondbacks Sydney Cricket Ground [70]
2015* Clayton Kershaw (5) ND (W) 6–3 San Diego Padres Dodger Stadium [71]
2016* Clayton Kershaw (6) W 15–0 San Diego Padres Petco Park [72]
2017** Clayton Kershaw (7) W 14–3 San Diego Padres Dodger Stadium [73]
2018** Clayton Kershaw (8) L 0 –1 San Francisco Giants Dodger Stadium [74]
2019 * Hyun-jin Ryu W 12 –5 Arizona Diamondbacks Dodger Stadium [75]
2020 † Dustin May ND (W) 8 –1 San Francisco Giants Dodger Stadium [76]
2021 * Clayton Kershaw (9) L 5 –8 Colorado Rockies Coors Field [77]
2022 * Walker Buehler W 5 –3 Colorado Rockies Coors Field [78]
2023 * Julio Urías W 8 –2 Arizona Diamondbacks Dodger Stadium [79]
2024 † Tyler Glasnow ND (W) 5 –2 San Diego Padres Gocheok Sky Dome [80]

References

[edit]
General

"Dodgers Opening Day Lineups". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2008-10-02. "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day Starters and Results". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2008-08-15. Retrieved 2008-09-21.

Specific
  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day Starters and Results". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2008-08-15. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  4. ^ a b c "LA Dodgers 4, San Diego 1". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 2013-07-20. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  5. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers History and Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-23. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  6. ^ "Don Drysdale". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-16. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  7. ^ "Most Valuable Player MVP Awards & Cy Young Awards Winners". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2010-01-09. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
  8. ^ a b "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1959". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  9. ^ a b "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1962". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  10. ^ a b "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1965". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  11. ^ a b "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1981". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  12. ^ a b "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1988". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  13. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1958". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  14. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1960". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  15. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1961". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  16. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1963". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  17. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1964". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  18. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1966". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-06-03. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  19. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1967". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  20. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1968". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
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  22. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1970". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  23. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1971". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-08-20. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  24. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1972". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  25. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1973". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  26. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1974". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  27. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1975". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  28. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1976". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  29. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1977". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  30. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1978". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  31. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1979". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  32. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1980". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  33. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1982". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  34. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1983". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-26. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  35. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1984". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  36. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1985". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  37. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1986". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  38. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1987". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  39. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1989". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  40. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1990". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  41. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1991". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  42. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1992". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  43. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1993". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  44. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1994". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  45. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1995". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2019-01-17. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  46. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1996". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  47. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1997". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  48. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1998". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  49. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 1999". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  50. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 2000". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2019-07-09. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  51. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 2001". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  52. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 2002". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  53. ^ "Giants 9, Dodgers 2". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  54. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 2003". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  55. ^ "Dodgers' Nomo tosses four-hit shutout". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2015-04-23. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  56. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 2004". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2021-02-17. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  57. ^ "Lawrence stingy, Nevin grand for San Diego". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2006-01-08. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  58. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 2005". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  59. ^ "Giants prevail over rivals even without Bonds". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  60. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 2006". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
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  63. ^ Jenkins, Chris (April 2, 2007). "Brewers 7, Dodgers 1". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  64. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day 2008". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
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  73. ^ "Dodgers 14, Padres 3". ESPN. April 3, 2017. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
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  75. ^ Gurnick, Ken (March 28, 2019). "Dodgers set Opening Day record with 8 homers". mlb.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  76. ^ Wegner, Chris (July 23, 2020). "May replaces Kershaw for opener". mlb.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
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