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List of Milwaukee Brewers Opening Day starting pitchers

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A man wearing a navy blue Brewers jersey, gray pants, and a navy blue cap shown preparing to throw a ball from the pitcher's mound
Ben Sheets made six Opening Day starts for the Brewers, a franchise record.
A man wearing a light baseball jersey and a dark cap with an "S" on the front
Marty Pattin was the starting pitcher for the Pilots' inaugural April 8, 1969, opener.
A man wearing a white Brewers jersey with yellow and blue trim at the neck and sleeve openings and a blue cap with an "M" on the front holding his hands in his glove above his head
Jim Colborn, the Brewers' 1973 Opening Day starter, was selected for that season's All-Star Game.[1]
A man wearing a light baseball jersey with wide stripes around the sleeve openings
Jim Slaton made three Opening Day starts for the Brewers, including back-to-back starts in 1975 and 1976.
A man in a powder blue baseball uniform with "Milwaukee" written across the chest and a blue cap standing on the mound preparing to pitch the ball
Teddy Higuera, won each of his three consecutive Opening Day starts from 1986 to 1988.
A man in a white baseball uniform with blue stripes and a blue cap standing on the mound in the midst of pitching the ball
Yovani Gallardo made five consecutive Opening Day starts from 2010 to 2014, more than any other Brewer.
A man in a white baseball uniform and navy cap standing on the pitcher's mound
Kyle Lohse was the Brewers' 2015 Opening Day starter.
A man in a navy blue baseball uniform with yellow and white trim and a navy and yellow cap
Brandon Woodruff was the Brewers' Opening Day starter in 2020 and 2021.
A man in a gray baseball uniform with navy trim and a navy cap
Corbin Burnes was selected as the Brewers' 2022 Opening Day starter after winning the 2021 NL Cy Young Award.[2]

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,[3] the team became the Milwaukee Brewers after relocating to Milwaukee in 1970.[4] 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,[5] though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day.[6] The Brewers have used 33 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 55 seasons.[7]

The Pilots, whose home ballpark was Sick's Stadium,[8] 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.[9] In 1970, the team relocated to Wisconsin and began playing their home games at Milwaukee County Stadium.[10] 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.[11] County Stadium was home to the Brewers for 31 seasons through 2000.[10] 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.[12] 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.[13] The team moved into American Family Field, then known as Miller Park, in 2001,[10] 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.[14]

The Brewers' 33 Opening Day starting pitchers have a combined Opening Day record of 17 wins, 17 losses, and 21 no decisions in 55 Opening Day starts. They earned a win in their only Opening Day start in Seattle. In Milwaukee, they have 16 wins, 17 losses, and 21 no decisions in 54 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 5 no decisions in 12 Opening Days. The Brewers have an aggregate record of 6 wins, 6 losses, and 9 no decisions in 21 Opening Day starts played at home. Milwaukee's starters have a record of 11 wins, 11 losses, and 12 no decisions in 34 Opening Day starts on the road.[7]

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, Corbin Burnes, Mike Caldwell, Jim Colborn, Cal Eldred, Marty Pattin, Don Sutton, Bill Wegman, and Brandon Woodruff (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), Burnes (2022–2023), Colborn (1973–1974), Sheets (2007–2008), Slaton (1975–1976), Sutton (1983–1984), Wegman (1992–1993), and Woodruff (2020–2021) made back-to-back starts.[7]

Opening Day results

Table key
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
Season Pitcher Decision Score Opponent Location Ref.
1969 Marty Pattin W 4–3 California Angels Anaheim Stadium [9]
1970 Lew Krausse Jr. L 0–12 California Angels Milwaukee County Stadium [11]
1971 Marty Pattin (2) W 7–2 Minnesota Twins Metropolitan Stadium [15]
1972 Bill Parsons W 5–1 Cleveland Indians Cleveland Stadium [16]
1973 Jim Colborn L 0–10 Baltimore Orioles Memorial Stadium [17]
1974 Jim Colborn (2) ND (L) 8–9 Boston Red Sox Milwaukee County Stadium [18]
1975 Jim Slaton L 2–5 Boston Red Sox Fenway Park [19]
1976 Jim Slaton (2) W 5–0 New York Yankees Milwaukee County Stadium [20]
1977 Bill Travers L 0–3 New York Yankees Yankee Stadium [21]
1978 Jerry Augustine W 11–3 Baltimore Orioles Milwaukee County Stadium [22]
1979 Mike Caldwell W 5–1 New York Yankees Yankee Stadium [23]
1980 Jim Slaton (3) ND (W) 9–5 Boston Red Sox Milwaukee County Stadium [24]
1981* Mike Caldwell (2) W 5–3 Cleveland Indians Cleveland Stadium [25]
1982** Pete Vuckovich W 15–4 Toronto Blue Jays Exhibition Stadium [26]
1983 Don Sutton L 2–3 California Angels Anaheim Stadium [27]
1984 Don Sutton (2) ND (L) 5–6 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum [28]
1985 Moose Haas L 2–4 Chicago White Sox Milwaukee County Stadium [29]
1986 Teddy Higuera W 5–3 Chicago White Sox Comiskey Park [30]
1987 Teddy Higuera (2) W 5–1 Boston Red Sox Milwaukee County Stadium [31]
1988 Teddy Higuera (3) W 12–0 Baltimore Orioles Memorial Stadium [32]
1989 Don August L 1–2 Cleveland Indians Cleveland Stadium [33]
1990 Chris Bosio ND (L) 1–2 Chicago White Sox Comiskey Park [34]
1991 Mark Knudson W 5–4 Texas Rangers Arlington Stadium [35]
1992 Bill Wegman ND (L) 2–4 Minnesota Twins Milwaukee County Stadium [36]
1993 Bill Wegman (2) L 1–3 California Angels Anaheim Stadium [37]
1994 Cal Eldred ND (W) 11–7 Oakland Athletics Milwaukee County Stadium [38]
1995 Ricky Bones ND (W) 12–3 Chicago White Sox Milwaukee County Stadium [12]
1996 Ricky Bones (2) ND (W) 15–9 California Angels Anaheim Stadium [39]
1997 Ben McDonald L 2–6 Texas Rangers The Ballpark in Arlington [40]
1998 Cal Eldred (2) ND (L) 1–2 Atlanta Braves Turner Field [41]
1999 Rafael Roque ND (W) 10–8 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium [42]
2000 Steve Woodard ND (Tie) 3–3 (6) Cincinnati Reds Cinergy Field [13]
2001 Jamey Wright L 0–1 Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium [43]
2002 Ben Sheets W 9–3 Houston Astros Astros Field [44]
2003 Ben Sheets (2) ND (L) 9–11 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium [45]
2004 Ben Sheets (3) ND (W) 8–6 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium [46]
2005 Ben Sheets (4) W 9–2 Pittsburgh Pirates PNC Park [47]
2006 Doug Davis ND (W) 5–2 Pittsburgh Pirates Miller Park [14]
2007 Ben Sheets (5) W 7–1 Los Angeles Dodgers Miller Park [48]
2008* Ben Sheets (6) ND (W) 4–3 (10) Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field [49]
2009 Jeff Suppan L 6–10 San Francisco Giants AT&T Park [50]
2010 Yovani Gallardo L 3–5 Colorado Rockies Miller Park [51]
2011* Yovani Gallardo (2) ND (L) 6–7 Cincinnati Reds Great American Ball Park [52]
2012 Yovani Gallardo (3) L 5–11 St. Louis Cardinals Miller Park [53]
2013 Yovani Gallardo (4) ND (W) 5–4 (10) Colorado Rockies Miller Park [54]
2014 Yovani Gallardo (5) W 2–0 Atlanta Braves Miller Park [55]
2015 Kyle Lohse L 0–10 Colorado Rockies Miller Park [56]
2016 Wily Peralta L 3–12 San Francisco Giants Miller Park [57]
2017 Junior Guerra ND (L) 5–7 Colorado Rockies Miller Park [58]
2018* Chase Anderson ND (W) 2–1 (12) San Diego Padres Petco Park [59]
2019* Jhoulys Chacín W 5–4 St. Louis Cardinals Miller Park [60]
2020* Brandon Woodruff (1) L 0–3 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field [61]
2021* Brandon Woodruff (2) ND (W) 6–5 (10) Minnesota Twins American Family Field [62]
2022 Corbin Burnes (1) ND (L) 4–5 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field [63]
2023 Corbin Burnes (2) L 0–4 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field [64]

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,[44] 2003,[45] 2004,[46] 2005,[47] 2007,[48] 2008[49]
Yovani Gallardo 5 1 2 2 0.333 2010,[51] 2011,[52] 2012,[53] 2013,[54] 2014[55]
Teddy Higuera 3 3 0 0 1.000 1986,[30] 1987,[31] 1988[32]
Jim Slaton 3 1 1 1 0.500 1975,[19] 1976,[20] 1980[24]
Mike Caldwell 2 2 0 0 1.000 1979,[23] 1981[25]
Marty Pattin 2 2 0 0 1.000 1969,[9] 1971[15]
Ricky Bones 2 0 0 2 0.000 1995,[12] 1996[39]
Jim Colborn 2 0 1 1 0.000 1973,[17] 1974[18]
Cal Eldred 2 0 0 2 0.000 1994,[38] 1998[41]
Corbin Burnes 2 0 1 1 0.000 2022,[63] 2023[64]
Don Sutton 2 0 1 1 0.000 1983,[27] 1984[28]
Bill Wegman 2 0 1 1 0.000 1992,[36] 1993[37]
Brandon Woodruff 2 0 1 1 0.000 2020,[61] 2021[62]
Jerry Augustine 1 1 0 0 1.000 1978[22]
Jhoulys Chacín 1 1 0 0 1.000 2019[60]
Mark Knudson 1 1 0 0 1.000 1991[35]
Bill Parsons 1 1 0 0 1.000 1972[16]
Pete Vuckovich 1 1 0 0 1.000 1982[26]
Chase Anderson 1 0 0 1 0.000 2018[59]
Don August 1 0 1 0 0.000 1989[33]
Chris Bosio 1 0 0 1 0.000 1990[34]
Doug Davis 1 0 0 1 0.000 2006[14]
Junior Guerra 1 0 0 1 0.000 2017[58]
Moose Haas 1 0 1 0 0.000 1985[29]
Lew Krausse Jr. 1 0 1 0 0.000 1970[11]
Kyle Lohse 1 0 1 0 0.000 2015[56]
Ben McDonald 1 0 1 0 0.000 1997[40]
Wily Peralta 1 0 1 0 0.000 2016[57]
Rafael Roque 1 0 0 1 0.000 1999[42]
Jeff Suppan 1 0 1 0 0.000 2009[50]
Bill Travers 1 0 1 0 0.000 1977[21]
Steve Woodard 1 0 0 1 0.000 2000[13]
Jamey Wright 1 0 1 0 0.000 2001[43]

References

  1. ^ "Jim Colborn Stats". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "Corbin Burnes Stats". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  3. ^ "Brewers Timeline 1960s". Milwaukee Brewers. Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  4. ^ "Brewers Timeline 1970s". Milwaukee Brewers. Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b c "Milwaukee Brewers Opening Day Starters". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  8. ^ "1969 Seattle Pilots Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
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  10. ^ a b c "Brewers Ballparks". Milwaukee Brewers. Major League Baseball. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
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  14. ^ a b c "Pittsburgh Pirates at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 3, 2006". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
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