Félix Hernández, the 2007 and 2009-2018 Opening Day starter

The Seattle Mariners are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Seattle, Washington. They play in the American 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 Mariners have used 15 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 41 seasons. The 15 starters have a combined Opening Day record of 15 wins, 13 losses (15–13) and 13 no decisions.[3] No decisions are only awarded to the starting pitcher if the game is won or lost after the starting pitcher has left the game.

Félix Hernández has the Mariners' record for most Opening Day starts with eleven, recording a record of 7–2. Randy Johnson has the most starts in the former home ballpark of the Mariners, the Kingdome, compiling an Opening Day record of 2–0 in 6 starts. Jamie Moyer has the most starts in Safeco Field, the Mariners' current home ballpark, and has an Opening Day record of 1–2. Mark Langston has the worst winning percentage as the Opening Day starting pitcher with a record of 0–3, all of which were pitched on the road.[3]

Overall, the Mariners' starters have a record of 7–4 at the Kingdome on Opening Day, compared to a 4–3 record at Safeco Field, making their combined home record 11–7, and their away record 6–6.[3] The Mariners went on to play in the American League Division Series (ALDS) playoff games in 1995, 1997, 2000, and 2001. Randy Johnson, Jeff Fassero, Jamie Moyer, and Freddy García were the Opening Day starting pitchers those years, and had a combined Opening Day record of 2–1.[4]

Key

Season Each year is linked to an article about that particular Mariners season.
W Win
L Loss
ND (W) No decision by starting pitcher; Mariners won game
ND (L) No decision by starting pitcher; Mariners lost game
Pitcher (#) Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Mariners
* Advanced to the postseason

Pitchers

Jamie Moyer, the 2000 and 2004–2006 Opening Day starter
Randy Johnson, the 1992–1996 and 1998 Opening Day starter
Season Pitcher Decision Opponent Location Ref(s)
1977 Diego Seguí L California Angels Kingdome [3][5]
1978 Glenn Abbott W Minnesota Twins Kingdome [3][4]
1979 Glenn Abbott (2) ND (W) California Angels Kingdome [3][4]
1980 Mike Parrott W Toronto Blue Jays Kingdome [3]
1981 Glenn Abbott (3) L California Angels Kingdome [3][4]
1982 Floyd Bannister W Minnesota Twins Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [3]
1983 Gaylord Perry ND (W) New York Yankees Kingdome [3]
1984 Mike Moore ND (W) Toronto Blue Jays Kingdome [3]
1985 Mike Moore (2) W Oakland Athletics Kingdome [3]
1986 Mike Moore (3) ND (W) California Angels Kingdome [3]
1987 Mark Langston L California Angels Anaheim Stadium [3][4]
1988 Mark Langston (2) L Oakland Athletics Network Associates Coliseum [3][4]
1989 Mark Langston (3) L Oakland Athletics Network Associates Coliseum [3][4]
1990 Brian Holman W California Angels Kingdome [3]
1991 Erik Hanson L California Angels Kingdome [3]
1992 Randy Johnson ND (L) Texas Rangers Kingdome [3]
1993 Randy Johnson (2) W Toronto Blue Jays Kingdome [3]
1994 Randy Johnson (3) ND (L) Cleveland Indians Jacobs Field [6]
1995* Randy Johnson (4) W Detroit Tigers Kingdome [3]
1996 Randy Johnson (5) ND (W) Chicago White Sox Kingdome [3][7]
1997* Jeff Fassero W New York Yankees Kingdome [8]
1998 Randy Johnson (6) ND (L) Cleveland Indians Kingdome [9]
1999 Jeff Fassero (2) L Chicago White Sox Kingdome [3]
2000* Jamie Moyer L Boston Red Sox Safeco Field [10]
2001* Freddy García ND (W) Oakland Athletics Safeco Field [3][4]
2002 Freddy García (2) L Chicago White Sox Safeco Field [11]
2003 Freddy García (3) L Oakland Athletics Network Associates Coliseum [3][4]
2004 Jamie Moyer (2) L Anaheim Angels Safeco Field [4]
2005 Jamie Moyer (3) W Minnesota Twins Safeco Field [12]
2006 Jamie Moyer (4) ND (L) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Safeco Field [13]
2007 Félix Hernández W Oakland Athletics Safeco Field [14]
2008 Érik Bédard ND (W) Texas Rangers Safeco Field [15][16]
2009 Félix Hernández (2) W Minnesota Twins Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [17]
2010 Félix Hernández (3) ND (W) Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum [18]
2011 Félix Hernández (4) W Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum [19]
2012 Félix Hernández (5) ND (W) Oakland Athletics Tokyo Dome [20]
2013 Félix Hernández (6) W Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum [21]
2014 Félix Hernández (7) W Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Angel Stadium of Anaheim [22]
2015 Félix Hernández (8) W Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Safeco Field [23]
2016 Félix Hernández (9) L Texas Rangers Globe Life Park in Arlington [24]
2017 Félix Hernández (10) L Houston Astros Minute Maid Park [25]
2018 Félix Hernández (11) W Cleveland Indians Safeco Field [26]
2019 Marco Gonzales W Oakland Athletics Tokyo Dome [27]
2020 Marco Gonzales (2) L Houston Astros Minute Maid Park [28]
2021 Marco Gonzales (3) ND (W) San Francisco Giants T-Mobile Park [29]
2022* Robbie Ray W Minnesota Twins Target Field [30]
2023 Luis Castillo ND (W) Cleveland Guardians T-Mobile Park [31]
2024 Luis Castillo (2) L Boston Red Sox T-Mobile Park

Records by Pitcher

Pitchers with 2+ starts
Pitcher Num Starts Player W-L (ND) Team W-L
Felix Hernandez 11 7-2 (2) 9-2
Randy Johnson 6 2-0 (4) 3-3
Jamie Moyer 4 1-2 (1) 1-3
Mike Moore 3 1-0 (2) 3-0
Glenn Abbott 3 1-1 (1) 2-1
Marco Gonzales 3 1-1 (1) 2-1
Freddy Garcia 3 0-2 (1) 1-2
Mark Langston 3 0-3 0-3
Jeff Fassero 2 1-1 1-1

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. ^ 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 "Seattle Mariners Opening Day Starters and Results". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Mariners Opening Day records". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. April 6, 2004. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  5. ^ "Home, sweet home: Seattle openers have been good to M's". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. April 8, 2003. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  6. ^ Street, Jim (April 5, 1994). "Opening Day Johnson's no-hit bid falls short Mariners fall 4-3 to Indians in 11th as bullpen falters". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved August 25, 2008.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Newnham, Blaine (March 31, 1996). "It's Opening Day -- Warming Up For The M's". Seattle Times. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  8. ^ Finnigan, Bob (April 2, 1997). "Opening Day -- M's 4, Yankees 2 -- Griffey Hammers A Tribute -- Two Home Runs Will Stand As Slugger's Effort To Honor Robinson On Anniversary". Seattle Times. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  9. ^ Finnigan, Bob (April 1, 1998). "Opening Day / Cleveland 10, Seattle 9 -- Poison Pen -- Nine Runs Aren't Enough As Mariner Relievers Blow Big Lead". Seattle Times. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  10. ^ Finnigan, Bob (February 22, 2000). "M's name Moyer for Opening Day start". Seattle Times. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  11. ^ "Opening day: M's lose 6-5 as rally falls short". by the Associated Press. April 1, 2002. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  12. ^ Hickey, John (April 5, 2005). "M's start season with a bang". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  13. ^ Hickey, John (April 4, 2006). "Opening Day: Signs of life in M's loss". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  14. ^ Baker, Geoff (April 2, 2007). "It's Felix for M's on opening day". Seattle Times. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  15. ^ Associated Press (February 13, 2008). "Bedard to be Mariners' opening day starter". USA Today. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  16. ^ "Mariners win opener with sound pitching, key hits". ESPN. Retrieved September 24, 2008.
  17. ^ "Seattle 6, Minnesota 1". Yahoo!. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  18. ^ "Seattle 5, Oakland 3". Yahoo!. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  19. ^ "Seattle 6, Oakland 2". MLB. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  20. ^ "Ackley, Ichiro unstoppable in Mariners' win". Seattle Mariners. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  21. ^ "Felix in fine form as Mariners blank A's in opener". Seattle Mariners. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  22. ^ "Mariners 10, Angels 3". ESPN. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  23. ^ "Hernandez dominant as Mariners beat Angels 4-1 to open 2015". USA Today. Associated Press. April 6, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  24. ^ "Wild Hernandez, sloppy M's drop opener in Texas 3-2". USA Today. Associated Press. April 4, 2016. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  25. ^ Divish, Ryan; Condotta, Bob (March 25, 2018). "Felix Hernandez enters rarified air as Mariners name him opening-day starter for 10th straight season". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  26. ^ "Felix Hernandez starts strong as Mariners top Cleveland to open 2018 MLB season". The Oregonian. Associated Press. March 30, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  27. ^ Divish, Ryan (March 18, 2019). "Honored to start opening day in Japan, Mariners' Marco Gonzales is focused on success beyond it". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  28. ^ Divish, Ryan (July 24, 2020). "New season, same result: Mariners routed by Astros to open 2020 season with loss in Houston". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  29. ^ Lyell, Kelly (March 31, 2021). "Rocky grad Marco Gonzales to make 4th straight Opening Day start for Seattle Mariners". Fort Collins Coloradoan. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  30. ^ Divish, Ryan (April 8, 2022). "Robbie Ray goes 7 innings as Mariners beat Twins 2-1 on opening day". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  31. ^ Divish, Ryan (March 30, 2023). "Luis Castillo dominates, Ty France plays hero in Mariners' season-opening win over Guardians". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 24, 2023.

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