List of Texas Rangers Opening Day starting pitchers

The Texas Rangers are a Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Arlington, Texas. They play in the American League West division. From 1961 to 1971, the team played in Washington, D.C., as the Washington Senators, one of three different major league teams to use the name.[1] The franchise relocated to Arlington as the Rangers in 1972.[2] 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,[3] though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day.[4] The Rangers have used 37 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 60 seasons.[5]

Nolan Ryan, the Rangers' Opening Day starting pitcher in 1990, 1991, and 1992

The Senators' first Opening Day game was played against the Chicago White Sox at Griffith Stadium in Washington, on April 10, 1961. Dick Donovan was their starting pitcher that day; he took the decision in a game the Senators lost, 4–3.[6] In 1962, the team moved to District of Columbia Stadium (renamed Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in 1969).[7] Opening Day starter Bennie Daniels earned the win in a 4–1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on April 9.[8] Through their 11 years in Washington, the Senators started every Opening Day game at home. Their final Opening Day game in Washington was an 8–0 win over the Oakland Athletics on April 5, 1971, with starter Dick Bosman being credited with the win.[9]

The team moved to Texas in 1972, and played their home games at Arlington Stadium.[7] Their 1972 season opener was played on the road,[10] but they played their first Opening Day game in Arlington on April 7, 1973, with Bosman taking the loss in a 3–1 loss to the White Sox.[11] The Rangers' final Opening Day at Arlington Stadium occurred on April 8, 1991, when starter Nolan Ryan was handed the loss by the Milwaukee Brewers, 5–4.[12] They moved into the The Ballpark in Arlington in 1994,[7] but did not host their first Opening Day at new facility until 1996. In the game, starting pitcher Ken Hill got the win in a 5–3 defeat of the Boston Red Sox.[13] The stadium was subsequently renamed Ameriquest Field in Arlington (2004–2006), Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (2007–2013), and Globe Life Park in Arlington (2014–2019).[7] Starter Mike Minor took the loss in Globe Life Park's final Opening Day game against the Chicago Cubs on March 28, 2019, a 12–4 loss.[14] The Rangers played their first Opening Day game at their current ballpark, Globe Life Field,[7] on July 24, 2020. Earning the win was starter Lance Lynn, as Texas beat the Colorado Rockies, 1–0.[15]

The Rangers' Opening Day starting pitchers have a combined Opening Day record of 20 wins, 30 losses and 10 no decisions. In Washington, they had a record of 2 wins and 9 losses in 11 Opening Day starts. In Texas, they have 18 wins, 21 losses, and 10 no decisions in 49 Opening Day starts. They have an aggregate record of 15 wins, 19 losses, and 6 no decisions in 40 Opening Day starts at home. Texas starters have a record of 5 wins, 11 losses, and 4 no decisions in 20 Opening Day starts on the road.[5]

Charlie Hough has the most Opening Day starts for the Rangers, with six, followed by Dick Bosman and Kevin Millwood (4); Jon Matlack, Kenny Rogers, and Nolan Ryan (3); and Cole Hamels, Rick Helling, Ken Hill, Ferguson Jenkins, Camilo Pascual, and Pete Richert (2). Bosman (1970–1973) and Millwood (2006–2009) made four consecutive Opening Day starts. Hough (1987–1989) and Ryan (1990–1992) made three consecutive starts, while Hill (1996–1997), Hough (1984–1985), Matlack (1980–1981), Pascual (1968–1969), and Richert (1966–1967) made back-to-back starts.[5]

Three Texas Rangers Opening Day pitchers—Ferguson Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, and Nolan Ryan—have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.[16][17][18]

Table key
Globe Life Park in Arlington, the team's home stadium from 1994 to 2019
Season Each year is linked to an article about that particular Senators/Rangers season.
Pitcher (#) Number indicates multiple appearances as a Rangers Opening Day starter
Score (#) Game score with Rangers 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 Rangers home game
W Win
L Loss
ND (W) No decision by starting pitcher; Rangers won game
ND (L) No decision by starting pitcher; Rangers lost game
* Advanced to the postseason
** Won the American League Championship Series

Opening Day results
Season Pitcher Decision Score Opponent Location Attendance Ref.
1961 Dick Donovan L 3–4 Chicago White Sox Griffith Stadium 26,725 [6]
1962 Bennie Daniels W 4–1 Detroit Tigers District of Columbia Stadium 44,383 [8]
1963 Don Rudolph L 1–3 Baltimore Orioles District of Columbia Stadium 43,022 [19]
1964 Claude Osteen L 0–4 Los Angeles Angels District of Columbia Stadium 40,145 [20]
1965 Phil Ortega L 2–7 Boston Red Sox District of Columbia Stadium 43,554 [21]
1966 Pete Richert L 2–5 Cleveland Indians District of Columbia Stadium 44,468 [22]
1967 Pete Richert (2) L 0–8 New York Yankees District of Columbia Stadium 44,382 [23]
1968 Camilo Pascual L 0–2 Minnesota Twins District of Columbia Stadium 32,063 [24]
1969 Camilo Pascual (2) L 4–8 New York Yankees Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium 45,113 [25]
1970 Dick Bosman L 0–5 Detroit Tigers Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium 45,015 [26]
1971 Dick Bosman (2) W 8–0 Oakland Athletics Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium 45,061 [9]
1972 Dick Bosman (3) L 0–1 California Angels Anaheim Stadium 13,916 [10]
1973 Dick Bosman (4) L 1–3 Chicago White Sox Arlington Stadium 22,114 [11]
1974 Jim Bibby L 2–7 Oakland Athletics Arlington Stadium 21,907 [27]
1975 Ferguson Jenkins L 4–11 Minnesota Twins Arlington Stadium 28,787 [28]
1976 Gaylord Perry W 2–1 (11) Minnesota Twins Arlington Stadium 28,947 [29]
1977 Bert Blyleven W 2–1 (10) Baltimore Orioles Memorial Stadium 31,307 [30]
1978 Jon Matlack W 2–1 New York Yankees Arlington Stadium 40,078 [31]
1979 Ferguson Jenkins (2) W 8–2 Detroit Tigers Tiger Stadium 43,708 [32]
1980 Jon Matlack (2) ND (W) 1–0 (12) New York Yankees Arlington Stadium 33,196 [33]
1981 Jon Matlack (3) L 3–10 New York Yankees Yankee Stadium 55,123 [34]
1982 Charlie Hough W 8–3 Cleveland Indians Cleveland Stadium 62,443 [35]
1983 Mike Smithson ND (W) 5–3 Chicago White Sox Arlington Stadium 13,140 [36]
1984 Charlie Hough (2) L 1–9 Cleveland Indians Arlington Stadium 21,537 [37]
1985 Charlie Hough (3) ND (L) 2–4 Baltimore Orioles Memorial Stadium 50,402 [38]
1986 José Guzmán W 6–3 Toronto Blue Jays Arlington Stadium 40,602 [39]
1987 Charlie Hough (4) ND (L) 1–2 Baltimore Orioles Memorial Stadium 51,650 [40]
1988 Charlie Hough (5) W 4–3 Cleveland Indians Arlington Stadium 37,613 [41]
1989 Charlie Hough (6) W 4–0 Detroit Tigers Arlington Stadium 40,375 [42]
1990 Nolan Ryan W 4–2 Toronto Blue Jays Arlington Stadium 40,907 [43]
1991 Nolan Ryan (2) L 4–5 Milwaukee Brewers Arlington Stadium 40,560 [12]
1992 Nolan Ryan (3) ND (W) 12–10 Seattle Mariners Kingdome 55,918 [44]
1993 Craig Lefferts W 7–4 Baltimore Orioles Oriole Park at Camden Yards 46,145 [45]
1994 Kevin Brown L 3–5 New York Yankees Yankee Stadium 56,706 [46]
1995 Kenny Rogers L 6–8 New York Yankees Yankee Stadium 50,525 [47]
1996* Ken Hill W 5–3 Boston Red Sox The Ballpark in Arlington 40,484 [13]
1997 Ken Hill (2) W 6–2 Milwaukee Brewers The Ballpark in Arlington 45,098 [48]
1998* John Burkett L 2–9 Chicago White Sox The Ballpark in Arlington 45,909 [49]
1999* Rick Helling L 5–11 Detroit Tigers The Ballpark in Arlington 46,650 [50]
2000 Kenny Rogers (2) W 10–4 Chicago White Sox The Ballpark in Arlington 49,332 [51]
2001 Rick Helling (2) L 1–8 Toronto Blue Jays Hiram Bithorn Stadium 19,891 [52]
2002 Chan Ho Park L 3–8 Oakland Athletics Network Associates Coliseum 43,908 [53]
2003 Ismael Valdez W 6–3 Anaheim Angels Angel Stadium of Anaheim 43,525 [54]
2004 Kenny Rogers (3) ND (L) 4–5 Oakland Athletics Network Associates Coliseum 45,122 [55]
2005 Ryan Drese L 2–3 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Angel Stadium of Anaheim 43,590 [56]
2006 Kevin Millwood L 3–7 Boston Red Sox Ameriquest Field in Arlington 51,541 [57]
2007 Kevin Millwood (2) L 1–4 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Angel Stadium of Anaheim 43,906 [58]
2008 Kevin Millwood (3) L 2–5 Seattle Mariners Safeco Field 46,334 [59]
2009 Kevin Millwood (4) W 9–1 Cleveland Indians Rangers Ballpark in Arlington 49,916 [60]
2010** Scott Feldman ND (W) 5–4 Toronto Blue Jays Rangers Ballpark in Arlington 50,299 [61]
2011** C. J. Wilson ND (W) 9–5 Boston Red Sox Rangers Ballpark in Arlington 50,146 [62]
2012* Colby Lewis W 3–2 Chicago White Sox Rangers Ballpark in Arlington 49,085 [63]
2013 Matt Harrison L 2–8 Houston Astros Minute Maid Park 41,307 [64]
2014 Tanner Scheppers ND (L) 10–14 Philadelphia Phillies Globe Life Park in Arlington 49,031 [65]
2015* Yovani Gallardo L 0–8 Oakland Athletics O.co Coliseum 36,067 [66]
2016* Cole Hamels W 3–2 Seattle Mariners Globe Life Park in Arlington 49,289 [67]
2017 Yu Darvish ND (L) 5–8 Cleveland Indians Globe Life Park in Arlington 48,350 [68]
2018 Cole Hamels (2) L 1–4 Houston Astros Globe Life Park in Arlington 47,253 [69]
2019 Mike Minor L 4–12 Chicago Cubs Globe Life Park in Arlington 48,538 [14]
2020 Lance Lynn W 1–0 Colorado Rockies Globe Life Field 0 [15]

Pitchers

Opening Day starting pitchers are listed in descending order by the number of Opening Day starts for the Senators/Rangers.

Pitcher Starts Wins Losses No decisions Win % Season(s)
Charlie Hough 6 3 1 2 0.750 1982,[35] 1984,[37] 1985,[38] 1987,[40] 1988,[41] 1989[42]
Dick Bosman 4 1 3 0 0.250 1970,[26] 1971,[9] 1972,[10] 1973[11]
Kevin Millwood 4 1 3 0 0.250 2006,[57] 2007,[58] 2008[59]
Jon Matlack 3 1 1 1 0.500 1978,[31] 1980,[33] 1981[34]
Kenny Rogers 3 1 1 1 0.500 1995,[47] 2000,[51] 2004[55]
Nolan Ryan 3 1 1 1 0.500 1990,[43] 1991,[12] 1992[44]
Ken Hill 2 2 0 0 1.000 1996,[13] 1997[48]
Cole Hamels 2 1 1 0 0.500 2016,[67] 2018[69]
Ferguson Jenkins 2 1 1 0 0.500 1975,[28] 1979[32]
Rick Helling 2 0 2 0 0.000 1999,[50] 2001[52]
Camilo Pascual 2 0 2 0 0.000 1968,[24] 1969[25]
Pete Richert 2 0 2 0 0.000 1966,[22] 1967[23]
Bert Blyleven 1 1 0 0 1.000 1977[30]
Bennie Daniels 1 1 0 0 1.000 1962[8]
José Guzmán 1 1 0 0 1.000 1986[39]
Craig Lefferts 1 1 0 0 1.000 1993[45]
Colby Lewis 1 1 0 0 1.000 2012[63]
Lance Lynn 1 1 0 0 1.000 2020[15]
Gaylord Perry 1 1 0 0 1.000 1976[29]
Ismael Valdez 1 1 0 0 1.000 2003[54]
Jim Bibby 1 0 1 0 0.000 1974[27]
Kevin Brown 1 0 1 0 0.000 1994[46]
John Burkett 1 0 1 0 0.000 1997[48]
Yu Darvish 1 0 0 1 0.000 2017[68]
Ryan Drese 1 0 1 0 0.000 2005[56]
Dick Donovan 1 0 1 0 0.000 1961[6]
Scott Feldman 1 0 0 1 0.000 2010[61]
Yovani Gallardo 1 0 1 0 0.000 2015[66]
Matt Harrison 1 0 1 0 0.000 2013[64]
Mike Minor 1 0 1 0 0.000 2019[14]
Phil Ortega 1 0 1 0 0.000 1965[21]
Claude Osteen 1 0 1 0 0.000 1964[20]
Chan Ho Park 1 0 1 0 0.000 2002[53]
Don Rudolph 1 0 1 0 0.000 1963[19]
Tanner Scheppers 1 0 0 1 0.000 2014[65]
Mike Smithson 1 0 0 1 0.000 1983[36]
C. J. Wilson 1 0 0 1 0.000 2011[62]

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