List of Arizona Diamondbacks Opening Day starting pitchers


The Arizona Diamondbacks are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Phoenix, Arizona. 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, though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day. The Diamondbacks have used 10 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 21 seasons. The 10 starters have a combined Opening Day record of eight wins, seven losses, and six no decisions. No decisions are only awarded to the starting pitcher if the game is won or lost after the starting pitcher has left the game.
Randy Johnson holds the Diamondbacks' record for most Opening Day starts with six, and has an Opening Day record of 3-2. Brandon Webb started four Opening Days, and Ian Kennedy has been the Opening Day starter thrice. Andy Benes, Javier Vázquez, Dan Haren, and Wade Miley have started one Opening Day each. Kennedy has the best winning percentage as the Opening Day starting pitcher with a record of 2-0. Benes, Vázquez, and Miley are tied for the worst Opening Day record, at 0-1. Webb is Arizona's only pitcher with multiple no-decisions on Opening Day, and Johnson is the only pitcher to have won three or more opening games.
Overall, the Diamondbacks have a record of 8-7 at home on Opening Day, compared to a 4-2 record at away games. The Diamondbacks went on to play in the National League Division Series playoff games in,,,,, and, winning the National League Championship Series and World Series in 2001.

Key

Pitchers

SeasonPitcherDecisionOpponentLocationRef
1998LColorado RockiesChase Field
1999*ND Los Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium
2000 WPhiladelphia PhilliesChase Field
2001† WLos Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium
2002* WSan Diego PadresChase Field
2003 LLos Angeles DodgersChase Field
2004 LColorado RockiesChase Field
2005LChicago CubsChase Field
2006ND Colorado RockiesCoors Field
2007* ND Colorado RockiesCoors Field
2008 WCincinnati RedsGreat American Ball Park
2009 ND Colorado RockiesChase Field
2010WSan Diego PadresChase Field
2011*ND Colorado RockiesCoors Field
2012 WSan Francisco GiantsChase Field
2013 WSt. Louis CardinalsChase Field
2014LLos Angeles DodgersSydney Cricket Ground
2015LSan Francisco GiantsChase Field
2016LColorado RockiesChase Field
2017 ND San Francisco GiantsChase Field
2018WColorado RockiesChase Field
2019 ND Los Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium