List of Atlanta Braves Opening Day starting pitchers

Last updated

The Braves played nine Opening Day games at Turner Field, their home stadium from 1997 through 2016. Turner Field 2013.jpg
The Braves played nine Opening Day games at Turner Field, their home stadium from 1997 through 2016.

The Atlanta Braves are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Atlanta. They play in the National League East division. They were based in Milwaukee and Boston before moving to Atlanta for the 1966 season. [1] 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, [2] though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day. [3] The Atlanta Braves have used 22 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 57 seasons in Atlanta. The 22 starters have a combined Opening Day record of 15  wins, 23  losses and 19  no decisions. [4] No decisions are only awarded to the starting pitcher if the game is won or lost after the starting pitcher has left the game. [5]

Contents

Hall of Famer Phil Niekro holds the Atlanta Braves' record for most Opening Day starts, with eight. Greg Maddux had seven for the team and Julio Teherán was featured six consecutive times from 2014 to 2019. Rick Mahler had five while Tom Glavine and John Smoltz have each made four Opening Day starts for the Braves. Maddux has the record for most wins in Atlanta Braves Opening Day starts, with five. Mahler has the highest winning percentage in Opening Day starts (1.000), with four wins and no losses with one no decision. All of Mahler's four victories were shutouts, including three in consecutive years (1985 to 1987) by identical scores of 6–0. Niekro has the record for most losses in Atlanta Braves Opening Day starts, with six. [4]

From 1972 through 1980, the Braves lost nine consecutive Opening Day games. In those games, their starting pitchers had a record of no wins, six losses and three no decisions. Niekro had five of the losses during this streak, and Carl Morton had the other. Morton, Gary Gentry and Andy Messersmith had no decisions during the streak. One of the most famous Opening Day games in baseball history occurred during this stretch. That was the game on April 4, 1974, against the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium, when Hank Aaron hit his 714th career home run to tie Babe Ruth's all-time record. Carl Morton was Atlanta's starting pitcher for that game, and received a no decision. [4] [6] [7]

Overall, Atlanta Braves Opening Day starting pitchers have a record of 4–5 with four no decisions at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, their original home ball park in Atlanta. They have a 3–3 record with three no decisions at their second home park in Atlanta, Turner Field. At their current home park of Truist Park, originally named SunTrust Park, they have a 0–1 record with one no decision. This gives the Atlanta Braves' Opening Day starting pitchers a combined home record 7–9 with eight no decisions. Their away record is 8–14 with eleven no decisions. The Braves went on to play in the World Series in 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2021, winning the 1995 and 2021 iterations. John Smoltz was the Opening Day starting pitcher in 1991, Tom Glavine in 1992 and 1999, Greg Maddux in 1995 and 1996, and Max Fried in 2021. They have a combined Opening Day record of 3–2 in years that the Atlanta Braves played in the World Series. [4]

Key

SeasonEach year is linked to an article about that particular Braves season.
WWin
LLoss
ND (W) No decision by starting pitcher; Braves won game
ND (L)No decision by starting pitcher; Braves lost game
Final
Score
Game score with Braves runs listed first
LocationStadium in italics for home game
Pitcher (#)Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Braves
*Advanced to the post-season
**Won National League Championship Series
Won World Series

Pitchers

Phil Niekro was the Braves' Opening Day starting pitcher eight times, more than any other pitcher Phil Niekro 1982.jpg
Phil Niekro was the Braves' Opening Day starting pitcher eight times, more than any other pitcher
John Smoltz has made four Opening Day starts for the Braves. JohnSmoltz.jpg
John Smoltz has made four Opening Day starts for the Braves.
Tim Hudson was the Braves' 2013 Opening Day starting pitcher. Hudson also started in 2006 and 2008. TimHudson.jpg
Tim Hudson was the Braves' 2013 Opening Day starting pitcher. Hudson also started in 2006 and 2008.
Julio Teheran was the Braves' Opening Day starting pitcher from 2014-2019. MG 8433 Julio Teheran.jpg
Julio Teherán was the Braves' Opening Day starting pitcher from 2014–2019.
Max Fried Max Fried July 16, 2019 (cropped).jpg
Max Fried
SeasonPitcherDecisionFinal
score
OpponentLocationRef(s)
1966 Tony Cloninger [a] L2–3 Pittsburgh Pirates Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [8]
1967 Denny Lemaster L1–6 Houston Astros Astrodome [9]
1968 Pat Jarvis L1–2 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium [10]
1969* Pat Jarvis (2)ND (W)5–4 San Francisco Giants Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [11]
1970 Phil Niekro L3–8 San Diego Padres San Diego Stadium [12]
1971 Phil Niekro (2)ND (W)7–4 Cincinnati Reds Riverfront Stadium [13]
1972 Phil Niekro (3)L5–6 San Diego Padres San Diego Stadium [14]
1973 Gary Gentry ND (L)1–2 Houston Astros Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [15]
1974 Carl Morton ND (L)6–7 Cincinnati Reds Riverfront Stadium [6] [16]
1975 Phil Niekro (4)L2–6 Houston Astros Astrodome [17]
1976 Carl Morton (2)L2–8 San Diego Padres San Diego Stadium [18]
1977 Andy Messersmith ND (L)2–3 Houston Astros Astrodome [19]
1978 Phil Niekro (5)L4–13 Los Angeles Dodgers Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [20]
1979 Phil Niekro (6)L1–2 Houston Astros Astrodome [21]
1980 Phil Niekro (7)L0–9 Cincinnati Reds Riverfront Stadium [22]
1981 Tommy Boggs ND (W)5–3 Cincinnati Reds Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [23]
1982* Rick Mahler W1–0 San Diego Padres Jack Murphy Stadium [24]
1983 Phil Niekro (8)ND (L)4–5 Cincinnati Reds Riverfront Stadium [25]
1984 Len Barker L0–5 Philadelphia Phillies Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [26]
1985 Rick Mahler (2)W6–0 Philadelphia Phillies Veterans Stadium [27]
1986 Rick Mahler (3)W6–0 Montreal Expos Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [28]
1987 Rick Mahler (4)W6–0 Philadelphia Phillies Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [29]
1988 Rick Mahler (5)ND (L)9–10 Chicago Cubs Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [30]
1989 Zane Smith L10–3 Houston Astros Astrodome [31]
1990 Tom Glavine L0–8 San Francisco Giants Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [32]
1991** John Smoltz L4–6 Los Angeles Dodgers Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [33]
1992** Tom Glavine (2)W2–0 Houston Astros Astrodome [34]
1993* Greg Maddux W1–0 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field [35]
1994 Greg Maddux (2)W4–1 San Diego Padres Jack Murphy Stadium [36]
1995 Greg Maddux (3)W12–5 San Francisco Giants Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [37]
1996** Greg Maddux (4)W10–8 San Francisco Giants Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [38]
1997* John Smoltz (2)L1–2 Houston Astros Astrodome [39]
1998* Greg Maddux (5)ND (W)2–1 Milwaukee Brewers Turner Field [40]
1999** Tom Glavine (3)L4–7 Philadelphia Phillies Turner Field [41]
2000* Greg Maddux (6)W2–0 Colorado Rockies Turner Field [42]
2001* John Burkett ND (W)10–4 Cincinnati Reds Cinergy Field [43]
2002* Tom Glavine (4)W7–2 Philadelphia Phillies Turner Field [44]
2003* Greg Maddux (7)L2–10 Montreal Expos Turner Field [45]
2004* Russ Ortiz L2–7 New York Mets Turner Field [46]
2005* John Smoltz (3)L0–9 Florida Marlins Dolphin Stadium [47]
2006 Tim Hudson ND (W)11–10 Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium [48]
2007 John Smoltz (4)ND (W)5–3 Philadelphia Phillies Citizens Bank Park [49]
2008 Tim Hudson (2)ND (L)2–3 Washington Nationals Nationals Park [50]
2009 Derek Lowe W4–1 Philadelphia Phillies Citizens Bank Park [51]
2010* Derek Lowe (2)W165 Chicago Cubs Turner Field [52]
2011 Derek Lowe (3)W2–0 Washington Nationals Nationals Park [53]
2012 Tommy Hanson L0–1 New York Mets Citi Field [54]
2013* Tim Hudson (3)ND (W)7–5 Philadelphia Phillies Turner Field [55]
2014 Julio Teherán L0–2 Milwaukee Brewers Miller Park [56]
2015 Julio Teherán (2)W2–1 Miami Marlins Marlins Park [57]
2016 Julio Teherán (3)ND (L)3–4 Washington Nationals Turner Field [58]
2017 Julio Teherán (4)ND (L)0–6 New York Mets Citi Field [59]
2018* Julio Teherán (5)ND (W)8–5 Philadelphia Phillies SunTrust Park [60]
2019* Julio Teherán (6)L4–10 Philadelphia Phillies Citizens Bank Park [61]
2020* Mike Soroka ND (L)0–1 New York Mets Citi Field [62]
2021 Max Fried ND (L)2–3 Philadelphia Phillies Citizens Bank Park [63]
2022* Max Fried (2)L3–6 Cincinnati Reds Truist Park [64]
2023* Max Fried (3)ND (W)7–2 Washington Nationals Nationals Park [65]
2024 Spencer Strider ND (W)9–3 Philadelphia Phillies Citizens Bank Park [66]

Footnotes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Maddux</span> American baseball player (born 1966)

Gregory Alan Maddux, also known as "Mad Dog" and "the Professor," is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily with the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs. He won the 1995 World Series with the Braves over the Cleveland Indians. Maddux was the first pitcher in MLB history to win the Cy Young Award four consecutive years (1992–1995), matched by only one other pitcher, Randy Johnson. During those four seasons, Maddux had a 75–29 record with a 1.98 earned run average (ERA), while allowing less than one baserunner per inning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Niekro</span> American baseball player (1939–2020)

Philip Henry Niekro, nicknamed "Knucksie", was an American baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. Niekro is generally regarded as the greatest knuckleball pitcher of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Niekro</span> American baseball player (1944–2006)

Joseph Franklin Niekro was an American professional baseball pitcher. During a 22-year baseball career, he pitched from 1967 to 1988 for seven different teams, primarily for the Houston Astros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Smoltz</span> American baseball player and sportscaster

John Andrew Smoltz, nicknamed "Smoltzie" and "Marmaduke", is an American former baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1988 to 2009, all but the last year with the Atlanta Braves. An eight-time All-Star, Smoltz was part of a celebrated trio of starting pitchers, along with Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, who propelled Atlanta to perennial pennant contention in the 1990s, highlighted by a championship in the 1995 World Series. He won the National League (NL) Cy Young Award in 1996 after posting a record of 24–8, equaling the most victories by an NL pitcher since 1972. Though predominantly known as a starter, Smoltz was converted to a reliever in 2001 after his recovery from Tommy John surgery, and spent four years as the team's closer before returning to a starting role. In 2002, he set a National League record with 55 saves and became only the second pitcher in history to record both a 20-win season and a 50-save season. He is the only pitcher in Major League history to record both 200 wins and 150 saves. He is also the only pitcher in Major League history to record both 200 wins, 150 saves, and 3,000 strikeouts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Glavine</span> American baseball pitcher

Thomas Michael Glavine is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball, for the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets (2003–2007).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Millwood</span> American baseball player (born 1974)

Kevin Austin Millwood is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners.

Steven Thomas Avery is an American left-handed former pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers in his career.

This is a list of award winners and league leaders for the Atlanta Braves professional baseball franchise, including its years in Boston (1871–1952) and Milwaukee (1953–1965). The awards are MLB-designated and other outside groups such as national press writers and national commercial product manufacturers.

The 1991 Atlanta Braves season was the 26th in Atlanta and the 121st overall. They became the first team in the National League to go from last place one year to first place the next, doing so after remaining 9.5 games out of first at the All Star break. Coincidentally, the Braves' last-to-first feat was also accomplished by the 1991 Minnesota Twins, the team they would face in the 1991 World Series. The last Major League Baseball team to accomplish this was the 1890 Louisville Colonels of the American Association. The 1991 World Series, which the Braves ultimately lost, has been called the greatest World Series in history by ESPN.

The 1993 Atlanta Braves season was the Braves' 123rd in existence and their 28th since moving to Atlanta. The Braves were looking to improve on their 98–64 record from 1992 and win the National League pennant for a third consecutive year, and finally win a World Series in the 1990s.

The 1995 Atlanta Braves season was the 125th season in the history of the franchise and 30th season in the city of Atlanta. The team finished the strike-shortened season with a record of 90–54, the best in the National League, en route to winning the World Series. For the sixth straight season, the team was managed by Bobby Cox.

The 1996 Atlanta Braves season was the 126th season in the history of the franchise and 31st season in the city of Atlanta. They secured a regular season record of 96–66 and reached the World Series, where they lost to the underdog New York Yankees in six games, failing to defend its championship in 1995. Heavily favored and seen as one of the greatest Braves teams in history and despite taking a 2–0 lead, the Braves unexpectedly lost the next 4 games. This World Series appearance was their fourth appearance in the last 5 years as a franchise, excluding the strike shortened season. Atlanta won its seventh division title and its fifth in six years. In the previous round, Atlanta completed a miraculous comeback. After trailing in the NLCS to St. Louis three games to one, Atlanta outscored St. Louis 32–1 in games five through seven to complete the comeback. The collapse was remembered as one of the largest in North American sports history.

The 1999 Atlanta Braves season marked the franchise's 34th season in Atlanta and its 129th season overall. The Braves commenced the season as consecutive National League runner-ups and clinched their eighth successive division title with a record of 103–59, holding a 6-game lead over the New York Mets. During the 1990s, the Braves reached the World Series for the fifth time. However, they were swept in all four games of the 1999 World Series by the New York Yankees. This marked their second World Series appearance against the Yankees in a span of four years, with the previous one occurring in 1996, which they lost in six games. As of 2021, this still represents the last National League pennant the Braves have secured, and they wouldn't return to the World Series until 22 years later.

The 1998 Atlanta Braves season marked the franchise's 33rd season in Atlanta and 128th overall. The Braves entered the season as defending National League runner ups. They went on to win their fourth consecutive division title, taking the National League East title by 18 games over the second place New York Mets.

The 1987 Atlanta Braves season was the 117th in franchise history and their 22nd in Atlanta. The team introduced new uniforms this season harkening back to the 1950s, which, with a slight change made in 2019, continue to be the team's uniforms to this day, replacing their pullover jersey/beltless pants combo worn since 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Fried</span> American baseball player (born 1994)

Max Dorian Fried is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Drafted in 2012 by the San Diego Padres in the first round, seventh overall, Fried made his major league debut in 2017. His 17 wins in 2019 were 2nd-most in the National League, and his seven wins in 2020 were again 2nd-most in the NL. Fried pitched 6 shut-out innings in the final game of the 2021 World Series against the Houston Astros, helping lead the Braves to their first World Series title in 26 years. Through 2023, Fried had the best career win–loss percentage of all Braves pitchers, at .705.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Three (Atlanta Braves)</span> Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz

The Big Three was a trio of Major League Baseball starting pitchers for the Atlanta Braves from 1993 to 2002 which consisted of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. The Big Three combined to win seven National League Cy Young Awards in the 1990s and helped lead the Atlanta Braves to a 1995 World Series win. Each member of the Big Three has had their jersey retired by the Atlanta Braves and were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

References

General

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