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List of Minnesota Twins Opening Day starting pitchers

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Bert Blyleven made six Opening Day starts for the Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the American League Central division. They formerly played in Washington, D.C. as the Washington Senators before moving to Minnesota after the 1960 season. 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 Twins have used 26 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 51 seasons in Minnesota. Starters have a combined Opening Day record of 14 wins, 25 losses and 12 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.

Brad Radke holds the Minnesota Twins record for most Opening Day starts with nine. He has a record in Opening Day starts for the Twins of four wins and two losses (4–2) with three no decisions. Bert Blyleven had six Opening Day starts for the Twins and Frank Viola had four. Radke has the record for most wins in Minnesota Twins Opening Day starts with four. Liván Hernández, Mudcat Grant, and Dean Chance share the best winning percentage in Opening Day starts with one win and no losses (1–0) each. Kevin Tapani has the worst winning percentage, losing both Opening Day starts he made for the Twins (0–2).

Overall, Minnesota Twins Opening Day starting pitchers have a record of 4–7 with three no decisions at Metropolitan Stadium and a 1–4 record with one no decision at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Their first home opener in their current ballpark of Target Field was in 2013. This gives their Opening Day starting pitchers' combined home record 5–11 with four no no decisions. Their away record is 9–14 with eight no decisions. The Twins went on to play in the World Series in 1965, 1987, and 1991, winning in 1987 and 1991. The Twins lost both Opening Day games in the years in which they won the World Series.

Key

Season Each year is linked to an article about that particular Twins season.
W Win
L Loss
ND (W) No decision by starting pitcher; Twins won game
ND (L) No decision by starting pitcher; Twins lost game
Final
Score 		Game score with Twins runs listed first
Location Stadium in bold for home game
Pitcher (#) Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Twins
* Advanced to the post-season
** Won American League Championship Series
† Won World Series

Pitchers

Scott Baker was the Twins' Opening Day starting pitcher in 2010
Season Pitcher Decision Final
score 		Opponent Location Ref(s)
1961 Pedro Ramos W 6–0 New York Yankees Yankee Stadium (I)
1962 Jack Kralick L 2–4 Kansas City Athletics Municipal Stadium
1963 Camilo Pascual L 4–5 Cleveland Indians Metropolitan Stadium
1964 Camilo Pascual (2) ND (W) 7–6 Cleveland Indians Cleveland Stadium
1965** Jim Kaat ND (W) 5–4 New York Yankees Metropolitan Stadium
1966 Mudcat Grant W 2–1 Kansas City Athletics Metropolitan Stadium
1967 Jim Kaat (2) L 3–6 Baltimore Orioles Memorial Stadium
1968 Dean Chance W 2–0 Washington Senators Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
1969* Tom Hall ND (L) 3–4 Kansas City Royals Municipal Stadium
1970* Jim Perry W 12–0 Chicago White Sox Comiskey Park
1971 Jim Perry (2) L 2–7 Milwaukee Brewers Metropolitan Stadium
1972 Bert Blyleven ND (L) 3–4 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
1973 Bert Blyleven (2) W 8–3 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
1974 Bert Blyleven (3) ND (W) 6–4 Kansas City Royals Royals Stadium
1975 Bert Blyleven (4) W 11–4 Texas Rangers Arlington Stadium
1976 Bert Blyleven (5) ND (L) 2–1 Texas Rangers Arlington Stadium
1977 Dave Goltz L 4–7 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
1978 Dave Goltz (2) L 2–3 Seattle Mariners Kingdome
1979 Dave Goltz (3) W 5–3 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
1980 Jerry Koosman ND (W) 9–7 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
1981 Jerry Koosman (2) L 1–5 Oakland Athletics Metropolitan Stadium
1982* Pete Redfern L 7–11 Seattle Mariners Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
1983 Brad Havens L 3–11 Detroit Tigers Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
1984 Albert Williams L 1–8 Detroit Tigers Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
1985 Frank Viola W 6–2 California Angels Anaheim Stadium
1986 Frank Viola (2) W 3–2 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
1987† Bert Blyleven (6) ND (W) 5–4 Oakland Athletics Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
1988 Frank Viola (3) L 0–8 New York Yankees Yankee Stadium (I)
1989 Frank Viola (4) L 2–4 New York Yankees Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
1990 Allan Anderson L 3–8 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
1991† Jack Morris L 2–7 Oakland Athletics Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
1992 Scott Erickson ND (W) 4–2 Milwaukee Brewers Milwaukee County Stadium
1993 Kevin Tapani L 5–10 Chicago White Sox Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
1994 Kevin Tapani (2) L 2–8 California Angels Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
1995 Scott Erickson (2) L 0–9 Boston Red Sox Fenway Park
1996 Brad Radke W 8–6 Detroit Tigers Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
1997 Brad Radke (2) ND (W) 7–5 Detroit Tigers Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
1998 Bob Tewksbury L 2–3 Toronto Blue Jays SkyDome
1999 Brad Radke (3) W 6–1 Toronto Blue Jays Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
2000 Brad Radke (4) L 0–7 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
2001 Brad Radke (5) W 3–2 Detroit Tigers Comerica Park
2002* Brad Radke (6) ND (W) 8–6 Kansas City Royals Kauffman Stadium
2003* Brad Radke (7) W 3–1 Detroit Tigers Comerica Park
2004* Brad Radke (8) ND (W) 7–4 Cleveland Indians Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
2005 Brad Radke (9) L 1–5 Seattle Mariners Safeco Field
2006* Johan Santana L 3–6 Toronto Blue Jays Rogers Centre
2007 Johan Santana (2) W 7–4 Baltimore Orioles Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
2008 Livan Hernandez W 3–2 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
2009* Francisco Liriano L 1–6 Seattle Mariners Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
2010* Scott Baker L 3–6 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Angel Stadium of Anaheim
2011 Carl Pavano L 3–11 Toronto Blue Jays Rogers Centre
2012 Carl Pavano (2) L 2–4 Baltimore Orioles Oriole Park at Camden Yards
2013 Vance Worley L 2–4 Detroit Tigers Target Field
2014 Ricky Nolasco L 3–5 Chicago White Sox U.S. Cellular Field
2015 Phil Hughes L 0–4 Detroit Tigers Comerica Park
2016 Ervin Santana ND (L) 2–3 Baltimore Orioles Camden Yards
2017* Ervin Santana (2) W 7–1 Kansas City Royals Target Field
2018 Jake Odorizzi ND (L) 2–3 Baltimore Orioles Camden Yards
2019* José Berríos W 2–0 Cleveland Indians Target Field
2020* José Berríos (2) ND (W) 10–5 Chicago White Sox Guaranteed Rate Field
2021 Kenta Maeda ND (L) 5–6 Milwaukee Brewers American Family Field
2022 Joe Ryan L 1–2 Seattle Mariners Target Field
2023* Pablo López W 2–0 Kansas City Royals Kauffman Stadium
2024 Pablo López (2) W 4–1 Kansas City Royals Kauffman Stadium

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. ^ "Minnesota Twins Opening Day Starters and Results". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
  4. ^ "Seattle 6, Minnesota 1". Yahoo!. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  5. ^ "LA Angels 6, Minnesota 3". Yahoo!. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
  6. "Twins Opening Day 1961". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
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  8. "Twins Opening Day 1963". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  9. "Twins Opening Day 1964". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  10. "Twins Opening Day 1965". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  11. "Twins Opening Day 1966". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  12. "Twins Opening Day 1967". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  13. "Twins Opening Day 1968". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  14. "Twins Opening Day 1969". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
  15. "Twins Opening Day 1969". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
  16. "Twins Opening Day 1971". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  17. "Twins Opening Day 1972". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  18. "Twins Opening Day 1973". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  19. "Twins Opening Day 1974". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  20. "Twins Opening Day 1975". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  21. "Twins Opening Day 1976". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  22. "Twins Opening Day 1977". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  23. "Twins Opening Day 1978". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  24. "Twins Opening Day 1979". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  25. "Twins Opening Day 1980". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  26. "Twins Opening Day 1981". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  27. "Twins Opening Day 1982". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
  28. "Twins Opening Day 1983". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
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  30. "Twins Opening Day 1985". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
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  35. "Twins Opening Day 1990". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
  36. "Twins Opening Day 1991". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
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  38. "Twins Opening Day 1993". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
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  42. "Twins Opening Day 1997". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
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  44. "Twins Opening Day 1999". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
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  51. "Twins Opening Day 2006". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
  52. "Twins Opening Day 2007". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
  53. "Twins Opening Day 2008". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
  54. "Toronto 13, Minnesota 3". Yahoo!. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  55. "Twins vs. Orioles - Game Recap - April 6, 2012 - ESPN". Archived from the original on April 8, 2012.
  56. "Twins Opening Day 2013". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  57. "Twins Opening Day 2014". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  58. ^ "Minnesota Twins Opening Day Starters". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
Major League Baseball Opening Day starting pitchers by team
American League
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West Division
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East Division
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Relocated teamsBoston and Milwaukee Braves · Brooklyn Dodgers · Montreal Expos · New York Giants · Philadelphia and Kansas City Athletics · St. Louis Browns · Washington Senators
Defunct teamsBaltimore Orioles (19th century) · Cleveland Spiders · Detroit Wolverines · Louisville Colonels · Providence Grays
Minnesota Twins
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Washington Senators / Minnesota Twins Opening Day starting pitchers
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