List of Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day starting pitchers

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File:Chris Archer on April 25, 2014.jpg
Chris Archer is the pitcher who has most recently started for the Rays on Opening Day.

The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in St. Petersburg, Florida. They play in the American League East 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 Rays have used eleven different Opening Day starting pitchers in their nineteen seasons. Since the franchise's beginning in 1998, the eleven starters have a combined Opening Day record of five wins, eight losses (5–8), and six no decisions.[3][4][5][6] "No decisions" are awarded to the starting pitcher if the game is won or lost after the starting pitcher has left the game.

James Shields holds the Rays' record for most Opening Day starts with four, with one win, one loss, and two no decisions.[3] The all-time record for a Tampa Bay pitcher winning an Opening Day game is one, shared by Steve Trachsel, Albie Lopez, Victor Zambrano, James Shields, and David Price.[3]

Overall, Rays starting pitchers have a combined 3–5 record at home and 2–3 when they are away for Opening Day.[3][5] In 2004, the Rays opened the season against the New York Yankees at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.[3][7] Although that game was not played in Tampa Bay's actual home of Tropicana Field, it was still considered a home game for the Rays.[3][7] Tampa Bay beat the Yankees 8–3 in that game, giving starting pitcher Victor Zambrano the win.[7]

Key

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

Pitchers

James Shields has four Opening Day starts, the most in the franchise's history by one pitcher.
Season Pitcher Decision Opponent Location Ref(s)
1998 Wilson Alvarez L Detroit Tigers Tropicana Field [3][4]
1999 Wilson Alvarez (2) L Baltimore Orioles Oriole Park at Camden Yards [3][4]
2000 Steve Trachsel W Minnesota Twins Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [3][4]
2001 Albie Lopez W Toronto Blue Jays Tropicana Field [3][4]
2002 Tanyon Sturtze ND (W) Detroit Tigers Tropicana Field [3][4][8]
2003 Joe Kennedy ND (W) Boston Red Sox Tropicana Field [3][4][9]
2004 Victor Zambrano W New York Yankees Tokyo Dome [3][4][7]
2005 Dewon Brazelton L Toronto Blue Jays Tropicana Field [3][4][10]
2006 Scott Kazmir ND (L) Baltimore Orioles Oriole Park at Camden Yards [3][4][11]
2007 Scott Kazmir (2) L New York Yankees Yankee Stadium [3][4][12]
2008** James Shields W Baltimore Orioles Oriole Park at Camden Yards [3][4][13]
2009 James Shields (2) L Boston Red Sox Fenway Park [3][4][5]
2010* James Shields (3) ND (W) Baltimore Orioles Tropicana Field [3][4][6]
2011* David Price L Baltimore Orioles Tropicana Field [3][4][14]
2012 James Shields (4) ND (W) New York Yankees Tropicana Field [3][4][15]
2013* David Price (2) ND (L) Baltimore Orioles Tropicana Field [3][4][16]
2014 David Price (3) W Toronto Blue Jays Tropicana Field [3][4][17]
2015 Chris Archer L Baltimore Orioles Tropicana Field [3][4][18]
2016 Chris Archer (2) L Toronto Blue Jays Tropicana Field [3][4][19]

References

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  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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