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, though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day. The Rays have used fifteen different Opening Day starting pitchers in their twenty-six seasons. Since the franchise's beginning in , the fifteen starters have a combined Opening Day record of seven wins, ten losses (7–10), and nine no decisions. "No decisions" are awarded to the starting pitcher if the game is won or lost after the starting pitcher has left the game.
Chris Archer and James Shields holds the Rays' record for most Opening Day starts with four. Archer has one win, two losses, and one no decision, while Shields has one win, one loss, and two no decisions. The all-time record for a Tampa Bay starting pitcher winning an Opening Day game is one, shared by Steve Trachsel, Albie Lopez, Victor Zambrano, James Shields, David Price, Chris Archer, and Shane McClanahan.
Overall, Rays starting pitchers have a combined 5–7 record at home and 2–3 when they are away for Opening Day. In , the Rays opened the season against the New York Yankees at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. 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. Tampa Bay beat the Yankees 8–3 in that game, giving starting pitcher Victor Zambrano the win.
Key SeasonEach year is linked to an article about that particular Rays season.WWinLLossND (W)No decision by starting pitcher; Rays won gameND (L)No decision by starting pitcher; Rays lost gamePitcher Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Rays*Advanced to the post-season**Won the American League Championship Series
Pitchers
SeasonPitcherDecisionOpponentLocationRef(s)1998LDetroit TigersTropicana Field1999 LBaltimore OriolesOriole Park at Camden Yards2000WMinnesota TwinsHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome2001WToronto Blue JaysTropicana Field2002ND (W)Detroit TigersTropicana Field2003ND (W)Boston Red SoxTropicana Field2004WNew York YankeesTokyo Dome2005LToronto Blue JaysTropicana Field2006ND (L)Baltimore OriolesOriole Park at Camden Yards2007 LNew York YankeesYankee Stadium2008**WBaltimore OriolesOriole Park at Camden Yards2009 LBoston Red SoxFenway Park2010* ND (W)Baltimore OriolesTropicana Field2011*LBaltimore OriolesTropicana Field2012 ND (W)New York YankeesTropicana Field2013* ND (L)Baltimore OriolesTropicana Field2014 WToronto Blue JaysTropicana Field2015LBaltimore OriolesTropicana Field2016 LToronto Blue JaysTropicana Field2017 WNew York YankeesTropicana Field2018 ND (W)Boston Red SoxTropicana Field2019*LHouston AstrosTropicana Field2020**LToronto Blue JaysTropicana Field2021*ND (W)Miami MarlinsloanDepot Park2022*ND (W)Baltimore OriolesTropicana Field2023* WDetroit TigersTropicana Field2024 LToronto Blue JaysTropicana Field2025ND (W)Colorado RockiesGeorge M. Steinbrenner Field2026ND (L)St. Louis CardinalsBusch Stadium
References