List of Montreal Expos Opening Day starting pitchers

Liván Hernández, who made one Opening Day starts for the Expos franchise.

The Montreal Expos were a former Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 to 2004. The team relocated to Washington, D.C. after the 2004 season and became the Washington Nationals. 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 honour, 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 Expos used 19 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 36 seasons. The 19 starters had a combined Opening Day record of 9 wins, 15 losses (9–15) and 12 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, or if the starting pitcher does not pitch at least five innings with the lead. The overall Opening Day franchise record is 12–24.

Steve Rogers holds the team record for most Opening Day starts with nine, and has an Opening Day record of 2–4, with three no-decisions. All of Rogers's Opening Day starts were on the road. Liván Hernández is the only pitcher to have made Opening Day starts for both the Expos (in 2004) and Nationals (2005, 2006, and 2011).[3]

For their first 19 Opening Day games, early season cold weather kept the Expos on the road. In 1988, the availability of Olympic Stadium and its retractable roof allowed the team to have its first Opening Day home game, in which Dennis Martínez was the starting pitcher.[4] The Expos never played on Opening Day in Jarry Park Stadium, their home from 1969 to 1976. Olympic Stadium, their home from 1977 to 2004, hosted six Opening Day games; five Expos starters accumulated a record of 0–3 (and three no-decisions).

The franchise's only playoff experience was in the strike-shortened 1981 season. In a special format created for that season, the Expos were the second-half champion, with a 30–23 record. The team won the NL Division Series to become Eastern Division champions, winning three games to two over Philadelphia Phillies who had been the first-half champion with a 34–21 record.[5] In 1981, Opening Day pitcher Steve Rogers faced Phillies ace Steve Carlton and won the first game of the series by a score of 3–1.[6] The Expos then lost the NL Championship Series to the first-half Western Division champion Los Angeles Dodgers three games to two on a ninth-inning home run in Game 5 by Rick Monday.[7]

Key

Olympic Stadium, home to the Expos from 1977–2004, hosted six Opening Day games.
Season Each year is linked to an article about that particular Expos season.
W Win
L Loss
ND (W) No decision for starter; Expos won game
ND (L) No decision for starter; Expos lost game
Final
Score		 Game score with Expos runs listed first
Location Stadium in bold for home game
Pitcher (#) Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Expos
* Advanced to the NLCS

Pitchers

Javier Vázquez, the 2001 and 2002 Opening Day starter
Tony Armas, Jr., the 2003 Opening Day starter
Season Pitcher Decision Final
score		 Opponent Location Attendance Ref(s)[3]
1969Mudcat GrantND (W)11–10New York MetsShea Stadium44,541[8]
1970Joe SparmaL1–5Cincinnati RedsCrosley Field30,124[9]
1971Carl MortonL2–4New York MetsShea Stadium26,062[10]
1972Bill StonemanW3–2St. Louis CardinalsBusch Stadium7,808[11]
1973Mike TorrezL2–3Chicago CubsWrigley Field40,273[12]
1974Steve RenkoND (W)12–8Pittsburgh PiratesThree Rivers Stadium40,434[13]
1975Dave McNallyW 8–4St. Louis CardinalsBusch Stadium31,769[14]
1976Steve RogersL2–3New York MetsShea Stadium17,013[15]
1977Steve Rogers (2)ND (W)4–3Philadelphia PhilliesVeterans Stadium43,367[16]
1978Steve Rogers (3)L1–3New York MetsShea Stadium11,376[17]
1979Steve Rogers (4)ND (W)3–2 (10 innings)Pittsburgh PiratesThree Rivers Stadium36,141[18]
1980Steve Rogers (5)L3–6Philadelphia PhilliesVeterans Stadium48,460[19]
1981* Steve Rogers (6) ND (W) 6–5 Pittsburgh Pirates Three Rivers Stadium 40,332 [20]
1982Steve Rogers (7)W2–0Philadelphia PhilliesVeterans Stadium7,795[21]
1983Steve Rogers (8)W3–0Chicago CubsWrigley Field4,802[22]
1984Charlie LeaW4–2Houston AstrosAstrodome28,105[23]
1985Steve Rogers (9)L1–4Cincinnati RedsCinergy Field52,971[24]
1986Bryn SmithL0–6Atlanta BravesAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium37,858[25]
1987Floyd YoumansL5–11Cincinnati RedsCinergy Field55,166[26]
1988Dennis MartínezL6–10New York MetsOlympic Stadium55,413[4][27]
1989Dennis Martínez (2)ND (W)6–5Pittsburgh PiratesOlympic Stadium35,154[28]
1990Dennis Martínez (3)ND (L)5–6 (11 innings)St. Louis CardinalsBusch Stadium48,752[29]
1991Dennis Martínez (4)W7–0Pittsburgh PiratesThree Rivers Stadium54,274[30]
1992Dennis Martínez (5)L0–2Pittsburgh PiratesThree Rivers Stadium48,800[31]
1993Dennis Martínez (6)L1–2Cincinnati RedsCinergy Field55,456[32]
1994Jeff FasseroND (L)5–6 (12 innings)Houston AstrosAstrodome43,440[33]
1995Jeff Fassero (2)W6–2Pittsburgh PiratesThree Rivers Stadium34,841[34]
1996daggerJeff Fassero (3)L1–4Cincinnati RedsCinergy Field53,136[35]
1997Jim BullingerND (W)2–1St. Louis CardinalsOlympic Stadium33,437[36]
1998Carlos PérezL0–4Pittsburgh PiratesOlympic Stadium31,200[37]
1999Dustin HermansonW9–2Pittsburgh PiratesThree Rivers Stadium43,405[38]
2000Dustin Hermanson (2)L4–10Los Angeles DodgersOlympic Stadium51,249[39]
2001Javier VázquezND (W)5–4Chicago CubsWrigley Field38,466[40]
2002Javier Vázquez (2)ND (W)7–6Florida MarlinsOlympic Stadium34,351[41]
2003Tony Armas Jr.W10–2Atlanta BravesTurner Field40,258[42]
2004Liván HernándezND (L)3–4Florida MarlinsDolphin Stadium55,315[43]

dagger The scheduled Opening Day starter for April 1, 1996, was Pedro Martínez. Due to the death of umpire John McSherry, the game was postponed. Jeff Fassero then started the April 2 makeup game.[44]

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. 1 2 Washington Nationals Opening Day Starters and Results, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  4. 1 2 Durso, Joseph. "Unlike '87, Gooden Will Open Season", The New York Times, April 4, 1988. Accessed October 7, 2008. "Because of the cold spring weather, the Expos have customarily spent the first couple of weeks of the season on the road ever since they joined the National League 19 years ago. But Olympic Stadium now has its retractable fabric roof in place, and the Expos at last have the luxury of opening at home."
  5. ↑ Durso, Joseph. "EXPOS OUST PHILLIES, 3-0", The New York Times, October 12, 1981. Accessed October 8, 2008.
  6. ↑ 1981 NL Division Series, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 8, 2008.
  7. ↑ 1981 Montreal Expos, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 8, 2008.
  8. ↑ Apr 8, 1969, Expos at Mets Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  9. ↑ Apr 6, 1970, Expos at Reds Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  10. ↑ Apr 6, 1971, Expos at Mets Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  11. ↑ Apr 15, 1972, Expos at Cardinals Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  12. ↑ Apr 6, 1973, Expos at Cubs Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  13. ↑ Apr 10, 1974, Expos at Pirates Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  14. ↑ Apr 7, 1975, Expos at Cardinals Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  15. ↑ Apr 9, 1976, Expos at Mets Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  16. ↑ Apr 9, 1977, Expos at Phillies Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  17. ↑ Apr 7, 1978, Expos at Mets Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  18. ↑ Apr 6, 1979, Expos at Pirates Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  19. ↑ Apr 11, 1980, Expos at Phillies Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  20. ↑ Apr 9, 1981, Expos at Pirates Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  21. ↑ Apr 9, 1982, Expos at Phillies Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  22. ↑ Apr 6, 1983, Expos at Cubs Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  23. ↑ Apr 3, 1984, Expos at Astros Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  24. ↑ Apr 8, 1985, Expos at Reds Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  25. ↑ Apr 8, 1986, Expos at Braves Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  26. ↑ Apr 6, 1987, Expos at Reds Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  27. ↑ Apr 4, 1988, Mets at Expos Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  28. ↑ Apr 4, 1989, Pirates at Expos Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  29. ↑ Apr 9, 1990, Expos at Cardinals Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  30. ↑ Apr 8, 1991, Expos at Pirates Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  31. ↑ Apr 6, 1992, Expos at Pirates Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  32. ↑ Apr 5, 1993, Expos at Reds Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  33. ↑ Apr 4, 1994, Expos at Astros Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  34. ↑ Apr 26, 1995, Expos at Pirates Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  35. ↑ Apr 2, 1996, Expos at Reds Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  36. ↑ Apr 1, 1997, Cardinals at Expos Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  37. ↑ Apr 1, 1998, Pirates at Expos Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  38. ↑ Apr 5, 1999, Expos at Pirates Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  39. ↑ Apr 3, 2000, Dodgers at Expos Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  40. ↑ Apr 2, 2001, Expos at Cubs Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  41. ↑ Apr 2, 2002, Marlins at Expos Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  42. ↑ Mar 31, 2003, Expos at Braves Play by Play and Box Score, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  43. ↑ Apr 6, 2004, Expos at Marlins Box Score and Play by Play, Baseball-Reference. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  44. ↑ "Reds Notebook". The Orlando Sentinel. April 2, 1996. p. 31. Retrieved May 1, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
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