Interesting MLB Opening Day Statistics & Historical Notes

Who’s ready for some baseball?!?

Opening day – one of the most anticipated days in sports – began last night as the St. Louis Cardinals beat National League Central Division rival, the Chicago Cubs, in a showdown at Wrigley Field. The remaining 28 teams will get their 2015 campaigns going today.

In case you were wondering who has the best shot to win on opening day, here are some notes and statistics regarding the first day of the regular season. Many of the statistics go back 10 years, to opening day 2005. Of course, opening day doesn’t guarantee or prove anything, since the season features 162 games per team. So a loss doesn’t mean your team won’t make it to the World Series.

MLB Opening Day News & Notes

• The best record on opening day in baseball since 2005? The answer: Seattle. The Mariners are 9-1 and have an eight-game winning streak heading into their 2015 opening day matchup with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Their only loss since 2005 was a 5-4 setback to the Angels in 2006. Seattle is 23-15 all-time on opening day, while the Angels are 23-31 all-time, losers of two straight.
• The Oakland Athletics have not won an opening day game since 2004, when they beat the Texas Rangers. Five of their 10 straight losses have come to the Seattle Mariners, with the aforementioned 9-1 record since 2005. Additionally, the A’s have been shutout each of their last two season openers and five times since 2005. The Athletics host Texas this evening. Oakland is 53-61 all-time in openers, while Texas – 4-6 in their last 10 and losers of two straight openers – are 25-29. This matchup is the only one Monday with two teams that have lost more openers their won.
• Tampa Rays are the only current franchise without double-digit victories on opening day. The Rays are 9-8 since becoming joining the American League in 1998. The Rays host the Orioles today. The Orioles are 67-46-1 all-time in season openers, and winners of four straight.
• The Toronto Blues and New York Yankees are the first teams to play Monday. The Yankees are 5-5 in their last 10 season openers, and losers of three straight. The Yankees are 76-37-1 all-time in season openers (third among active teams). Meanwhile, the Jays are 6-4 in their last 10, and 26-12 all-time. They have been shutout only once in their 38 season openers (2004 against the Detroit Tigers, 7-0).
• The Detroit Tigers host the Minnesota Twins. The Tigers are second only to the Seattle Mariners in the American League for consecutive wins (six) and 7-3 in their last 10. On the flip side, the Twins are losers of six straight season openers and 2-8 in their last 10. The Tigers are 63-50-1 all-time in season openers, while the Twins are 62-52.
• The Kansas City Royals, the defending American League Conference Series champions, host the AL Central division rival Chicago Sox midday. The Royals are losers of their last six openers and 2-8 in their last 10. That gives them a 23-23 record all-time in openers (the only current team with a .500 record). The White Sox, however, are 7-3 in their last 10, winners of two straight, and 63-51 all-time.
• The Houston Astros are 3-7 in their last 10 openers but are winners of two straight. They hope to make that three straight against the Cleveland Indians, 4-6 in their last 10 and also winners of two straight. The Astros are 25-28 all-time in openers, while the Indians are 59-55.
• The Philadelphia Phillies have lost three straight season openers and are 3-7 in their last 10 openers, the worst record for a team in the National League. They host the Boston Red Sox, 5-5 in their last 10, and losers of their last opener. The Red Sox are 68-46 in openers, while the Phillies are 62-68-2.
• The Cincinnati Reds have played every opening day game in their history at home (since 1882), except twice. The Reds’ opening day record is 63-69-1. The one tie came against the Milwaukee Brewers in 2000. The Reds host the Pirates, 3-7 in their last 10. The Pirates are 75-58 all-time in season openers.
• The Colorado Rockies have won two straight season openers and are 6-4 in their last 10, 13-9 all-time. They play at the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-3 in their last 10 and winners of their last two. The Brewers are 25-21 all-time in openers.
• The Atlanta Braves have been shut out three times since 2005 and twice since 2012 (9-0 to Miami, 2005; 1-0 to New York Mets, 2012; 2-0 to Milwaukee Brewers, 2014). However, they shut out the Washington Nationals 2-0 in 2011. Their four games involving a shutout are the most since 2005. However, if the Braves are not shut out, they are 6-1 since 2005 (only non-shutout loss in 2008 to Nationals). The Braves – 77-61-1 all-time in openers (second most wins, to the San Francisco Giants) – are at the Miami Marlins, 4-6 in their last 10 openers and 10-12 all-time.
• The Washington Nationals are 4-6 in their since 2005, when they relocated from Montreal as the Expos, and 25-21 all-time. They lost their season opener last season. The New York Mets are 6-4 in their last 10 and losers of one straight. The Mets are 32-21 all-time and haven’t been shut out since playing the Expos in 1992 (4-0 loss).
• The Los Angeles Dodgers host the San Diego Padres in a mid-afternoon matchup of Southern California teams. The Dodgers six-game winning streak ended in a loss to the eventual World Series champions, the San Francisco Giants, last year, but the Dodgers are 7-3 in their last 10 and 65-62-4. The Dodgers’ four ties are the most of any active team. The Padres are also 7-3 in their last 10 but have a two-game winning streak. San Diego is only two games above .500 in their openers, at 24-22.
• The final game scheduled to get underway are the defending World Series champs, the San Francisco Giants, against National League West rivals, the Arizona Dbacks. The Giants have the best opening day record for an NL team in their last 10 games – 8-2 – with six straight wins. The Giants also have the most opening day victories of any active MLB team: 78, 52 losses (none since 2008, against the Padres) and two ties. The Diamondbacks are 7-3, with a six-game winning streak snapped last year against the Dodgers at Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia. The Diamondbacks are 10-7 all-time in openers.