:List of Miami Marlins Opening Day starting pitchers

Image:Marlins 2008 001.jpg, the Marlins former home ballpark from {{mlby|1993}}-{{mlby|2011}}]]

The Miami Marlins are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Miami, Florida. They play in the National 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,{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100322&content_id=8868046&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title=Marcum tapped for Jays' Opening Day|first=Jordan|last=Bastian|work=MLB.com|date=March 22, 2010|access-date=September 26, 2010|archive-date=November 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105103440/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100322&content_id=8868046&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|url-status=live}} though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day.{{cite web|first=Steve|last=Dilbeck|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgersnow/la-sp-dn-dodgers-clayton-kershaw-sydney-20140224,0,2715593.story#axzz2uMohA5cD|title=Dodgers may not start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney|work=Los Angeles Times|date=February 24, 2014|access-date=February 25, 2014|archive-date=April 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422214253/http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgersnow/la-sp-dn-dodgers-clayton-kershaw-sydney-20140224,0,2715593.story#axzz2uMohA5cD|url-status=live}} The Marlins have used 17 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 27 seasons. Since the Marlins' first season in {{mlby|1993}}, the 17 starters have a combined Opening Day record of 12 wins and 14 losses with two no-decisions. Notably, no Marlins Opening Day starter received a no-decision until the team's 24th season in 2016. No-decisions are only awarded to the starting pitcher if the game is won or lost after the starting pitcher has left the game.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/official_scorer_10.jsp|publisher=Major League Baseball|title=Official Rules – The Official Scorer|access-date=2009-01-04|archive-date=2016-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123050608/http://www.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/official_scorer_10.jsp|url-status=live}}

Nine Marlins pitchers have started on two or more Opening Days. Those nine are Charlie Hough, Kevin Brown, Alex Fernandez, Ryan Dempster, Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis, Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, and José Ureña. Beckett and Johnson hold the record for most Opening Day starts as a Marlin, with three appearances each, from {{mlby|2003}} to {{mlby|2005}} for Beckett and {{mlby|2010}} to {{mlby|2012}} for Johnson. When playing at their original home field, the venue now known as Hard Rock Stadium, the Marlins had a record of nine wins and five losses (9–5). At their current home of Marlins Park, Opening Day pitchers have a record of 1–5 with one no-decision. In the franchise's history, the Marlins have only played Opening Day games at another team's home stadium eight times. As the away team, Marlins' starting pitchers have an Opening Day record of 1–6 with one no-decision.

The longest ever Opening Day winning streak for Marlins starting pitchers is four years, when Florida won from {{mlby|1997}} to {{mlby|2000}} under starting pitchers Kevin Brown (1997), Liván Hernández ({{mlby|1998}}), and Alex Fernandez ({{mlby|1999}} and 2000). This streak was sandwiched by the Marlins' two longest Opening Day losing streaks for starting pitchers, each at three losses. The first was in {{mlby|1994}}, {{mlby|1995}}, and {{mlby|1996}} under starting pitchers Charlie Hough (1994), John Burkett (1995), and Kevin Brown (1996); the second was in {{mlby|2001}}, {{mlby|2002}}, and 2003 under Ryan Dempster (2001 and 2002) and Josh Beckett (2003) The Marlins have won the World Series twice, in {{mlby|1997}} and {{mlby|2003}}, and in those seasons, their starting pitchers had one win and one loss on Opening Day.

Key

image:Ricky Nolasco Marlins.JPG, the 2009 opening day starter]]

Image:MarkHendrickson.jpg, the 2008 Opening Day starter]]

Image:DontrelleWillis.jpg, the 2006 and 2007 Opening Day starter]]

File:Sandy Alcántara 8.11.21.jpg, the 2020–23 Opening Day starter]]

class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"

Season

|Each year is linked to an article about that particular Marlins season.

|Win

|Loss

ND (W)

|No decision by starting pitcher; Marlins won game

ND (L)

|No decision by starting pitcher; Marlins lost game

Pitcher {{small|(#)}}

|Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Marlins

style="background-color: #FFE6BD"|*

|Advanced to the post-season

style="background-color: #FFCCCC"|†

|World Series Champions

Pitchers

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Miami Marlins|border=2}};|Season

!scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Miami Marlins|border=2}};|Pitcher

!scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Miami Marlins|border=2}};|Decision

!scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Miami Marlins|border=2}};|Opponent

!scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Miami Marlins|border=2}};|Location

!class="unsortable" style="{{Baseball primary style|Miami Marlins|border=2}};|Ref(s)

align="center"|1993

|{{sortname|Charlie|Hough}}

|align="center"|W

| rowspan="3" |Los Angeles Dodgers

|Joe Robbie Stadium

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/FLA/opening.shtml|title=Miami Marlins Opening Day Starters and Results|publisher=Baseball-Reference|access-date=April 14, 2017|archive-date=May 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519054515/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/FLA/opening.shtml|url-status=live}}

align="center"|1994

|{{sortname|Charlie|Hough}} {{small|(2)}}

| rowspan="3" align="center" |L

|Dodger Stadium

|align="center"|

align="center"|1995

|{{sortname|John|Burkett}}

| rowspan="2" |Joe Robbie Stadium

|align="center"|

align="center"|1996

|{{sortname|Kevin|Brown|dab=right-handed pitcher}}

|Pittsburgh Pirates

|align="center"|

style="background-color: #FFCCCC" align="center"|1997†

|style="background-color: #FFCCCC"|{{sortname|Kevin|Brown|Kevin Brown (right-handed pitcher)}} {{small|(2)}}

|style="background-color: #FFCCCC" align="center"|W

|style="background-color: #FFCCCC"|Chicago Cubs

|style="background-color: #FFCCCC"|Pro Player Stadium

|style="background-color: #FFCCCC" align="center"|

align="center"|1998

|{{sortname|Liván|Hernández}}

| rowspan="3" align="center" |W

|Chicago Cubs

| rowspan="4" |Pro Player Stadium

|align="center"|

align="center"|1999

|{{sortname|Alex|Fernandez|dab=baseball}}

|New York Mets

|align="center"|

align="center"|2000

|{{sortname|Alex|Fernandez|dab=baseball}} {{small|(2)}}

|San Francisco Giants

|align="center"|

align="center"|2001

|{{sortname|Ryan|Dempster}}

| rowspan="2" align="center" |L

|Philadelphia Phillies

|align="center"|

align="center"|2002

|{{sortname|Ryan|Dempster}} {{small|(2)}}

|Montreal Expos

|Olympic Stadium

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=220402120|title=Expos 7, Marlins 6|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2008-09-16|archive-date=2012-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024163853/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=220402120|url-status=dead}}

style="background-color: #FFCCCC" align="center"|2003†

|style="background-color: #FFCCCC"|{{sortname|Josh|Beckett}}

|style="background-color: #FFCCCC" align="center"|L

|style="background-color: #FFCCCC"|Philadelphia Phillies

|style="background-color: #FFCCCC"|Pro Player Stadium

|style="background-color: #FFCCCC" align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=230331128|title=Bell, Thome and Millwood off to solid starts|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2008-09-16|archive-date=2014-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112091421/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=230331128|url-status=dead}}

align="center"|2004

|{{sortname|Josh|Beckett}} {{small|(2)}}

| rowspan="2" align="center" |W

|Montreal Expos

|Pro Player Stadium

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240406128|title=Choi marks Marlins debut with career-high 3 RBI|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2008-09-16|archive-date=2012-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024163904/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240406128|url-status=dead}}

align="center"|2005

|{{sortname|Josh|Beckett}} {{small|(3)}}

|Atlanta Braves

|Dolphins Stadium

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250405128|title=Smoltz allows first-inning grand slam in return to rotation|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2008-09-16|archive-date=2012-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024163911/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250405128|url-status=dead}}

align="center"|2006

|{{sortname|Dontrelle|Willis}}

|align="center"|L

|Houston Astros

|Minute Maid Park

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260403118|title=Oswalt, Lidge combine to five-hit Marlins|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2008-09-16|archive-date=2012-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024163936/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260403118|url-status=dead}}

align="center"|2007

|{{sortname|Dontrelle|Willis}} {{small|(2)}}

|align="center"|W

|Washington Nationals

|Robert F. Kennedy Stadium

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270402120|title=Cabrera's four RBI carry Marlins past Nats|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2008-09-16|archive-date=2012-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024163941/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270402120|url-status=dead}}

align="center"|2008

|{{sortname|Mark|Hendrickson}}

|align="center"|L

|New York Mets

| rowspan="2" |Dolphin Stadium

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280331128|title=Santana K's eight in seven innings as Mets roll|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2008-09-16|archive-date=2012-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024163947/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280331128|url-status=dead}}

align="center"|2009

|{{sortname|Ricky|Nolasco}}

|align="center"|W

|Washington Nationals

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=290406128|title=Florida 12, Washington 6|publisher=Yahoo!|access-date=2009-04-06|archive-date=2013-07-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720070157/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=290406128|url-status=live}}

align="center"|2010

|{{sortname|Josh|Johnson|dab=pitcher}}

|align="center"| L

| rowspan="2" |New York Mets

|Citi Field

|align="center"|{{cite web|title=NY Mets 7, Florida 1|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=300405121|publisher=Yahoo!|access-date=2009-04-06|archive-date=2013-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731220354/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=300405121|url-status=live}}

align="center"|2011

|{{sortname|Josh|Johnson|dab=pitcher}} {{small|(2)}}

|align="center"| W

|Sun Life Stadium

|align="center"|

align="center"|2012

|{{sortname|Josh|Johnson|dab=pitcher}} {{small|(3)}}

| rowspan="2" align="center" | L

|St. Louis Cardinals

|Marlins Park

|align="center"|

align="center"|2013

|{{sortname|Ricky|Nolasco}} {{small|(2)}}

|Washington Nationals

|Nationals Park

|align="center"|

align="center"|2014

|{{sortname|José|Fernández|dab=right-handed pitcher}}

|align="center"| W

|Colorado Rockies

| rowspan="3" |Marlins Park

|align="center"|

align="center"|2015

|{{sortname|Henderson|Álvarez

Alvarez, Henderson}}

|align="center"| L

|Atlanta Braves

|align="center"|

align="center"|2016

|{{sortname|Wei-Yin|Chen}}

| rowspan="2" align="center" | ND (L)

|Detroit Tigers

|align="center"|

align="center"|2017

|{{sortname|Edinson|Vólquez

Volquez}}

|Washington Nationals

|Nationals Park

|align="center"|{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WAS/WAS201704030.shtml |title=Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals Box Score, April 3, 2017 |publisher=Baseball-Reference |access-date=April 14, 2017 |archive-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901162230/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WAS/WAS201704030.shtml |url-status=live }}

align="center"|2018

|{{sortname|José|Ureña}}

| rowspan="2" align="center" | L

|Chicago Cubs

| rowspan="2" |Marlins Park

|align="center"|

align="center"|2019

|{{sortname|José|Ureña}} {{small|(2)}}

|Colorado Rockies

|align="center"|

style="background-color: #FFE6BD" align="center"|2020*

|style="background-color: #FFE6BD" |{{sortname|Sandy|Alcántara}}