A Brief History of the Texas Rangers Opening Day Starters

August 11, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers former player Charlie Hough waves to fans during introductions of the Rangers 40th anniversary all time team before the game against the Detroit Tigers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Rangers have slated Tanner Scheppers to be the opening day starter for the 2014 season thanks to a slight injury to Yu Darvish. This will be Scheppers first ever professional start, and I would have to imagine that he will be very nervous going into the game. So what can we expect from Scheppers on opening day? How will he perform? We won’t know that until Monday evening, but  I thought I would take a look at who the Texas Rangers have had on the hill on opening day over the years.

Since moving to Arlington in 1972, the Texas Rangers have had 24 opening day starters, and only two different starters have opened the season as many as four times in a row (Dick Bosman, 1970-1973, two of those years were actually in Washington, and Kevin Millwood, 2006-2009). They have had a pitcher open more than four seasons, just not in a row (Charlie Hough six times, 1982, 1984-1985, 1987-1989).  Since Kevin Millwood the Texas Rangers have had a different starter every season, and the last two have both had season ending injuries (Matt Harrison and Colby Lewis), and the two before that both left the team quickly after that season in C.J. Wilson and Scott Feldman. So what does that mean for Tanner Scheppers? Nothing.

Scheppers, unless he has the greatest season ever, will not be the opening day starter in 2015, Yu Darvish will. That means that the Texas Rangers streak of a different opening day starter every year since 2009 will continue for another year. The Texas Rangers are 4-6 on opening day over the last ten seasons (however, they are 4-1 in their last 5 when opening day was in Arlington). I expect Scheppers to have a good game after he settles down, because he will most likely be ramped up for the beginning of the game. The crowd will be loud and crazy, we all know that about Texas Rangers fans, so if Scheppers can push through, he should have a great outing. We just need to hope that the streak of two straight opening day starters being injured stops with Harrison last season.

This is by no means a complete history of opening day starters, but it is a view of it, and I hope you enjoyed it. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and sign up for our emails.