# List of Detroit Tigers Opening Day starting pitchers

The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Detroit, Michigan. They play in the American League Central division. The first game of the new baseball season is played on Opening Day, and being named the starter that day 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. Since joining the league in 1901, the Tigers have used 57 different Opening Day starting pitchers. The Tigers have a record of 56 wins and 61 losses in their Opening Day games. They also played one tie game, in 1927.
The Tigers have played in three different home ball parks, Bennett Park from 1901 through 1911, Tiger Stadium (also known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium) from 1912 to 1999 and Comerica Park since 2000. They had a record of five wins and two losses in Opening Day games at Bennett Park, 19 wins and 22 losses at Tiger Stadium and three wins and four losses at Comerica Park, for a total home record in Opening Day games of 26 wins and 28 losses. Their record in Opening Day away games is 27 wins, 31 losses and one tie.
Jack Morris has the most Opening Day starts for the Tigers, with 11 consecutive starts from 1980 to 1990. Morris had a record of seven wins and four losses in his Opening Day starts. George Mullin had ten Opening Day starts for the Tigers between 1903 and 1913. The Tigers won five of those games and lost the other five. Mickey Lolich had seven Opening Day starts between 1965 and 1974. He had a record of five wins and two losses in those starts. Justin Verlander has also made seven Opening Day starts for the Tigers, between 2008 and 2014. His record in those starts is one win and one loss with five no-decisions. Other Tiger pitchers with at least three Opening Day starts include Hal Newhouser with six, Earl Whitehill and Jim Bunning with four; and Tommy Bridges, Frank Lary and Mike Moore with three.
The first game the Tigers played as a Major League team was on April 25, 1901, against the Milwaukee Brewers. Roscoe Miller was the Tigers Opening Day starting pitcher for that game, which the Tigers won 14–13. The Tigers have played in the World Series eleven times, in 1907, 1908, 1909, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1968, 1984, 2006, and 2012, with wins in four of those: 1935, 1945, 1968 and 1984. The Tigers Opening Day starting pitchers in those seasons were Mullin (1907 and 1909), Ed Siever (1908), Firpo Marberry (1934), Rowe (1935), Newsom (1940), Newhouser (1945), Earl Wilson (1968), Morris (1984), Kenny Rogers (2006), and Justin Verlander (2012). The Tigers won five of those Opening Day games and lost the other five.
Josh Billings was the Tigers Opening Day starting pitcher in 1928, despite being only 20 years old and having only won five Major League games prior to the season. Bunning, who made four Opening Day starts for the Tigers was later elected to the United States Senate. McLain, who made two Opening Day starts for the Tigers, was later convicted of embezzlement. Bunning and Newhouser have each been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

## Key

| W | Win |
| L | Loss |
| T | Tie game |
| ND (W) | No decision by starting pitcher; Tigers won game |
| ND (L) | No decision by starting pitcher; Tigers lost game |
| (W) | Tigers won game; no information on starting pitcher's decision |
| (L) | Tigers lost game; no information on starting pitcher's decision |
| Final score | Game score with Tigers runs listed first |
| Location | Stadium in italics with ‡ for home game |
| (No.) | Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Tigers |
| * | Advanced to the post-season |
| ** | American League champions |
| † | World Series champions |

## Pitchers

| Season | Pitcher | Decision | Final score | Opponent | Location |
| 1901 | Roscoe Miller | (W) | 14–13 | Milwaukee Brewers | Bennett Park‡ |
| 1902 | Roscoe Miller (2) | (L) | 2–12 | Chicago White Sox | South Side Park |
| 1903 | George Mullin | (W) | 4–2 | Cleveland Indians | Bennett Park‡ |
| 1904 | George Mullin (2) | (W) | 7–2 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1905 | George Mullin (3) | (L) | 2–6 | Cleveland Indians | League Park |
| 1906 | George Mullin (4) | (L) | 3–5 | Chicago White Sox | Bennett Park‡ |
| 1907** | George Mullin (5) | (W) | 2–0 | Cleveland Indians | Bennett Park‡ |
| 1908** | Ed Siever | (L) | 8–15 | Chicago White Sox | South Side Park |
| 1909** | George Mullin (6) | (W) | 2–0 | Chicago White Sox | Bennett Park‡ |
| 1910 | George Mullin (7) | (L) | 7–9 | Cleveland Indians | Bennett Park‡ |
| 1911 | George Mullin (8) | (W) | 4–2 | Chicago White Sox | Bennett Park‡ |
| 1912 | George Mullin (9) | (L) | 2–3 | Cleveland Indians | League Park |
| 1913 | George Mullin (10) | (L) | 1–3 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1914 | Jean Dubuc | (W) | 3–2 | St. Louis Browns | Navin Field‡ |
| 1915 | Harry Coveleski | (L) | 1–5 | Cleveland Indians | Navin Field‡ |
| 1916 | Harry Coveleski (2) | (W) | 4–0 | Chicago White Sox | Comiskey Park |
| 1917 | Bill James | (L) | 4–6 | Cleveland Indians | Navin Field‡ |
| 1918 | Bernie Boland | (L) | 2–6 | Cleveland Indians | League Park |
| 1919 | Howard Ehmke | (W) | 4–2 | Cleveland Indians | League Park |
| 1920 | Hooks Dauss | (L) | 2–3 | Chicago White Sox | Comiskey Park |
| 1921 | Dutch Leonard | ND (W) | 6–5 | Chicago White Sox | Navin Field‡ |
| 1922 | Red Oldham | (L) | 4–7 | Cleveland Indians | League Park |
| 1923 | Rip Collins | ND (W) | 9–6 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1924 | Hooks Dauss (2) | W | 4–3 | Cleveland Indians | Navin Field‡ |
| 1925 | Dutch Leonard (2) | W | 4–3 | Chicago White Sox | Navin Field‡ |
| 1926 | Earl Whitehill | L | 1–2 | Cleveland Indians | Navin Field‡ |
| 1927 | Earl Whitehill (2) | T | 2–2 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1928 | Josh Billings | (L) | 1–4 | St. Louis Browns | Navin Field‡ |
| 1929 | Earl Whitehill (3) | (L) | 4–5 | Cleveland Indians | League Park |
| 1930 | George Uhle | W | 6–3 | St. Louis Browns | Navin Field‡ |
| 1931 | Earl Whitehill (4) | (L) | 3–7 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1932 | Vic Sorrell | (L) | 5–6 | Cleveland Indians | Navin Field‡ |
| 1933 | Tommy Bridges | (L) | 1–4 | Cleveland Indians | Navin Field‡ |
| 1934** | Firpo Marberry | W | 8–3 | Chicago White Sox | Comiskey Park |
| 1935† | Schoolboy Rowe | (L) | 6–7 | Chicago White Sox | Navin Field‡ |
| 1936 | Schoolboy Rowe (2) | W | 3–0 | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Stadium |
| 1937 | Elden Auker | W | 4–3 | Cleveland Indians | Navin Field‡ |
| 1938 | Roxie Lawson | (L) | 3–4 | Chicago White Sox | Comiskey Park |
| 1939 | Tommy Bridges (2) | W | 6–1 | Chicago White Sox | Briggs Stadium‡ |
| 1940** | Bobo Newsom | (L) | 1–4 | St. Louis Browns | Briggs Stadium‡ |
| 1941 | Bobo Newsom (2) | (L) | 1–8 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1942 | Al Benton | (L) | 2–5 | Cleveland Indians | Briggs Stadium‡ |
| 1943 | Tommy Bridges (3) | (L) | 0–1 | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Stadium |
| 1944 | Dizzy Trout | (L) | 1–2 | St. Louis Browns | Briggs Stadium‡ |
| 1945† | Hal Newhouser | (L) | 1–7 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1946 | Hal Newhouser (2) | W | 2–1 | St. Louis Browns | Briggs Stadium‡ |
| 1947 | Hal Newhouser (3) | W | 7–0 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1948 | Hal Newhouser (4) | W | 5–2 | Chicago White Sox | Comiskey Park |
| 1949 | Hal Newhouser (5) | W | 5–1 | Chicago White Sox | Briggs Stadium‡ |
| 1950 | Fred Hutchinson | ND (W) | 7–6 | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Stadium |
| 1951 | Hal Newhouser (6) | (L) | 1–2 | Cleveland Indians | Briggs Stadium‡ |
| 1952 | Dizzy Trout (2) | (L) | 0–3 | St. Louis Browns | Briggs Stadium‡ |
| 1953 | Ned Garver | (L) | 0–10 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1954 | Steve Gromek | W | 3–0 | Baltimore Orioles | Briggs Stadium‡ |
| 1955 | Ned Garver (2) | L | 2–6 | Kansas City Athletics | Municipal Stadium |
| 1956 | Frank Lary | L | 1–2 | Kansas City Athletics | Briggs Stadium‡ |
| 1957 | Frank Lary (2) | L | 1–2 | Kansas City Athletics | Municipal Stadium |
| 1958 | Jim Bunning | W | 4–3 | Chicago White Sox | Comiskey Park |
| 1959 | Jim Bunning (2) | ND (L) | 7–9 | Chicago White Sox | Briggs Stadium‡ |
| 1960 | Frank Lary (3) | ND (W) | 4–2 | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Stadium |
| 1961 | Jim Bunning (3) | L | 5–9 | Cleveland Indians | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1962 | Don Mossi | L | 1–4 | Washington Senators | Robert F. Kennedy Stadium |
| 1963 | Jim Bunning (4) | L | 5–7 | Chicago White Sox | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1964 | Phil Regan | W | 7–3 | Kansas City Athletics | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1965 | Mickey Lolich | W | 6–2 | Kansas City Athletics | Municipal Stadium |
| 1966 | Mickey Lolich (2) | W | 2–1 | New York Yankees | Yankee Stadium |
| 1967 | Denny McLain | L | 2–5 | California Angels | Anaheim Stadium |
| 1968† | Earl Wilson | L | 3–7 | Boston Red Sox | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1969 | Denny McLain (2) | W | 6–2 | Cleveland Indians | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1970 | Mickey Lolich (3) | W | 5–0 | Washington Senators | Robert F. Kennedy Stadium |
| 1971 | Mickey Lolich (4) | W | 8–2 | Cleveland Indians | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1972* | Mickey Lolich (5) | W | 3–2 | Boston Red Sox | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1973 | Mickey Lolich (6) | L | 1–2 | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Stadium |
| 1974 | Mickey Lolich (7) | L | 2–3 | Baltimore Orioles | Memorial Stadium |
| 1975 | Joe Coleman | L | 0–10 | Baltimore Orioles | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1976 | Joe Coleman (2) | W | 3–1 | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Stadium |
| 1977 | Dave Roberts | L | 7–2 | Kansas City Royals | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1978 | Mark Fidrych | W | 6–2 | Toronto Blue Jays | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1979 | Dave Rozema | L | 2–8 | Texas Rangers | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1980 | Jack Morris | W | 5–1 | Kansas City Royals | Kauffman Stadium |
| 1981 | Jack Morris (2) | W | 6–2 | Toronto Blue Jays | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1982 | Jack Morris (3) | L | 2–4 | Kansas City Royals | Kauffman Stadium |
| 1983 | Jack Morris (4) | W | 11–3 | Minnesota Twins | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| 1984† | Jack Morris (5) | W | 8–1 | Minnesota Twins | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| 1985 | Jack Morris (6) | W | 5–4 | Cleveland Indians | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1986 | Jack Morris (7) | W | 6–5 | Boston Red Sox | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1987* | Jack Morris (8) | L | 1–2 | New York Yankees | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1988 | Jack Morris (9) | W | 5–3 | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park |
| 1989 | Jack Morris (10) | L | 0–4 | Texas Rangers | Arlington Stadium |
| 1990 | Jack Morris (11) | L | 2–5 | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park |
| 1991 | Frank Tanana | ND (W) | 6–4 | New York Yankees | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1992 | Bill Gullickson | L | 2–4 | Toronto Blue Jays | Tiger Stadium‡ |
| 1993 | Mike Moore | L | 4–9 | Oakland Athletics | Oakland Coliseum |
| 1994 | Mike Moore (2) | ND (L) | 8–9 | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park |
| 1995 | Mike Moore (3) | W | 5–4 | California Angels | Angel Stadium |
| 1996 | Felipe Lira | L | 6–8 | Minnesota Twins | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| 1997 | Doug Brocail | ND (L) | 5–7 | Minnesota Twins | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| 1998 | Justin Thompson | W | 11–6 | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | Tropicana Field |
| 1999 | Brian Moehler | W | 11–5 | Texas Rangers | Rangers Ballpark in Arlington |
| 2000 | Hideo Nomo | W | 7–4 | Oakland Athletics | Oakland Coliseum |
| 2001 | Jeff Weaver | L | 2–3 | Minnesota Twins | Comerica Park‡ |
| 2002 | Jeff Weaver (2) | ND (L) | 5–9 | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | Tropicana Field |
| 2003 | Mike Maroth | L | 1–3 | Minnesota Twins | Comerica Park‡ |
| 2004 | Jason Johnson | W | 7–0 | Toronto Blue Jays | SkyDome |
| 2005 | Jeremy Bonderman | W | 11–2 | Kansas City Royals | Comerica Park‡ |
| 2006** | Kenny Rogers | W | 3–1 | Kansas City Royals | Kauffman Stadium |
| 2007 | Jeremy Bonderman (2) | ND (L) | 3–5 | Toronto Blue Jays | Comerica Park‡ |
| 2008 | Justin Verlander | ND (L) | 4–5 | Kansas City Royals | Comerica Park‡ |
| 2009 | Justin Verlander (2) | L | 5–12 | Toronto Blue Jays | SkyDome |
| 2010 | Justin Verlander (3) | ND (W) | 8–4 | Kansas City Royals | Kauffman Stadium |
| 2011* | Justin Verlander (4) | ND (L) | 3–6 | New York Yankees | Yankee Stadium |
| 2012** | Justin Verlander (5) | ND (W) | 3–2 | Boston Red Sox | Comerica Park‡ |
| 2013* | Justin Verlander (6) | W | 3–2 | Minnesota Twins | Target Field |
| 2014* | Justin Verlander (7) | ND (W) | 3–2 | Kansas City Royals | Comerica Park‡ |
| 2015 | David Price | W | 4–0 | Minnesota Twins | Comerica Park‡ |
| 2016 | Justin Verlander (8) | ND (W) | 8–7 | Miami Marlins | Marlins Park |
| 2017 | Justin Verlander (9) | (W) | 6–3 | Chicago White Sox | Guaranteed Rate Field |
| 2018 | Jordan Zimmermann | ND (L) | 10–13 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Comerica Park‡ |
| 2019 | Jordan Zimmermann (2) | ND (W) | 2–0 | Toronto Blue Jays | Rogers Centre |
| 2020 | Matthew Boyd | L | 1–7 | Cincinnati Reds | Great American Ball Park |
| 2021 | Matthew Boyd (2) | W | 3–2 | Cleveland Indians | Comerica Park‡ |
| 2022 | Eduardo Rodríguez | ND (W) | 5–4 | Chicago White Sox | Comerica Park‡ |
| 2023 | Eduardo Rodríguez (2) | L | 0–4 | Tampa Bay Rays | Tropicana Field |
| 2024* | Tarik Skubal | W | 1–0 | Chicago White Sox | Guaranteed Rate Field |
| 2025 | Tarik Skubal (2) | | | Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodger Stadium |