# List of Philadelphia Phillies Opening Day starting pitchers

The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Philadelphia. They play in the National League East division. Also known in early franchise history as the "Philadelphia Quakers", the Phillies have used 72 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 128 seasons. 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, though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day. Where decisions are known, the 72 starters have a combined Opening Day record of 33 wins, 40 losses and 20 no decisions (33–40–20); where decisions are unknown, the team's record was 17–19. No decisions are awarded to the starting pitcher if the game is won or lost after the starting pitcher has left the game. It can also result if a starting pitcher does not pitch five full innings, even if his team retains the lead and wins.
Hall of Fame left-handed pitcher Steve Carlton has the most Opening Day starts for the Phillies, with 14, compiling a record of 3–9–2. He is followed by Robin Roberts (twelve starts; 5–6–1), Chris Short (six starts; 3–1–2), and Curt Schilling (five starts; 2–0–3). Grover Cleveland Alexander also made five Opening Day starts for the Phillies, equal to Schilling; however, no information on his decisions in those games is available. The team's record in his five Opening Day starts is 4–1.
Roberts holds the Phillies' record for most wins in Opening Day starts with five. Art Mahaffey has the best record in Opening Day starts for the franchise; though many players have won their only Opening Day start, Mahaffey started and won two Opening Day games, for a winning percentage of 1.000; Roy Halladay also has a 1.000 winning percentage, with two wins and a no decision in three starts. Conversely, George McQuillan is the only player to have a .000 winning percentage in more than one Opening Day start (0–2–0 in two starts). Brett Myers has a .000 winning percentage in his three starts, but has accumulated two no decisions (0–1–2). Carlton has the most Opening Day losses for the team, with nine.
The Phillies have played in six home ballparks. Their best overall Opening Day record is at Shibe Park (also known as Connie Mack Stadium), where they won 11 Opening Day games out of 14 played there (11–3). The team also owned an 8–17 Opening Day record at Baker Bowl (initially known as the Philadelphia Baseball Grounds), with 1 tie. Recreation Park's Opening Day record is 1–2, while Veterans Stadium has the lowest winning percentage (.200), with 2 wins and 8 losses. The Phillies currently play at Citizens Bank Park, where they are 1–5 on Opening Day.
The Phillies have played in seven World Series championships in their history, winning in 1980 and 2008. Carlton won his Opening Day start against the Montreal Expos in 1980, while Myers received a no-decision against the same franchise (now the Washington Nationals) in 2008, a game that the Phillies eventually lost, and lost the opening game against the Atlanta Braves in 2009. Carlton also started Opening Day in 1983, the year that the Phillies lost to the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. Alexander started Opening Day in 1915, the Phillies' first World Series appearance, while Roberts started the first game of 1950, and Terry Mulholland the first game of 1993.

## Key

| Season (#) | Each year is linked to an article about the Major League Baseball season; numbers indicate the game number during that Opening Day, in the case of a doubleheader. |
| Final score (#) | Game score with winning team's runs listed first; extra innings in parentheses |
| Location | Stadium in italics denotes a Phillies' home game |
| Pitcher (#) | Number of appearances as the Phillies' Opening Day starter |
| W | Win |
| L | Loss |
| T | Tie |
| ND (W or L) | No decision by starting pitcher; game result in parentheses |
| (W or L) | Game result in parentheses; information about decision unavailable |
| * | Advanced to the postseason |
| § | Won the National League Championship Series |
| † | Won the World Series |

## Starting pitchers

| Season | Pitcher | Decision | Final score | Opponent | Location | Ref(s) |
| 1883 | John Coleman (1) | (L) | 4–3 | Providence Grays | Recreation Park | |
| 1884 | Charlie Ferguson (1) | (W) | 13–2 | Detroit Wolverines | Recreation Park | |
| 1885 | Charlie Ferguson (2) | (L) | 8–2 | Providence Grays | Recreation Park | |
| 1886 | Dan Casey (1) | (L) | 6–3 | Washington Nationals | Swampoodle Grounds | |
| 1887 | Ed Daily (1) | (L) | 4–3 | New York Giants | Polo Grounds I | |
| 1888 | Kid Gleason (1) | (L) | 4–3 | Boston Beaneaters | South End Grounds II | |
| 1889 | Charlie Buffinton (1) | (W) | 8–4 | Washington Nationals | Swampoodle Grounds | |
| 1890 | Kid Gleason (2) | (W) | 4–0 | New York Giants | Polo Grounds II | |
| 1891 | Kid Gleason (3) | (L) | 14–8 | Brooklyn Grooms | Philadelphia Baseball Grounds | |
| 1892 | Tim Keefe (1) | (L) | 5–4 | New York Giants | Philadelphia Baseball Grounds | |
| 1893 | Gus Weyhing (1) | (W) | 7–5 | Brooklyn Grooms | Philadelphia Baseball Grounds | |
| 1894 | Gus Weyhing (2) | (L) | 4–2 | Washington Senators | Boundary Field | |
| 1895 | Jack Taylor (1) | (W) | 7–6 | Baltimore Orioles (NL) | Union Park | |
| 1896 | Jack Taylor (2) | (L) | 7–3 | Boston Beaneaters | Baker Bowl | |
| 1897 | Al Orth (1) | (W) | 6–5 | Boston Beaneaters | South End Grounds III | |
| 1898 | Red Donahue (1) | (L) | 7–6 | New York Giants | Baker Bowl | |
| 1899 | Wiley Piatt (1) | (W) | 6–5 | Washington Senators | Baker Bowl | |
| 1900 | Al Orth (2) | (W) | 19–17 | Boston Beaneaters | South End Grounds III | |
| 1901 | Jack Dunn (1) | (L) | 12–7 | Brooklyn Superbas | Baker Bowl | |
| 1902 | Harry Felix (1) | (L) | 7–0 | New York Giants | Polo Grounds III | |
| 1903 | Chick Fraser (1) | (L) | 8–3 | Boston Beaneaters | Baker Bowl | |
| 1904 | Bill Duggleby (1) | (W) | 6–2 | Boston Beaneaters | Baker Bowl | |
| 1905 | Togie Pittinger (1) | (W) | 12–8 | Brooklyn Superbas | Washington Park III | |
| 1906 | Johnny Lush (1) | (L) | 3–2 | New York Giants | Baker Bowl | |
| 1907 | Frank Corridon (1) | (W) | 3–0 | New York Giants | Polo Grounds III | |
| 1908 | George McQuillan (1) | (L) | 3–1 | New York Giants | Baker Bowl | |
| 1909 | Harry Coveleski (1) | (L) | 9–5 | Boston Doves | South End Grounds III | |
| 1910 | George McQuillan (2) | (L) | 2–0 | Brooklyn Superbas | Baker Bowl | |
| 1911 | Earl Moore (1) | W | 2–0 | New York Giants | Polo Grounds IV | |
| 1912 | Grover Cleveland Alexander (1) | (L) | 7–4 | Boston Braves | South End Grounds III | |
| 1913 | Tom Seaton (1) | (W) | 1–0 | Brooklyn Superbas | Ebbets Field | |
| 1914 | Grover Cleveland Alexander (2) | (W) | 10–1 | New York Giants | Baker Bowl | |
| 1915* | Grover Cleveland Alexander (3) | (W) | 3–0 | Boston Braves | Fenway Park | |
| 1916 | Grover Cleveland Alexander (4) | (W) | 5–4 | New York Giants | Baker Bowl | |
| 1917 | Grover Cleveland Alexander (5) | (W) | 6–5 | Brooklyn Robins | Ebbets Field | |
| 1918 | Erskine Mayer (1) | (W) | 5–2 | Boston Braves | Baker Bowl | |
| 1919 | Elmer Jacobs (1) | (L) | 10–7 | New York Giants | Baker Bowl | |
| 1920 | Eppa Rixey (1) | L | 9–2 | Brooklyn Robins | Ebbets Field | |
| 1921 | Jimmy Ring (1) | ND (L) | 10–8 (11) | New York Giants | Baker Bowl | |
| 1922 | Lee Meadows (1) | W | 7–1 | Boston Braves | Braves Field | |
| 1923 | Bill Hubbell (1) | ND (T) | 5–5 | Brooklyn Robins | Ebbets Field | |
| 1924 | Jimmy Ring (2) | ND (T) | 6–6 (11) | Boston Braves | Baker Bowl | |
| 1925 | Hal Carlson (1) | L | 3–1 | Brooklyn Robins | Ebbets Field | |
| 1926 | Hal Carlson (2) | W | 6–3 | Boston Braves | Baker Bowl | |
| 1927 | Hal Carlson (3) | L | 15–7 | New York Giants | Baker Bowl | |
| 1928 | Jimmy Ring (3) | W | 4–3 | Brooklyn Robins | Ebbets Field | |
| 1929 | Claude Willoughby (1) | L | 11–9 | New York Giants | Baker Bowl | |
| 1930 | Les Sweetland (1) | W | 1–0 | Brooklyn Robins | Ebbets Field | |
| 1931 | Hal Elliott (1) | L | 9–5 | New York Giants | Baker Bowl | |
| 1932 | Phil Collins (1) | W | 13–5 | New York Giants | Polo Grounds IV | |
| 1933 | Flint Rhem (1) | L | 5–4 | Brooklyn Robins | Baker Bowl | |
| 1934 | Jumbo Elliott (1) | L | 6–1 | New York Giants | Polo Grounds IV | |
| 1935 | Curt Davis (1) | L | 12–3 | Brooklyn Dodgers | Baker Bowl | |
| 1936 | Curt Davis (2) | W | 4–1 | Boston Braves | Baker Bowl | |
| 1937 (1) | Syl Johnson (1) | ND (W) | 2–1 (11) | Boston Braves | Braves Field | |
| 1937 (2) | Bucky Walters (1) | W | 1–0 | Boston Braves | Braves Field | |
| 1938 | Wayne LaMaster (1) | ND (L) | 12–5 | Brooklyn Dodgers | Baker Bowl | |
| 1939 | Hugh Mulcahy (1) | ND (L) | 7–6 (12) | Boston Braves | Braves Field | |
| 1940 | Kirby Higbe (1) | W | 3–1 | New York Giants | Polo Grounds IV | |
| 1941 | Cy Blanton (1) | W | 6–5 | Boston Braves | Shibe Park | |
| 1942 | Si Johnson (1) | L | 2–1 | Boston Braves | Shibe Park | |
| 1943 | Al Gerheauser (1) | L | 11–4 | Brooklyn Dodgers | Ebbets Field | |
| 1944 | Dick Barrett (1) | W | 4–1 | Brooklyn Dodgers | Shibe Park | |
| 1945 | Ken Raffensberger (1) | L | 8–2 | Brooklyn Dodgers | Ebbets Field | |
| 1946 | Oscar Judd (1) | L | 8–4 | New York Giants | Polo Grounds IV | |
| 1947 | Schoolboy Rowe (1) | W | 4–3 | New York Giants | Shibe Park | |
| 1948 | Dutch Leonard (1) | W | 3–1 | Boston Braves | Shibe Park | |
| 1949 | Ken Heintzelman (1) | W | 4–0 | Boston Braves | Braves Field | |
| 1950* | Robin Roberts (1) | W | 9–1 | Brooklyn Dodgers | Shibe Park | |
| 1951 | Robin Roberts (2) | W | 5–2 | Brooklyn Dodgers | Ebbets Field | |
| 1952 | Robin Roberts (3) | L | 5–3 | New York Giants | Polo Grounds IV | |
| 1953 | Robin Roberts (4) | L | 4–1 | Brooklyn Dodgers | Connie Mack Stadium | |
| 1954 | Robin Roberts (5) | L | 4–2 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Forbes Field | |
| 1955 | Robin Roberts (6) | W | 4–2 | New York Giants | Connie Mack Stadium | |
| 1956 | Robin Roberts (7) | W | 8–6 | Brooklyn Dodgers | Ebbets Field | |
| 1957 | Robin Roberts (8) | L | 7–6 | Brooklyn Dodgers | Connie Mack Stadium | |
| 1958 | Robin Roberts (9) | ND (W) | 5–4 | Cincinnati Reds | Crosley Field | |
| 1959 | Robin Roberts (10) | W | 2–1 | Cincinnati Reds | Connie Mack Stadium | |
| 1960 | Robin Roberts (11) | L | 9–4 | Cincinnati Reds | Crosley Field | |
| 1961 | Robin Roberts (12) | L | 6–2 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | |
| 1962 | Art Mahaffey (1) | W | 12–4 | Cincinnati Reds | Crosley Field | |
| 1963 | Art Mahaffey (2) | W | 2–1 | Cincinnati Reds | Connie Mack Stadium | |
| 1964 | Dennis Bennett (1) | ND (W) | 5–3 | New York Mets | Connie Mack Stadium | |
| 1965 | Chris Short (1) | W | 2–0 | Houston Astros | Astrodome | |
| 1966 | Chris Short (2) | ND (W) | 3–2 (12) | St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Stadium I | |
| 1967 | Jim Bunning (1) | L | 4–2 | Chicago Cubs | Wrigley Field | |
| 1968 | Chris Short (3) | W | 2–0 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodger Stadium | |
| 1969 | Chris Short (4) | ND (L) | 7–6 | Chicago Cubs | Wrigley Field | |
| 1970 | Chris Short (5) | W | 2–0 | Chicago Cubs | Connie Mack Stadium | |
| 1971 | Chris Short (6) | L | 4–2 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Three Rivers Stadium | |
| 1972 | Steve Carlton (1) | W | 4–2 | Chicago Cubs | Wrigley Field | |
| 1973 | Steve Carlton (2) | L | 3–0 | New York Mets | Shea Stadium | |
| 1974 | Steve Carlton (3) | ND (W) | 5–4 | New York Mets | Veterans Stadium | |
| 1975 | Steve Carlton (4) | L | 2–1 | New York Mets | Shea Stadium | |
| 1976* | Jim Kaat (1) | ND (L) | 5–4 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Veterans Stadium | |
| 1977* | Steve Carlton (5) | L | 4–3 | Montreal Expos | Veterans Stadium | |
| 1978* | Steve Carlton (6) | L | 5–1 | St. Louis Cardinals | Veterans Stadium | |
| 1979 | Steve Carlton (7) | L | 8–1 | St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Stadium II | |
| 1980$^†$ | Steve Carlton (8) | W | 6–3 | Montreal Expos | Veterans Stadium | |
| 1981* | Steve Carlton (9) | ND (L) | 3–2 | Cincinnati Reds | Riverfront Stadium | |
| 1982 | Steve Carlton (10) | L | 7–2 | New York Mets | Veterans Stadium | |
| 1983$^§$ | Steve Carlton (11) | L | 2–0 | New York Mets | Shea Stadium | |
| 1984 | Steve Carlton (12) | W | 5–0 | Atlanta Braves | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | |
| 1985 | Steve Carlton (13) | L | 6–0 | Atlanta Braves | Veterans Stadium | |
| 1986 | Steve Carlton (14) | L | 7–4 | Cincinnati Reds | Riverfront Stadium | |
| 1987 | Shane Rawley (1) | L | 6–0 | Atlanta Braves | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | |
| 1988 | Shane Rawley (2) | L | 5–3 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Veterans Stadium | |
| 1989 | Floyd Youmans (1) | L | 5–3 | Chicago Cubs | Wrigley Field | |
| 1990 | Bruce Ruffin (1) | ND (L) | 2–1 | Chicago Cubs | Wrigley Field | |
| 1991 | Terry Mulholland (1) | L | 2–1 | New York Mets | Shea Stadium | |
| 1992 | Terry Mulholland (2) | L | 4–3 | Chicago Cubs | Veterans Stadium | |
| 1993$^§$ | Terry Mulholland (3) | W | 3–1 | Houston Astros | Astrodome | |
| 1994 | Curt Schilling (1) | ND (W) | 12–6 | Colorado Rockies | Mile High Stadium | |
| 1995 | Curt Schilling (2) | ND (L) | 7–6 | St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Stadium II | |
| 1996 | Sid Fernandez (1) | L | 5–3 | Colorado Rockies | Veterans Stadium | |
| 1997 | Curt Schilling (3) | W | 3–0 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodger Stadium | |
| 1998 | Curt Schilling (4) | ND (L) | 1–0 (14) | New York Mets | Shea Stadium | |
| 1999 | Curt Schilling (5) | W | 7–4 | Atlanta Braves | Turner Field | |
| 2000 | Andy Ashby (1) | L | 6–4 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Bank One Ballpark | |
| 2001 | Omar Daal (1) | ND (W) | 6–5 (13) | Florida Marlins | Pro Player Stadium | |
| 2002 | Robert Person (1) | L | 7–2 | Atlanta Braves | Turner Field | |
| 2003 | Kevin Millwood (1) | W | 8–5 | Florida Marlins | Pro Player Stadium | |
| 2004 | Kevin Millwood (2) | L | 2–1 | Pittsburgh Pirates | PNC Park | |
| 2005 | Jon Lieber (1) | W | 8–4 | Washington Nationals | Citizens Bank Park | |
| 2006 | Jon Lieber (2) | L | 13–5 | St. Louis Cardinals | Citizens Bank Park | |
| 2007* | Brett Myers (1) | ND (L) | 5–3 | Atlanta Braves | Citizens Bank Park | |
| 2008$^†$ | Brett Myers (2) | ND (L) | 11–6 | Washington Nationals | Citizens Bank Park | |
| 2009$^§$ | Brett Myers (3) | L | 4–1 | Atlanta Braves | Citizens Bank Park | |
| 2010* | Roy Halladay (1) | W | 11–1 | Washington Nationals | Nationals Park | |
| 2011* | Roy Halladay (2) | ND (W) | 5–4 | Houston Astros | Citizens Bank Park | |
| 2012 | Roy Halladay (3) | W | 1–0 | Pittsburgh Pirates | PNC Park | |
| 2013 | Cole Hamels (1) | L | 7–5 | Atlanta Braves | Turner Field | |
| 2014 | Cliff Lee (1) | W | 14–10 | Texas Rangers | Globe Life Park in Arlington | |
| 2015 | Cole Hamels (2) | L | 8–0 | Boston Red Sox | Citizens Bank Park | |
| 2016 | Jeremy Hellickson (1) | ND (L) | 2–6 | Cincinnati Reds | Great American Ball Park | |
| 2017 | Jeremy Hellickson (2) | W | 4–3 | Cincinnati Reds | Great American Ball Park | |
| 2018 | Aaron Nola (1) | ND (L) | 5–8 | Atlanta Braves | SunTrust Park | |
| 2019 | Aaron Nola (2) | W | 10–4 | Atlanta Braves | Citizens Bank Park | |
| 2020 | Aaron Nola (3) | L | 2–5 | Miami Marlins | Citizens Bank Park | |
| 2021 | Aaron Nola (4) | ND (W) | 3–2 (10) | Atlanta Braves | Citizens Bank Park | |
| 2022$^§$ | Aaron Nola (5) | W | 9–5 | Oakland Athletics | Citizens Bank Park | |
| 2023* | Aaron Nola (6) | ND (L) | 7–11 | Texas Rangers | Globe Life Field | [5] [147] |
| 2024* | Zack Wheeler | ND (L) | 3–9 | Atlanta Braves | Citizens Bank Park | |
| 2025 | Zack Wheeler (2) | | | Washington Nationals | Nationals Park | |

## Footnotes

* $^b$ In 1907, the Giants forfeited the opening day game to the Phillies, who won 3–0.
* $^c$ In 1923, the opening day game ended in a tie with the Brooklyn Robins, 5–5. The teams played again the following day, with the Robins defeating the Phillies, 6–5.
* $^d$ In 1924, the opening day game ended in a tie with the Boston Braves, 6–6. The teams played again the following day, with the Braves defeating the Phillies, 4–3, in 10 innings.
* $^e$ In 1937, the Phillies played the Boston Braves in a doubleheader on Opening Day, winning both games. Reliever Syl Johnson started game one, but did not factor in the decision, as the game went to 11 innings. Starter Bucky Walters won game two.