# List of Cincinnati Reds Opening Day starting pitchers

The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Cincinnati who play in the National League's Central Division. In their history, the franchise also played under the names Cincinnati Red Stockings and Cincinnati Redlegs. They played in the American Association from 1882 through 1889, and have played in the National League since 1890. 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 that 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. The Reds have used 76 Opening Day starting pitchers since they began play as a Major League team in 1882.
The Reds have played in several different home ball parks. They played two seasons in their first home ball park, Bank Street Grounds, and had one win and one loss in Opening Day games there. The team had a record of six wins and ten losses in Opening Day games at League Park, and a record of three wins and seven losses in Opening Day games at the Palace of the Fans. The Reds played in Crosley Field from 1912 through the middle of the 1970 season, and had a record of 27 wins and 31 losses in Opening Day games there. They had an Opening Day record of 19 wins, 11 losses and 1 tie from 1971 through 2002 at Riverfront Stadium, and they have a record of three wins and six losses in Opening Day games at their current home ball park, the Great American Ball Park. That gives the Reds an overall Opening Day record of 59 wins, 66 losses and one tie at home. They have a record of three wins and one loss in Opening Day games on the road.
Mario Soto holds the Reds' record for most Opening Day starts, with six. Tony Mullane, Pete Donohue and Aaron Harang have each made five Opening Day starts for the Reds. José Rijo and Johnny Cueto have each made four Opening Day starts for Cincinnati, while Ewell Blackwell, Tom Browning, Paul Derringer, Art Fromme, Si Johnson, Gary Nolan, Jim O'Toole, Tom Seaver, Bucky Walters and Will White each made three such starts for the Reds. Harang was the Reds' Opening Day starting pitcher every season from 2006 to 2010. Among the Reds' Opening Day starting pitchers, Seaver and Eppa Rixey have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The Reds have won the World Series championship five times, in 1919, 1940, 1975, 1976 and 1990. Dutch Ruether was the Reds' Opening Day starting pitcher in 1919, Derringer in 1940, Don Gullett in 1975, Nolan in 1976 and Browning in 1990. The Reds won all five Opening Day games in seasons in which they won the World Series. In addition, prior to the existence of the modern World Series, the Reds won the American Association championship in 1882. White was their Opening Day starting pitcher that season, the franchise's first. Jack Billingham started one of the most famous Opening Day games in Reds history on April 4, 1974, against the Atlanta Braves. In that game, Billingham surrendered Hank Aaron's 714th career home run, which tied Babe Ruth's all time home run record.

## Key

| Season | Each year is linked to an article about that particular Reds season. |
| W | Win |
| L | Loss |
| T | Tie game |
| ND (W) | No decision by starting pitcher; Reds won game |
| ND (L) | No decision by starting pitcher; Reds lost game |
| (W) | Reds won game; no information on starting pitcher's decision |
| (L) | Reds lost game; no information on starting pitcher's decision |
| Final score | Game score with Reds runs listed first |
| Location | Stadium in italics for home game |
| (#) | Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Reds |
| * | Advanced to the post-season |
| *** | American Association Champions |
| ** | National League Champions |
| $^⁂$ | World Series Champions |

## Pitchers

| Season | Pitcher | Decision | Final score | Opponent | Location |
| 1882*** | Will White | (L) | 9–10 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Bank Street Grounds |
| 1883 | Will White (2) | (W) | 6–5 | St. Louis Browns | Bank Street Grounds |
| 1884 | Will White (3) | (L) | 9–10 | Columbus Buckeyes | League Park |
| 1885 | Gus Shallix | (W) | 4–1 | Louisville Colonels | Eclipse Park |
| 1886 | Larry McKeon | (L) | 1–5 | Louisville Colonels | League Park |
| 1887 | Tony Mullane | (W) | 16–6 | Cleveland Spiders | League Park |
| 1888 | Tony Mullane (2) | (W) | 10–3 | Kansas City Cowboys | Association Park |
| 1889 | Tony Mullane (3) | (L) | 1–5 | St. Louis Browns | League Park |
| 1890 | Jesse Duryea | (L) | 4–5 | Chicago Cubs | League Park |
| 1891 | Tony Mullane (4) | (L) | 3–6 | Cleveland Spiders | League Park |
| 1892 | Tony Mullane (5) | (L) | 5–7 | Pittsburgh Pirates | League Park |
| 1893 | Bumpus Jones | (W) | 10–1 | Chicago Cubs | League Park |
| 1894 | Tom Parrott | (W) | 10–6 | Chicago Cubs | League Park |
| 1895 | Frank Dwyer | (W) | 10–8 | Cleveland Spiders | League Park |
| 1896 | Billy Rhines | (L) | 1–9 | Pittsburgh Pirates | League Park |
| 1897 | Red Ehret | (W) | 8–7 | Chicago Cubs | League Park |
| 1898 | Ted Breitenstein | (W) | 3–2 | Cleveland Spiders | League Park |
| 1899 | Pink Hawley | (L) | 2–5 | Pittsburgh Pirates | League Park |
| 1900 | Bill Phillips | (L) | 10–13 | Chicago Cubs | League Park |
| 1901 | Noodles Hahn | (L) | 2–4 | Pittsburgh Pirates | League Park |
| 1902 | Len Swormstedt | (L) | 1–6 | Chicago Cubs | Palace of the Fans |
| 1903 | Jack Harper | (L) | 1–7 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Palace of the Fans |
| 1904 | Jack Sutthoff | (W) | 3–2 | Chicago Cubs | Palace of the Fans |
| 1905 | Jack Harper (2) | (L) | 4–9 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Palace of the Fans |
| 1906 | Orval Overall | (L) | 2–7 | Chicago Cubs | Palace of the Fans |
| 1907 | Bob Ewing | (W) | 4–3 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Palace of the Fans |
| 1908 | Bob Ewing (2) | (L) | 5–6 | Chicago Cubs | Palace of the Fans |
| 1909 | Art Fromme | (L) | 0–3 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Palace of the Fans |
| 1910 | Fred Beebe | (W) | 1–0 | Chicago Cubs | Palace of the Fans |
| 1911 | Art Fromme (2) | L | 0–14 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Palace of the Fans |
| 1912 | Frank Smith | (W) | 10–6 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1913 | Art Fromme (3) | (L) | 2–9 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1914 | Rube Benton | (W) | 10–1 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1915 | Red Ames | (L) | 2–9 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1916 | Fred Toney | (L) | 1–7 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1917 | Pete Schneider | (W) | 3–1 | St. Louis Cardinals | Crosley Field |
| 1918 | Pete Schneider (2) | (W) | 2–0 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1919$^⁂$ | Dutch Ruether | (W) | 6–2 | St. Louis Cardinals | Crosley Field |
| 1920 | Dutch Ruether (2) | W | 7–3 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1921 | Dolf Luque | W | 5–3 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1922 | Eppa Rixey | L | 3–7 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1923 | Pete Donohue | W | 3–2 | St. Louis Cardinals | Crosley Field |
| 1924 | Pete Donohue (2) | ND (W) | 6–5 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1925 | Pete Donohue (3) | W | 4–0 | St. Louis Cardinals | Crosley Field |
| 1926 | Pete Donohue (4) | ND (W) | 7–6 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1927 | Pete Donohue (5) | L | 1–2 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1928 | Dolf Luque (2) | W | 5–1 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1929 | Red Lucas | L | 2–5 | St. Louis Cardinals | Crosley Field |
| 1930 | Red Lucas (2) | (L) | 6–7 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1931 | Larry Benton | (L) | 3–7 | St. Louis Cardinals | Crosley Field |
| 1932 | Si Johnson | ND (W) | 5–4 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1933 | Si Johnson (2) | (L) | 1–4 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1934 | Si Johnson (3) | (L) | 0–6 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1935 | Tony Freitas | (L) | 6–12 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1936 | Paul Derringer | (L) | 6–8 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1937 | Peaches Davis | (L) | 0–2 | St. Louis Cardinals | Crosley Field |
| 1938 | Gene Schott | (L) | 7–8 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1939** | Johnny Vander Meer | (L) | 5–7 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1940$^⁂$ | Paul Derringer (2) | W | 2–1 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1941 | Paul Derringer (3) | (L) | 3–7 | St. Louis Cardinals | Crosley Field |
| 1942 | Bucky Walters | (L) | 2–4 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1943 | Johnny Vander Meer (2) | W | 1–0 | St. Louis Cardinals | Crosley Field |
| 1944 | Bucky Walters (2) | (L) | 0–3 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1945 | Bucky Walters (3) | ND (W) | 7–6 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1946 | Joe Beggs | (L) | 3–4 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1947 | Ewell Blackwell | W | 3–1 | St. Louis Cardinals | Crosley Field |
| 1948 | Ewell Blackwell (2) | W | 4–1 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1949 | Ken Raffensberger | W | 3–1 | St. Louis Cardinals | Crosley Field |
| 1950 | Ken Raffensberger (2) | (L) | 6–9 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1951 | Ewell Blackwell (3) | (L) | 3–4 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1952 | Herm Wehmeier | (L) | 5–6 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1953 | Bud Podbielan | L | 0–2 | Milwaukee Braves | Crosley Field |
| 1954 | Bud Podbielan (2) | ND (W) | 9–8 | Milwaukee Braves | Crosley Field |
| 1955 | Art Fowler | L | 5–7 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1956 | Joe Nuxhall | L | 2–4 | St. Louis Cardinals | Crosley Field |
| 1957 | Johnny Klippstein | L | 4–13 | St. Louis Cardinals | Crosley Field |
| 1958 | Brooks Lawrence | ND (L) | 4–5 | Philadelphia Phillies | Crosley Field |
| 1959 | Bob Purkey | W | 4–1 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1960 | Jim Brosnan | ND (W) | 9–4 | Philadelphia Phillies | Crosley Field |
| 1961** | Jim O'Toole | W | 7–1 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1962 | Joey Jay | L | 4–12 | Philadelphia Phillies | Crosley Field |
| 1963 | Jim O'Toole (2) | W | 5–2 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Crosley Field |
| 1964 | Jim Maloney | L | 3–6 | Houston Colt .45s | Crosley Field |
| 1965 | Jim O'Toole (3) | L | 2–4 | Milwaukee Braves | Crosley Field |
| 1966 | Sammy Ellis | ND (L) | 3–4 | Philadelphia Phillies | Shibe Park |
| 1967 | Jim Maloney (2) | W | 6–1 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Crosley Field |
| 1968 | Milt Pappas | W | 9–4 | Chicago Cubs | Crosley Field |
| 1969 | Gary Nolan | L | 2–3 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Crosley Field |
| 1970** | Jim Merritt | W | 5–1 | Montreal Expos | Crosley Field |
| 1971 | Gary Nolan (2) | ND (L) | 4–7 | Atlanta Braves | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1972** | Jack Billingham | L | 1–3 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1973* | Don Gullett | L | 1–4 | San Francisco Giants | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1974 | Jack Billingham (2) | ND (W) | 7–6 | Atlanta Braves | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1975$^⁂$ | Don Gullett (2) | ND (W) | 2–1 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1976$^⁂$ | Gary Nolan (3) | W | 11–5 | Houston Astros | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1977 | Woodie Fryman | W | 5–2 | San Diego Padres | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1978 | Tom Seaver | ND (W) | 11–9 | Houston Astros | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1979* | Tom Seaver (2) | L | 5–11 | San Francisco Giants | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1980 | Frank Pastore | W | 9–0 | Atlanta Braves | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1981 | Tom Seaver (3) | ND (W) | 3–2 | Philadelphia Phillies | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1982 | Mario Soto | L | 2–3 | Chicago Cubs | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1983 | Mario Soto (2) | W | 5–4 | Atlanta Braves | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1984 | Mario Soto (3) | W | 8–1 | New York Mets | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1985 | Mario Soto (4) | W | 4–1 | Montreal Expos | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1986 | Mario Soto (5) | W | 7–4 | Philadelphia Phillies | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1987 | Tom Browning | ND (W) | 11–5 | Montreal Expos | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1988 | Mario Soto (6) | ND (W) | 5–4 | St. Louis Cardinals | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1989 | Danny Jackson | W | 6–4 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1990$^⁂$ | Tom Browning (2) | ND (W) | 8–4 | Houston Astros | Astrodome |
| 1991 | Tom Browning (3) | W | 6–2 | Houston Astros | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1992 | José Rijo | L | 3–4 | San Diego Padres | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1993 | José Rijo (2) | W | 2–1 | Montreal Expos | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1994 | José Rijo (3) | L | 4–6 | St. Louis Cardinals | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1995* | José Rijo (4) | L | 1–7 | Chicago Cubs | Riverfront Stadium |
| 1996 | Pete Schourek | W | 4–1 | Montreal Expos | Cinergy Field |
| 1997 | John Smiley | W | 11–4 | Colorado Rockies | Cinergy Field |
| 1998 | Mike Remlinger | L | 2–10 | San Diego Padres | Cinergy Field |
| 1999 | Brett Tomko | ND (L) | 8–11 | San Francisco Giants | Cinergy Field |
| 2000 | Pete Harnisch | T | 3–3 | Milwaukee Brewers | Cinergy Field |
| 2001 | Pete Harnisch (2) | ND (L) | 4–10 | Atlanta Braves | Cinergy Field |
| 2002 | Joey Hamilton | ND (W) | 5–4 | Chicago Cubs | Cinergy Field |
| 2003 | Jimmy Haynes | L | 1–10 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Great American Ball Park |
| 2004 | Cory Lidle | L | 4–7 | Chicago Cubs | Great American Ball Park |
| 2005 | Paul Wilson | ND (W) | 7–6 | New York Mets | Great American Ball Park |
| 2006 | Aaron Harang | L | 7–16 | Chicago Cubs | Great American Ball Park |
| 2007 | Aaron Harang (2) | W | 5–1 | Chicago Cubs | Great American Ball Park |
| 2008 | Aaron Harang (3) | L | 2–4 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Great American Ball Park |
| 2009 | Aaron Harang (4) | L | 1–2 | New York Mets | Great American Ball Park |
| 2010* | Aaron Harang (5) | L | 6–11 | St. Louis Cardinals | Great American Ball Park |
| 2011 | Edinson Volquez | ND (W) | 7–6 | Milwaukee Brewers | Great American Ball Park |
| 2012* | Johnny Cueto | W | 4–0 | Miami Marlins | Great American Ball Park |
| 2013* | Johnny Cueto (2) | ND (L) | 1–3 | Los Angeles Angels | Great American Ball Park |
| 2014 | Johnny Cueto (3) | L | 0–1 | St. Louis Cardinals | Great American Ball Park |
| 2015 | Johnny Cueto (4) | ND (W) | 5–2 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Great American Ball Park |
| 2016 | Raisel Iglesias | ND (W) | 6–2 | Philadelphia Phillies | Great American Ball Park |
| 2017 | Scott Feldman | L | 3–4 | Philadelphia Phillies | Great American Ball Park |
| 2018 | Homer Bailey | L | 0–2 | Washington Nationals | Great American Ball Park |
| 2019 | Luis Castillo | ND (W) | 5–3 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Great American Ball Park |
| 2020* | Sonny Gray | W | 7–1 | Detroit Tigers | Great American Ball Park |
| 2021 | Luis Castillo (2) | L | 6–11 | St. Louis Cardinals | Great American Ball Park |
| 2022 | Tyler Mahle | W | 6–3 | Atlanta Braves | Truist Park |
| 2023 | Hunter Greene | ND (L) | 4–5 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Great American Ball Park |
| 2024 | Frankie Montas | W | 8–2 | Washington Nationals | Great American Ball Park |
| 2025 | Hunter Greene (2) | | | San Francisco Giants | Great American Ball Park |