Rangers Throwing a Different Opening Day Starter

Because of bad luck, Yu Darvish hasn’t pitched a no-hitter. Because of bad timing, he hasn’t pitched on Opening Day.

With Darvish out for the season after only one inning of Spring Training, the Rangers will throw a different Game 1 starter for the seventh consecutive season.

In this year’s game of musical starters, Yovani Gallardo gets the honor of hurling the Rangers’ first pitch of the season.

Gallardo, who hasn’t exactly earned the job during three spring starts in which he’s compiled an 11.32 ERA, will duel Sonny Gray in Oakland next Monday. The Rangers, of course, are hoping for an eighth consecutive different Opening Day starter next year as they hold their breath on a Darvish recovery from Tommy John surgery.

Despite the inconsistency on the mound, they’ve gone 4-2 with the six different starters:

  • 2009   Kevin Millwood vs. Cliff Lee               W, 9-1
  • 2010   Scott Feldman vs. Shaun Markum    W, 5-4
  • 2011   C.J. Wilson vs. Jon Lester                   W, 9-5
  • 2012   Colby Lewis vs. John Danks              W, 3-2
  • 2013   Matt Harrison vs. Bud Norris               L, 8-2
  • 2014   Tanner Scheppers vs. Cliff Lee          L, 14-10
  • 2015   Yovani Gallardo vs. Sonny Gray        ??? 

A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.

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