Here is a quick trivia question for you: In the last 10 seasons, only two Opening Day starting pitchers for the Milwaukee Brewers were the winning pitcher in that game. Can you name these two pitchers?
In the 54-year history of the Brewers, there have been 33 different pitchers who got the honor of being the Opening Day starting pitcher for the team. There have been 12 of those pitchers who were the Brewers Opening Day starting pitcher on multiple occasions. Barring injuries or other unforeseen circumstances, there’s a good chance that Corbin Burnes will be the Opening Day starter this year, the second year in a row for Burnes. He would become the 13th Brewers’ pitcher to have an Opening Day starting pitcher assignment for the Brew Crew two or more times in a career.
Most Opening Day starts as a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers
Here are the 12 Milwaukee Brewers pitchers who have been the Opening Day starter on two or more occasions.
6-Ben Sheets
5-Yovani Gallardo
3-Jim Slaton, Teddy Higuera
2-Ricky Bones, Mike Caldwell, Jim Colborn, Cal Eldred, Marty Pattin, Don Sutton, Bill Wegman, and Brandon Woodruff
In the last 10 Opening Days, there have been eight different pitchers who have started the first game of the year for the Brewers. Two pitchers have done it twice since 2013: Yovani Gallardo was the starter on Opening Day in 2013 and 2014, and Brandon Woodruff was the Opening Day starter for 2020 and 2021.
The last two Brewers Opening Day starters to get the win
While the Brewers have had a 5-5 record on Opening Day in the last 10 years, only two pitchers who were the Opening Day starter got the win in the game: In 2014, Yovani Gallardo pitched six innings of four-hit ball in the Brewers 2-0 win versus Atlanta. The other time was in 2019; Jhoulys Chacin got the Opening Day start and pitched 5.1 innings surrendering three earned runs, but got the win in the Brewers 5-4 win over the Cardinals.
Here is a look at the last 10 Opening Day starters for the Brewers. Noted is whether the Brewers won or lost that game, whether that pitcher got the win, loss, or a no decision in the game, and the pitcher’s W/L record and ERA at the end of that year.
The last 10 years of Brewers Opening Day starting pitchers
2022: Corbin Burnes, Brewers lost, Burnes got a no decision (12-8, 2.94 ERA for season)
2021: Brandon Woodruff, Brewers won, Woodruff got a no decision (9-10, 2.56 ERA for season)
2020: Brandon Woodruff, Brewers lost, Woodruff got the loss (3-5, 3.05 ERA for season)
2019: Jhoulys Chacin, Brewers won, Chacin got the win (3-10, 5.79 ERA for season)*
2018: Chase Anderson, Brewers won, Anderson got a no decision (9-8, 3.93 ERA for season)
2017: Junior Guerra, Brewers lost, Guerra got a no decision (1-4, 5.12 ERA for season)
2016: Wily Peralta, Brewers lost, Peralta got the loss (7-11, 4.86 ERA for season)
2015: Kyle Lohse, Brewers lost, Lohse got the loss (5-13, 5.85 ERA for season)
2014: Yovani Gallardo, Brewers won, Gallardo got the win (8-11, 3.51 ERA for season)
2013: Yovani Gallardo, Brewers won, Gallardo got a no decision (12-10, 4.18 ERA for season)
- Chacin was released in August of that season after being the Brewers Opening starter
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @Statsontapp and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content.
