Brett Myers To Start Opening Night

With Cole Hamels not getting the Opening Night start, the job is now the responsibility of Brett Myers. Sunday night will mark the third consecutive year that Myers has been the opening day starter for the Phillies, which puts him in some interesting company.

The last pitcher to start three consecutive opening day games for the Phillies was Curt Schilling, who started the first game from 1997 against the Dodgers to 1999 against the Atlanta Braves. The Phillies were 2-1 in those games.

Before Schilling was Terry Mulholland, who started opening day for the Phillies in 1991, 1992, and again in 1993. The Phillies went 1-2 in his opening day starts.

Steve Carlton holds the franchise record for most consecutive opening day starts with ten. Carlton's 10-game streak started in 1977 and went through 1986.

Incredibly, the Phillies were 2-8 in Carlton's starts. Carlton also had a four year streak from 1972 to 1975 in which the team was 2-2. Who interrupted his streak in 1976? Jim Kaat, when the Phillies lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4.

Chris Short pitched four consecutive opening day starts before Carlton arrived on the scene. Short pitched the opener from 1968 to 1971.

Robin Roberts pitched six consecutive openers from 1956 to 1961. He also pitched the 1954 opener. The records for the 1955 opener are sketchy and do not confirm Roberts as the opening day starter that season. The Phillies were 4-4 in Roberts' confirmed opening day starts.

As for position players, it should come as no surprise that Mike Schmidt holds the record for most consecutive day opening day starts with 16. Jimmy Rollins' streak is at eight years, and will extend to nine with a start Sunday night.

The Phillies are 0-2 in Myers' previous two opening day starts. Last year they lost last year on opening day to the Washington Nationals, 11-6. Myers went five innings and allowed four runs (three earned), walked two, struck out two and yielded five hits.

In 2007 Myers started in a 5-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

Myers went 7.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits (including two home runs), walked two and struck out nine.

Source: Baseball Reference

This post was originally published on Macho Row.