A history of Arizona Diamondbacks Opening Day starting pitchers

Apr 6, 2015, 3:31 PM | Updated: 3:32 pm

Arizona Sports

Monday night at Chase Field, Josh Collmenter will take the hill for the first pitch of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2015 season.

The right-hander will join a select group of D-backs hurlers to start on Opening Day, one that includes a handful of All-Star games as well as one MLB Hall of Famer.

Of course, if history tells us anything, it’s that anything can happen on Opening Day. Even the best pitchers have been roughed up, while some of the less well-known arms have come up big.

Some interesting factoids

Seven different pitchers have gotten the ball on Opening Day. Of those seven, three — Randy Johnson, Brandon Webb and Ian Kennedy — made six, four and three Opening Day starts, respectively.

The four one-start pitchers are Andy Benes, Javier Vazquez, Dan Haren and Wade Miley. None of them were with the D-backs the following year.

The D-back with the most Opening Day wins? Not surprisingly, it’s Johnson with three. Next up is Kennedy, with two.

By far, the worst Opening Day performance in D-backs history belongs to Javier Vazquez (see slideshow). Poor guy, he was the pitcher in between the Johnson and Brandon Webb eras.

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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) throws against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

April 6, 2015 vs. San Francisco Giants
Josh Collmenter: 4.2 IP, 10 H, 5 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 4 Ks, L

March 22, 2014 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (Australia)
Wade Miley: 5 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 Ks, L

April 1, 2013 vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Ian Kennedy: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 Ks, W

April 6, 2012 vs. San Francisco Giants
Ian Kennedy: 6.2 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 Ks, W

April 1, 2011 at Colorado Rockies
Ian Kennedy: 6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 Ks, ND

April 5, 2010 vs. San Diego Padres
Dan Haren: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 Ks, W

April 6, 2009 vs. Colorado Rockies
Brandon Webb: 4 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 Ks, ND

March 31, 2008 at Cincinnati Reds
Brandon Webb: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 Ks, W

April 2, 2007 at Colorado Rockies
Brandon Webb: 5 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 5 Ks, ND

April 3, 2006 at Colorado Rockies
Brandon Webb: 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 Ks, ND

April 4, 2005 vs. Chicago Cubs
Javier Vazquez: 1.2 IP, 10 H, 7 ER, 0 BB, 2 Ks, L

April 6, 2004 vs. Colorado Rockies
Randy Johnson: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 Ks, L

March 31, 2003 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Randy Johnson: 6.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 Ks, L

April 1, 2002 vs. San Diego Padres
Randy Johnson: 9 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 Ks, W

April 3, 2001 @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Randy Johnson: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 10 Ks, W

April 4, 2000 vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Randy Johnson: 8.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 10 Ks, W

April 5, 1999 @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Randy Johnson: 7 IP, 5 hits, 2 earned runs, 6 BB, 9 Ks, ND

March 31, 1998 vs. Colorado Rockies
Andy Benes: 6.1 innings, 9 hits, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, L

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