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Phillies Opening Day Not Historically Hospitable Towards Pitchers

By George Stockburger

Apr 6, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels (35) receives the ball to start the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Citizens bank Park. The Red Sox won 8-0. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels (35) receives the ball to start the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Citizens bank Park. The Red Sox won 8-0. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Fans may love Opening Day, but historically Phillies pitchers hate it

We always look for trends in sports, whether they spell great things to come or a downward spiral approaching. Opening Day is no different, but the trend does not favor Phillies pitchers in recent history.

Over their past five opening days, the Phillies have a 2-3 record, have been outscored 31-22, and have scored two or fewer runs three times.

The greatest exception to the Phillies opening day struggles came in the form of Roy Halladay, who made his Phillies debut on April 5, 2012, against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Philadelphia.

Dec 9, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Roy Halladay announces his retirement the MLB Winter Meetings at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Halladay signed a one-day contract and retired with the Toronto Blue Jays. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Roy Halladay announces his retirement the MLB Winter Meetings at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Halladay signed a one-day contract and retired with the Toronto Blue Jays. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports /

Doc hurled eight shutout innings while allowing only two hits and throwing 92 pitches. Jonathan Papelbon finished the shutout to secure the 1-0 win for the Phillies, who benefited from a sacrifice fly off the bat of Carlos Ruiz in the seventh inning that scored Ty Wiggington.

Cole Hamels didn’t carry the Doc’s trend of great opening day performances when he took the mound against the Braves in 2013. The boy wonder allowed three home runs in a 7-5 loss in Atlanta.

Now opening day in 2014 I remember quite fondly, mostly because it was a slugfest for the ages. Philly and Texas combined to score 24 runs in a marathon game that lasted nearly four hours.

May 2, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee (33) gestures towards Washington Nationals center fielder Denard Span (2) (not pictured) after he threw an inside pitch to him during the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. The Nationals defeated the Phillies, 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee (33) gestures towards Washington Nationals center fielder Denard Span (2) (not pictured) after he threw an inside pitch to him during the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. The Nationals defeated the Phillies, 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

Cliff Lee did not have his best stuff against his former team, who collected 11 hits and eight runs in just five innings. Luckily the Phillies bats were just as hot as the Rangers, led by three home runs from Marlon Byrd, Cody Asche, and a Jimmy Rollins grand slam.

Hamels got the call in 2015 against Boston, and his struggles against the Red Sox carried over to opening day. While Clay Buchholz and the Red Sox shutout the Phillies Hamels allowed four solo home runs in five innings. Jake Diekman had what may be the worst pitching performance in history, allowing four runs and walking two batters in one-third of an inning.

In all fairness to Jeremy Hellickson last year the Phillies 6-2 loss should not be put on him. After going six innings allowing just three hits and an earned run, David Hernandez and James Russell decided to ruin the Phillies party. Hernandez faced three batters in the eighth inning and failed to record an out after walking two batters and allowing three runs. James Russell entered to get one out in the eighth, but was pulled after allowing two runs in his third-of-an-inning.

Next: Phillies Prospects Sixto Sanchez, Cole Stobbe Win Awards as Spring Standouts

Hellickson will get the ball for the second consecutive year against the Reds in Cincinnati with the hopes of repeating (or improving upon) his performance from last year and bucking the trend of bad opening day pitching.

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