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List of Washington Nationals Opening Day starting pitchers

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The Washington Nationals are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Washington, D.C. They play in the National League East division. The team was known as the Montreal Expos from 1969 to 2004. The first game of the new baseball season for a team is played on Opening Day, and being named the Opening Day starter is an honor, which is often given to the player who is expected to lead the pitching staff that season,[1] though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day.[2] The Nationals have used six different Opening Day starting pitchers in their sixteen seasons. The six starters have a combined Opening Day record of 3 win, 9 losses and 4 no decisions.[3][4][5] No decisions are awarded to the starting pitcher if the game is won or lost after the starting pitcher has left the game, or if the starting pitcher does not pitch at least five innings with the lead. The overall Opening Day record of the team is 7–9.

Liván Hernández, who has made a total of four Opening Day starts for the Expos/Nationals franchise.

Max Scherzer holds the franchise record for most Opening Day starts with five. He is 1–3 on Opening Day, with one no decision.

Liván Hernández is the only pitcher to make an Opening Day start for both the Expos and the Nationals.[3]

As the Washington Nationals, the team played their home games at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium from 2005 to 2007; their only home opener there was a 9–2 loss in 2007 by starter John Patterson.[3] Nationals Park is the team's current field, and it was the site of the team's 2008 season opener, with starting pitcher Odalis Pérez on the mound in a game that the Nationals won 3–2 over the visiting Atlanta Braves.[6]

Key

Season Each year is linked to an article about that particular Nationals season.
W Win
L Loss
ND (W) No decision for starter; Nationals won game
ND (L) No decision for starter; Nationals lost game
Final
Score		 Game score with Nationals runs listed first
Location Stadium in bold for home game
Pitcher (#) Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Nationals

Pitchers

Stephen Strasburg has made four Opening Day starts for the Nationals.
John Lannan, the 2009 and 2010 Opening Day starter
More information Season, Pitcher ...
Season Pitcher Decision Final
score		 Opponent Location Attendance Ref(s)[3]
2005Liván HernándezL4–8Philadelphia PhilliesCitizens Bank Park44,080[7]
2006Liván Hernández (2)L2–3New York MetsShea Stadium54,371[8]
2007John PattersonL2–9Florida MarlinsRobert F. Kennedy Stadium40,389[9][10]
2008Odalis PérezND (W)3–2Atlanta BravesNationals Park39,389[11]
2009John LannanL6–12Florida MarlinsDolphin Stadium34,323[4]
2010John Lannan (2)L1–11Philadelphia PhilliesNationals Park41,290[5]
2011Liván Hernández (3)L0–2Atlanta BravesNationals Park39,055[12]
2012Stephen StrasburgND (W)2–1Chicago CubsWrigley Field41,176[13]
2013Stephen Strasburg (2)W2–0Miami MarlinsNationals Park45,274[14]
2014Stephen Strasburg (3)ND (W)9–7New York MetsCiti Field42,442[15]
2015Max ScherzerL1–3New York MetsNationals Park42,295[16]
2016Max Scherzer (2)ND (W)4–3Atlanta BravesTurner Field48,282[17]
2017Stephen Strasburg (4)W4–2Miami MarlinsNationals Park42,744[18]
2018Max Scherzer (3)W2–0Cincinnati RedsGreat American Ball Park43,878[19]
2019Max Scherzer (4)L0–2New York MetsNationals Park42,263[20]
2020Max Scherzer (5)L1–4New York YankeesNationals Park0[21]
2021Max Scherzer (6)ND (W)6–5Atlanta BravesNationals Park4,801[22]
2022Patrick CorbinL1–5New York MetsNationals Park35,052[23]
2023Patrick Corbin (2)L2–7Atlanta BravesNationals Park35,756[24]
2024Josiah GrayL2–8Cincinnati RedsGreat American Ball Park44,030[25]
2025MacKenzie GoreND (L)3–7Philadelphia PhilliesNationals Park41,231[26]
2026Cade CavalliND (W)10–4Chicago CubsWrigley Field39,712[27]
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