Fun With Red Sox Opening Day Facts

will be making the first Opening Day start of his career, which puts him one up on teammate Rick Porcello. Justin Masterson pitched for the Indians on Opening Day each of the last three seasons. Wade Miley was the Diamondbacks Opening Day starter last season. But the Sox pitcher with the most experience in this capacity is Koji Uehara who made seven Opening Day starts for the Yomiuri Giants…

The last two seasons, it’s been Jarrod Saltalamacchia and A.J. Pierzynski behind the plate for the Sox on Opening Days. Today it’s Ryan Hanigan, who is 0-8 in two openers. Jason Varitek caught 10 first games for Boston…

Opening Day has been one-and-done in left field for Boston since the days when Manny B. Manny patrolled there from 2002-2008. In 2009, Jason Bay started; in 2010, Jacoby Ellsbury; in 2011, Carl Crawford; in 2012, Cody Ross; in 2013, Jackie Bradley, Jr; in 2014, Mike Carp; and today, it will be Hanley Ramirez…

Speaking of Manny Ramirez, he is the only member of the Sox to ever walk four times in the opener when he did it on in a 12-11 loss to the Blue Jays in 2002…

Last year’s starting centerfielder for the Sox, Grady Sizemore, will be starting in right for the Phillies today…

David Ortiz has started 11 openers for the Sox and has hit .275 with two homers and seven RBI. This will be his first start as first baseman…

Hanley Ramirez has been an Opening Day starter for the Marlins and Dodgers. In 2009, his Marlins defeated the Nationals and Hanley hit a grand slam…

Hanley’s favorite away park for homers is Citizen’s Bank in Philly, where he’s hit 11….He’s had more PA against Cole Hamels than any other pitcher, facing him 71 times, hitting .273 with two homers and 16 whiffs…

Pablo Sandoval has faced Hamels 33 times and hit .281 against him, but interestingly has never struck out against Hamels…

Pablo Sandoval opened for the Giants six times and hit .360 (9-25)…

The Sox have had four players who hit two homers on Opening Day: Ted Lepcio (1955), Lenny Green (1965), Carl Yastrzemski (1968), and Carlton Fisk (1973)…

The most runs the Sox have ever scored on Opening Day is the 15 they put up in 1973 when they defeated the Yanks, 15-5. The next high score for Boston is 11 runs, which they have done four times, oddly with a 2-2 record…

The Sox have been shutout eight times on Opening Day…

Clay Buchholz in April is 13-10 with a 4.53 ERA, and that includes 2013 when he started off 5-0 with a 1.19 ERA…

Edward Mujica appeared on Opening Day for the Padres in 2009-10, each time pitching an inning and allowing a hit; neither time as a closer…

Jonathan Papelbon, the all-time Sox saves leader, is the all-time Sox saves leader on Opening Day with three. He appeared in four openers for Boston and he awaits the Sox in the Phillies pen. He’s appeared in two for Philly, with one save.

“Play Ball!”