The Rangers named their opening day start. To nobody’s surprise, it’s Mike Minor.

He is the only of the five in the rotation who isn’t new to the Rangers this season. And he is the only one to have had a winning record last season. Minor was 12-8 with Texas, Lance Lynn was 10-10 with Arizona and New York, and Shelby Miller was 0-4 with Arizona. Smyly and Volquez didn’t pitch.

Minor threw one-third of an inning more than Lynn last season, 157 to 156.2. The other three threw: 16, 0, 0.

Here are the past ten opening day pitchers for the Texas Rangers.

Year   Pitcher, Decision            Outcome
2018   Cole Hamels, L                L 4-1
2017   Yu Darvish, ND               L 8-5
2016   Cole Hamels, W              W 3-2
2015   Yovani Gallardo, L         L 8-0
2014   Tanner Scheppers, ND  L 14-10
2013   Matt Harrison, L             L 8-2
2012   Colby Lewis, W               W 3-2
2011   C. J.Wilson, ND                W 9-5
2010   Scott Feldman, ND          W 5-4
2009   Kevin Millwood, W         W 9-1
2008   Kevin Millwood, L           L 5-2

What’s interesting about this list is is shows how difficult consistent quality starting pitching has been for the Rangers to find. Many franchises are fortunate enough to have a bonafide number one guy they can run out for four or five opening days in a row. The closest the Rangers have had was Cole Hamels.

For the record, Charlie Hough has the most opening day starts in team history with six, followed by Dick Bosman and Kevin Millwood with four each.

Here is a list of every opening day starters in Rangers history.