First TD Bets — Wild Card Monday Slate
Alex Christenson
(It’s fantasy baseball draft season! The FTN Fantasy team and a host of helpful guests present our Ultimate 2025 Fantasy Baseball Guide. Check it out and prepare for the 2025 MLB season.)
Barring catastrophe, the Washington Commanders will have Jayden Daniels as the team’s starting quarterback in Week 1 of next season. Why is that notable? Because he started for the team in Week 1 of this season, and assuming he does get the Week 1 start next year, it will be the first time the Commanders have had the same Week 1 starter in consecutive years since, no exaggeration, Kirk Cousins in 2016-2017. That’s the longest current streak of Week 1 starting quarterback turnover in the league.
On the flip side, 2016 was the first year Dak Prescott started for Week 1 for the Cowboys, and he has taken every Week 1 start since. That’s also the longest current streak of Week 1 starting QB consistency. Other quarterbacks who started Week 1 in 2016: Blaine Gabbert, Shaun Hill, Brock Osweiler. That’s the time span we’re talking about here.
In baseball it’s a fun exercise, looking at the teams and position where there is extraordinary consistency or extraordinary turnover. So as we head into the 2025 season, today I’m going team by team to look at the Opening Day streaks. Who got their guy and said “OK, we’re set”? And who has been hunting for their guy for a generation?
Obviously, there are some quirks here. Some guy might have started 160 games for a team but missed Opening Day, and that breaks the streak. Some guy might have been a shortstop one year and a second baseman the next, and this is a “same guy, same position” exercise. So in addition to the longest streaks of consistency and inconsistency for each team, I’m offering up some quirky notes as well.
The Streakers: Opening Day Lineups Around Baseball
Arizona Diamondbacks
Longest Streak of Consistency
Christian Walker, 1B
2021-2024
Walker’s been the Diamondbacks’ Opening Day first baseman each of the last four years. The longer he stays on the free agency market this offseason, the greater the chance he comes back and extends the streak, but as it stands it’s due to end.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Center Field
Alek Thomas, 2024; Corbin Carroll, 2023; Daulton Varsho, 2022; Ketel Marte, 2021; Starling Marte, 2020; Ketel Marte, 2019; AJ Pollock, 2017-2018
Bonus points for the Diamondbacks starting a Marte in three straight years in that streak but never the same guy in two straight. If there’s a pivot and Carroll moves back to center field for this season, the streak will continue.
Interesting Notes
- Walker is on a four-year streak as the Opening Day first baseman, but he’s on a six-year streak in the Opening Day lineup, starting as the DH in 2020 and the first baseman again in 2019.
- If the Diamondbacks had gone Walker at first base in 2020 and Jake Lamb at DH (instead of the inverse), they’d be on a 13-year streak of only two guys at first base, with Walker following up on Paul Goldschmidt.
Athletics
Longest Streak of Consistency
LOL
It’s no big surprise, but the Athletics haven’t had the same Opening Day starter at any position for even that last three years. The only two-year streaks are Shea Langeliers at catcher and Seth Brown in left field. Hard nope.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Starting Pitcher
Alex Wood, 2024; Kyle Muller, 2023; Frankie Montas, 2022; Chris Bassitt, 2021; Frankie Montas, 2020; Mike Fiers, 2019; Kendall Graveman, 2017-2018
It’s easy to forget now, but the Athletics were over .500 every year 2018-2021, with a .579 winning percentage across that stretch and their 86-76 in 2021 the worst year. This stretch of futility hasn’t been that long. But you’d be forgiven if you saw that list of starting pitchers and didn’t believe me.
Interesting Notes
- Before Brent Rooker last year, the Athletics started Conner Capel, Billy McKinney and Mitch Moreland at DH on Opening Day the three preceding seasons, and if you know anyone who could have named those three, please get them help.
Atlanta Braves
Longest Streak of Consistency
Ozzie Albies, 2B
2018-2024
How is it possible Albies has been the Braves’ Opening Day second baseman for seven straight years when in my brain he’s still a promising prospect who is like 22? Absolutely wild.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Designated Hitter
Marcell Ozuna, 2024; Travis d’Arnaud, 2023; Alex Dickerson, 2022; Matt Adams, 2020
The Braves’ remarkable consistency makes this exercise difficult, because it’s only DH where they have had much inconsistency at all, and they’ve only had four seasons in their history with a DH at all, with a 2021 no-DH season in the middle.
Interesting Notes
- It does not feel to me like Marcell Ozuna has been a Brave for five years, but he was the Opening Day starter in left field four straight years before sliding to DH last year.
- It looks like Ronald Acuña Jr. won’t make it back for Opening Day, but on the off chance he does, there’s an opportunity for the Braves to roll out the exact same Opening Day lineup of position players in 2025 as 2024, with only Spencer Strider (who definitely won’t be ready) changing.
Baltimore Orioles
Longest Streak of Consistency
Cedric Mullins, CF
2021-2024
The Orioles going from the dregs of the league to a big-time contender means there has been a lot of turnover up and down the lineup; Ryan Mountcastle at first base is the only other current streak longer than two years.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Designated Hitter
Jordan Westburg, 2024; Gunnar Henderson, 2023; Trey Mancini, 2022; Ryan Mountcastle, 2021; Renato Núñez, 2020; Trey Mancini, 2019; Pedro Álvarez, 2018; Mark Trumbo, 2017; Pedro Álvarez, 2016; Delmon Young, 2014-2015
The last Oriole to draw the Opening Day start at DH in consecutive years was Delmon Young. Yes, that Delmon Young. Also … are you aware that Delmon Young is not yet 40 years old? Time dilation in pro sports is absurd.
Interesting Notes
- Austin Hays and Anthony Santander have both been in the Orioles’ Opening Day lineup each of the last five years, they’re just moved around. Hays went CF-LF-RF-RF-LF, while Santander went RF-RF-LF-LF-RF. Those are sort of streaks! But also, Hays got traded last year and Santander is in free agency and not expected back. So they’re ending.
- The inconsistency at DH masks the turnover at second base, where the Orioles have used six Opening Day second basemen in six years since Jonathan Schoop got five straight starts 2014-2018.
Boston Red Sox
Longest Streak of Consistency
Rafael Devers, 3B
2018-2024
In addition to Devers’ seven-year streak as the Opening Day third baseman, we’re on what I think is a four- or five-year streak of “Is it time for the Red Sox to move him to first base?”
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Second Base
Enmanuel Valdez, 2024; Christian Arroyo, 2023; Trevor Story, 2022; Kiké Hernández, 2021; José Peraza, 2020; Eduardo Núñez, 2019
Dustin Pedroia started at second base every Opening Day from 2007 to 2017. The Red Sox have kind of been lost in the woods at the position since.
Interesting Notes
- Other than Devers at third base, Triston Casas at first base is the only other position in Boston on even a two-year streak. Just unprecedented turnover in Boston. And that after a lot of consistency (Christian Vázquez, C, 2018-2022; Xander Bogaerts, SS, 2014-2022; Nathan Eovaldi, SP, 2020-2022; J.D. Martinez, DH, 2018-2022)
Chicago Cubs
Longest Streak of Consistency
Ian Happ, LF
2022-2024
In addition to starting each of the last three years in left field, Happ drew the Opening Day start in center field in 2021, 2020 and 2018 (he played the first half of 2019 in the minors).
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Designated Hitter
Christopher Morel; 2024; Trey Mancini, 2023; Rafael Ortega, 2022; Victor Caratini, 2020; Ben Zobrist, 2019; Jorge Soler, 2016
Another NL team that has never had a repeat Opening Day DH, but at least the Cubs opened the season in an American League park twice before the league went to the universal DH. After DH, first base (Michael Busch, Eric Hosmer, Frank Schwindel, Anthony Rizzo) and right field (Seiya Suzuki, Miles Mastrobuoni, Seiya Suzuki, Jason Heyward) are the longest streaks.
Interesting Notes
- The post-World Series Cubs featured a lot of consistency, with Willson Contreras, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Báez, Jason Heyward and even Kyle Hendricks going on Opening Day streaks. Those days are very gone.
Chicago White Sox
Longest Streak of Consistency
2020-2024
He’s not been traded (yet?), but Robert is the only real tie left to the White Sox teams that were supposed to have taken the AL Central by storm.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Second Base
Nicky Lopez, 2024; Elvis Andrus, 2023; Josh Harrison, 2022; Nick Madrigal, 2021; Leury García, 2020; Yolmer Sanchez, 2019; Yoán Moncada, 2018; Tyler Saladino, 2017; Brett Lawrie, 2016; Micah Johnson, 2015; Marcus Semien, 2014; Gordon Beckham, 2013
I once named my fantasy baseball team The Great Beckhambino. I really believed in that dude. It … did not work out as I envisioned.
Interesting Notes
- The last player to draw the Opening Day start in right field for the White Sox? Avisaíl García in 2017-2018. The list since (Daniel Palka, Nicky Delmonico, Adam Eaton, AJ Pollock, Romy Gonzalez, Kevin Pillar) is not an exciting one.
- Yoán Moncada has stared for the team in six of the last seven seasons (missing 2022) at two positions. Eloy Jiménez in five of the last six (missing 2021) at two positions. Neither is expected to be back in 2025.
Cincinnati Reds
Longest Streak of Consistency
Jonathan India, 2B
2021-2024
India takes his streak to Kansas City, but for him at least it continues in 2025.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Starting Pitcher
Frankie Montas, 2024; Hunter Greene, 2023; Tyler Mahle, 2022; Luis Castillo, 2021; Sonny Gray, 2020; Luis Castillo, 2018; Homer Bailey, 2017; Scott Feldman, 2017; Raisel Iglesias, 2016; Johnny Cueto, 2015
Yes, Johnny Cueto (2012-2015) is the last pitcher to draw the Opening Day start in Cincinnati in consecutive years. And that’s after from 2006 to 2015, only three pitchers (Cueto, Edinson Vólquez, Aaron Harang) did so. (Also, the Reds have started eight shortstops in the last eight years.)
Interesting Notes
- The Reds have had different first basemen start each of the last three years, but the team had a legendary streak before that, with Joey Votto starting every year from 2009 to 2022.
- India and Tyler Stephenson at catcher are the only Reds who were in the Opening Day lineup at the same position in 2024 and 2023, but Spencer Steer, Will Benson and Jake Fraley all also started both years, just at different positions.
Cleveland Guardians
Longest Streak of Consistency
José Ramírez, 3B
2018-2024
In addition to the last seven years as the team’s Opening Day third baseman, JRam started at second base to open 2017 and at shortstop to open 2015 (he got Opening Day off in 2016). Dude is just a superduperstar.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Right Field
Ramon Laureano, 2024; Will Brennan, 2023; Steven Kwan, 2022; Josh Naylor, 2021; Domingo Santana, 2020; Tyler Naquin, 2019; Lonnie Chisenhall, 2018; Abraham Almonte, 2017; Collin Cowgill, 2016; Brandon Moss, 2015; David Murphy, 2014; Drew Stubbs, 2013; Shin-Soo Choo, 2012
Shin-Soo Choo was the last Cleveland player to draw consecutive Opening Day starts in right field. Since then, he has played a year in Cincinnati, seven years in Texas and four back home in Korea before retiring. It’s been a long time.
(Side story: I once waited on Collin Cowgill at a breakfast restaurant. I spent the whole meal thinking I recognize him but couldn’t place him until I saw his name on the credit card. I was like “Oh, you’re the ballplayer Cowgill?” He looked at me for a minute and said “Yeah, it’s … not a common name.” I felt very silly.)
Interesting Notes
- Shane Bieber has been the Opening Day starting pitcher for Cleveland each of the last five years, and that’s after Corey Kluber got the prior five years, and Justin Masterson the three years before that. The streak will end in 2025, but that’s three pitchers over 13 years.
Colorado Rockies
Longest Streak of Consistency
Elias Díaz, C
2021-2024
The Rockies cut Díaz loose in the middle of last season, so this streak ends. It wasn’t exactly an exciting one anyway.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Center Field
Brenton Doyle, 2024; Yonathan Daza, 2023; Randal Grichuk, 2022; Garrett Hampson, 2021; David Dahl, 2020; Ian Desmond, 2019; Charlie Blackmon, 2018
Charlie Blackmon aged out of being able to fake it at center field, and the Rockies have been lost in the woods since, until they ran into glove-made-of-angels Brenton Doyle in the 2023 season.
Interesting Notes
- Blackmon started in center field 2014-2018, right field 2019-2022, DH 2023 and right field again 2024. Eleven years, three positions. But now he’s gone.
- Ryan McMahon has started each of the last three Opening Days, but he’s bounced between second and third base.
Detroit Tigers
Longest Streak of Consistency
Spencer Torkelson, 1B
Javier Báez, SS
2022-2024
Báez is just about persona non grata in Detroit at this point, and Torkelson needs to show he can fulfill his promise sooner rather than later. These streaks might be ending.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Catcher
Jake Rogers, 2024; Eric Haase, 2023; Tucker Barnhart, 2022; Wilson Ramos, 2021; Austin Romine, 2020; Grayson Greiner, 2019; James McCann, 2018
Remember when James McCann was a 30-year-old catcher with one career season of as much as 1.5 bWAR and the Mets gave him a four-year contract? Wild times.
Interesting Notes
- Miguel Cabrera drew Opening Day starts at first base, third base and DH in his Tigers tenure, but before his retirement last year, he’d been somewhere in the lineup for 15 straight years.
- The Tigers have had a Meadows in the Opening Day lineup in each of the last three years, but it was Parker last year and Austin the two years before that.
Houston Astros
Longest Streak of Consistency
Alex Bregman, 3B
2017-2024
I started this thinking Jose Altuve would hold the crown in Houston, forgetting that he opened the year on the IL in 2023. Still, Bregman’s eight-year stretch is a nice one.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Designated Hitter
Yordan Alvarez, 2024; Yainer Diaz, 2023; Michael Brantley, 2022; Yordan Alvarez, 2021; Aledmys Díaz, 2020; Tyler White, 2019; Evan Gattis, 2018; Carlos Beltrán, 2017; Preston Tucker, 2016; Evan Gattis, 2015; Chris Carter, 2014; Carlos Pena, 2013
Sure, they’ve only been an American League team for 12 years, but it is wild that the Astros have literally never had the same Opening Day DH in consecutive years.
Interesting Notes
- DH aside, the Astros have been just about the most consistent roster in the league since they became good, with every single non-DH position having the same starter in at least two of the last three years — and even DH having quasi-consistency, with Yordan Alvarez in the lineup each of the last four years between two positions.
Kansas City Royals
Longest Streak of Consistency
2020-2024
Salvador Perez has been the Royals catcher since 2013, but he opened 2018 on the IL and missed all of 2019, so the active streak is only five years.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Second Base
Adam Frazier, 2024; Michael Massey, 2023; Nicky Lopez, 2022; Whit Merrifield, 2021; Nicky Lopez, 2020; Chris Owings, 2019; Whit Merrifield, 2018; Adalberto Mondesi, 2017; Omar Infante, 2016
The Royals got their lineup that made it to the World Series in 2014-2015 and rolled with it, with the same catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, left field and center fielder in three straight years. But once it was gone, it was very gone, with only Salvador Perez making it past 2018.
Interesting Notes
- In addition to the nine-year run at second base, the Royals have a seven-year run of change at third base and a five-year run in right field.
Los Angeles Angels
Longest Streak of Consistency
Mike Trout, CF
2013-2024
Injuries have ended way too many of Trout’s seasons early, but he basically always starts them. The news that he’s likely moving to a corner outfield slot in 2025 would end this 12-year run, though.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Right Field
Aaron Hicks, 2024; Hunter Renfroe, 2023; Brandon Marsh, 2022; Dexter Fowler, 2021; Brain Goodwin, 2020; Kole Calhoun, 2019
The sad irony is that even as Mike Trout has been the steady presence in center field for the Angels, he’s had a rotating cast of characters next to him in right field. And he might become the new member of that rotating cast in 2025.
Interesting Notes
- He’s a (deserved) punch line, but Anthony Rendon as started at third base each of the last four Opening Days. That is, believe it or not, the only infield slot in Los Angeles with even two straight years of consistency in any of the last four years.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Longest Streak of Consistency
Will Smith, C
Freddie Freeman, 1B
Max Muncy, 3B
2022-2024
The most remarkable thing about the Dodgers isn’t that they’ve won 11 division titles in 12 years (and won 106 games in the 12th), it’s that they’ve done it despite changing players at a remarkable rate. No streak longer than three years? They’re basically the Roster of Theseus. (Also, with half the roster under contract until the end of time, the metaphor is about to end.)
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Starting Pitcher
Tyler Glasnow, 2024; Julio Urías, 2023; Walker Buehler, 2022; Clayton Kershaw, 2021; Dustin May, 2020; Hyun Jin Ryu, 2019; Clayton Kershaw, 2018
This is the other remarkable thing. Sure, the Dodgers have had Clayton Kershaw since (what feels like) the Reagan administration, but you’d expect a dominant team like this to have a dominant starter atop the rotation more often than they have.
Interesting Notes
- Max Muncy has started each of the last three years at third base, but he also started the three previous seasons at first. Slightly more consistency!
Miami Marlins
Longest Streak of Consistency
LOL, The Sequel
Like the Athletics, asking for any consistency in Miami is asking too much. I guess the crown goes to Jazz Chisholm Jr., who started in center field each of the last two years after starting at second base in 2021-2022. His two years in center and Luis Arraez’ two at second base are the only two active streaks longer than a single year, and both were traded during last season.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Third Base/Left Field
Third base: Jake Burger, 2024; Jean Segura, 2023; Joey Wendle, 2022; Brian Anderson, 2021
Left field: Nick Gordon, 2024; Bryan De La Cruz, 2023; Jorge Soler, 2022; Corey Dickerson, 2021
Among last year’s Opening Day lineup, Josh Bell (first base) ended the year on the Diamondbacks, Luis Arraez (second) ended on the Padres, Jake Burger (third) is on the Rangers now, Tim Anderson (shortstop) was basically forced into retirement and Jazz Chisholm Jr. (center) is a Yankee. Nick Gordon (left) and Bryan De La Cruz (DH) are free agents. So only Nick Fortes (catcher), Jesús Sánchez (right) and Jesús Luzardo (SP) even have a chance of extending their streak, and I’ll take the under on those, with Luzardo at the least a big trade candidate.
Interesting Notes
- Assuming Sandy Alcantara can make it back for Opening Day 2025 (current reports look good), he could offer at least a bit of consistency in Miami, the fifth time in six years he would draw the Opening Day start.
Milwaukee Brewers
Longest Streak of Consistency
Christian Yelich, LF
2020-2024
In addition to being the Opening Day left fielder each of the last five years, Christian Yelich started in right field in 2019 and back in left field in 2018. Before that, he had four straight Opening Day starts in Miami, so he’s reliable for that. Willy Adames is the only other one on even a three-year streak for the Brewers, and he’s gone now.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Third Base
Andruw Monasterio, 2024; Luis Urías, 2023; Jace Peterson, 2022; Travis Shaw, 2021; Eric Sogard, 2020; Travis Shaw, 2019
The Brewers have made a whole game out of “You know that guy who plays some other infield position? Now he’s playing another one.” Remember when they just said Mike Moustakas and Travis Shaw would play second and third in some order but could barely decide which? Remember when Eric Sogard and Jace Peterson were second basemen? Welcome to Milwaukee, you play third now. Don’t ask why.
Interesting Notes
- Rowdy Tellez started at first base for the Brewers in 2022 and 2023. If not for that, the Brewers would not have had the same Opening Day first baseman in consecutive years since Prince Fielder in 2006-2011. First base is like the cheat code for this exercise. The fact that they’ve jumped around that much is bonkers. But Rhys Hoskins is still around for 2025, so unless he opens at DH or gets hurt, hey, a new streak.
Minnesota Twins
Longest Streak of Consistency
Max Kepler, RF
2017-2024
Listen, I have rostered Max Kepler in fantasy many times. He was my sleeper pick on this very site in 2023 (and hey, he had a career-best wRC+ that year). I’m a documented fan of the guy. And even I had no idea he’d been the Twins’ starting right fielder for eight straight years. Brian Dozier was still on the Twins then, man. It’s been a while.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Left Field
Willi Castro, 2024; Trevor Larnach, 2023; Alex Kirilloff, 2022; Luis Arraez, 2021; Eddie Rosario, 2020
Castro and Larnach are both set to be in the Twins’ Opening Day lineup in 2025, but who plays left and who is the DH?
Interesting Notes
- Carlos Correa has been the Opening Day shortstop in Minnesota each of the last three years, and he’s needed name tags, because the infielders around him have changed each year — Carlos Santana, Kyle Farmer and Royce Lewis in 2024; Joey Gallo, Nick Gordon and Jose Miranda in 2023; Miguel Sanó, Jorge Polanco and Gio Urshela in 2022.
New York Mets
Longest Streak of Consistency
Pete Alonso, 1B
2019-2024
We’ll see if this continues into 2025, with Alonso still sitting out there in free agency and the Mets just having splurged on a slugger in Juan Soto whose ultimate destination should probably be DH, but he’s been the guy since Adrián González, who, I’m not going to lie, I had forgotten was ever a Met.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Center Field
Harrison Bader, 2024; Brandon Nimmo, 2023; Mark Canha, 2022; Kevin Pillar, 2021; Brandon Nimmo, 2020; Juan Lagares, 2019; Brandon Nimmo, 2018; Curtis Granderson, 2017; Juan Lagares, 2016
Nine years, no repeats … in consecutive years. Nimmo got starts in 2023, 2020 and 2018; Lagares did in 2019, 2016 (and obviously 2015). Make up your minds, Mets.
Interesting Notes
- Nimmo has been the Opening Day center fielder for the Mets three times. He’s been the Opening Day left fielder in the following year all three times. Mark Canha also did the center-to-left transition once. Again, make up your minds.
New York Yankees
Longest Streak of Consistency
Anthony Rizzo, 1B
2022-2024
Absurd that the New York Yankees haven’t had a guy as their Opening Day starter at the same position more than three years in a row. And that guy won’t even be back in 2025.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Left Field
Alex Verdugo, 2024; Oswaldo Cabrera, 2023; Joey Gallo, 2022; Clint Frazier, 2021; Brett Gardner, 2020; Giancarlo Stanton, 2019; Brett Gardner, 2018
Brett Gardner was never a superstar. He only made one All-Star team and never got MVP votes (despite seasons of 5.0 and 7.4 bWAR). But he locked down that left field job in New York for a long time, and since he lost the gig, they’ve been at sea out there.
Interesting Notes
- DJ LeMahieu has been on the Yankees for six years. He’s qualified for the batting title in five of those years. And yet he’s only been an Opening Day starter for the team three times. But he is eternal.
- Aaron Judge started in center field the last two years after six straight Opening Day starts in right. Players don’t usually make the right-to-center move, and while he’s held his own in center, the team would likely do well to get Jasson Domínguez (or Cody Bellinger?) out there next year.
Philadelphia Phillies
Longest Streak of Consistency
2019-2024
When Realmuto was a 23- and 24-year-old Marlins catcher who hit .257/.288/.402 his first two seasons, I was convinced he’d never become anything. So convinced that it took me far too long to realize he was actually a star. He’ll be 34 when the season starts, so maybe he’s entered his “not a star anymore, but still good” phase, but it’s still a very quality run.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Center Field
Johan Rojas, 2024; Brandon Marsh, 2023; Matt Vierling, 2022; Adam Haseley, 2021; Roman Quinn, 2020; Odubel Herrera, 2019; Aaron Altherr, 2018; Odubel Herrera, 2017
The Phillies have generally been fairly consistent, at least getting a few years out of most of their starters before moving on and/or upgrading. Center field? They swung on Odubel Herrera, it didn’t work, and they’ve been wandering the desert for 40 years since.
Interesting Notes
- Zack Wheeler’s Opening Day start last year ended Aaron Nola’s six-year run as the team’s first starting pitcher to take the bump.
- From 2022 to 2023, Realmuto and Nola were literally the only Phillies to start at the same position from one year to the next. The team has generally been consistent, but that year it all went out the window.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Longest Streak of Consistency
Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B
2021-2024
Maybe Ke’Bryan Hayes won’t end up being quite the star he was seen as coming up, especially generating only 0.8 bWAR and a 61 OPS+ in 2024, but he remains a stud fielder, and if his bat can rebound even a little he’s still more of a plus than a minus.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Right Field
Connor Joe, 2024; Canaan Smith-Njigba, 2023; Cole Tucker, 2022; Gregory Polanco, 2021; Guillermo Heredia, 2020; Melky Cabrera, 2019; Gregory Polanco, 2018; Andrew McCutchen, 2017; Gregory Polanco, 2016
The Pirates kept dipping into the Gregory Polanco well, man. They wanted him to become the star they thought he’d be. And he just kept refusing.
Interesting Notes
- The right field streak is at nine years, but it’s not their only long one. They’ve had seven starting center fielders in seven years. Five first basemen in five years. Four second basemen in four years. Same for catchers. Mitch Keller has been the Opening Day pitcher the last two years, but he’s the first repeater since in Francisco Liriano 2014-2016. The only consistent thing in Pittsburgh is the steel mills.
St. Louis Cardinals
Longest Streak of Consistency
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
2019-2024
Goldschmidt has been the Opening Day starter for some team for 13 straight years, playing at least 151 games every year since 2015 save the 60-game 2020 season, when he played 58. Maybe he’s not a superstar anymore, but the dude is as healthy as it gets.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Center Field
Victor Scott II, 2024; Tyler O’Neill, 2023; Harrison Bader, 2022; Dylan Carlson, 2021; Harrison Bader, 2020
The Cardinals have had about 50 different exciting prospect outfielders who came up to plenty of fanfare before falling flat and going elsewhere. We know the Randy Arozarena/Adolis García stories, sure, but remember Allen Craig? Heck, remember J.D. Drew?
Interesting Notes
- Yadier Molina was the Opening Day catcher in St. Louis every year from 2005 to 2022 (absolutely remarkable), with Willson Contreras getting the last two seasons. But with Contreras moving to first base in 2025, the new streak will be short.
San Diego Padres
Longest Streak of Consistency
Jake Cronenworth, 1B
2023-2024
Absolutely wild: Cronenworth is literally the only Padre to start each of the last two years at the same position. Xander Bogaerts and Ha-Seong Kim have swung spots between second and short the last two years, Manny Machado opened 24 as the DH. Just total turnover. Cronenworth was also in the Opening Day lineup in 2021-2022, but at second base.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Shortstop
Ha-Seong Kim, 2024; Xander Bogaerts, 2023; Ha-Seong Kim, 2022; Fernando Tatis Jr., 2021
For a team with so much turnover from 2023 to 2024, the Padres haven’t historically actually had that much. If not shortstop, the only other option was DH, where the Padres have had four Opening Day DH’s in their career and never a repeat.
Interesting Notes
- Manny Machado has been in the San Diego Opening Day lineup six straight years, going from the third baseman in 2019-2023 to DH last year.
- Usually, when a player has some years as a starter, then a year off, then appears again, it’s because he was hurt that one year or moved to another position. But not here — Jurickson Profar was the starting left fielder in San Diego in 2021, 2022 and 2024, but his other year was spent having a “he might be just done-done” season in Colorado before returning the San Diego and flirting with MVP candidacy. Weirdest career ever, friends.
San Francisco Giants
Longest Streak of Consistency
Logan Webb, SP
2022-2024
The Giants are the only team in this exercise whose longest streak is at starting pitcher, thanks to Logan Webb being the stud anchor for years now. If I had done this a year ago, though, it would have comfortably been Brandon Crawford, the team’s Opening Day shortstop every year 2012-2023.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency (Deep Breath)
Left Field
Michael Conforto, 2024; Blake Sabol, 2023; Joc Pederson, 2022; Austin Slater, 2021; Alex Dickerson, 2020; Connor Joe, 2019; Hunter Pence, 2018; Jarrett Parker, 2017; Angel Pagan, 2016; Norichika Aoki, 2015; Michael Morse, 2014; Andres Torres, 2013; Aubrey Huff, 2012; Pat Burrell, 2011; Mark DeRosa, 2010; Fred Lewis, 2009; Dave Roberts, 2008; Barry Bonds, 2007
This is the team and position that inspired this exercise. The Giants refused to bring Barry Bonds back after 2007 (*cough*collusion*cough*), and that spot in San Francisco has been cursed ever since. And with Michael Conforto now a Dodger, the streak will continue.
Interesting Notes
- The Giants’ troubles finding an everyday left fielder have covered for the fact that they can’t find a center fielder either, with no back-to-back repeats since Denard Span in 2016-2017.
- We have yet another NL team that has never had a DH repeat, and since the Giants opened in the American League in 2021, it’s a five-year streak for them (one that will continue, since their Opening Day DH last year was Jorge Soler).
Seattle Mariners
Longest Streak of Consistency
J.P. Crawford, SS
2020-2024
The Mariners have slowly settled into a consistent lineup, which would be good … if the team could hit. But Ty France (Opening Day first baseman the last three years) went in the tank last year and was jettisoned. Crawford did the same, but at least they’re sticking with him.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Left Field
Dominic Canzone, 2024; Jarred Kelenic, 2023; Jesse Winker, 2022; Jake Fraley, 2021; Jose Marmolejos, 2020; Domingo Santana, 2019; Ichiro Suzuki, 2018; Jarrod Dyson, 2017; Norichika Aoki, 2015; Dustin Ackley, 2015
I did not expect to have an opportunity to write Dustin Ackley’s name in December 2024. (Let alone write Norichika Aoki’s name twice in the last dozen paragraphs.)
Interesting Notes
- You have to go back to 2014-2015 to find a repeat left fielder in Seattle. But you also have to go back to 2017-2018 (and Robinson Canó and Neslon Cruz) to find repeats at second base and designated hitter.
Tampa Bay Rays
Longest Streak of Consistency
Brandon Lowe, 2B
2021-2024
Lowe was also the Opening Day DH in 2019, and he played the last five innings of the team’s Opening Day game in 2020 (but didn’t start, so it doesn’t count). Beyond that, Randy Arozarena’s three-year run as the team’s Opening Day left fielder is the only streak longer than two years.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Catcher
René Pinto, 2024; Christian Bethancourt, 2023; Mike Zunino, 2022
For all the turnover the Rays have had over the years, it’s never that sudden; they don’t have a single active streak of turnover longer than three years.
Interesting Notes
- Yandy Díaz has actually been in the Rays’ Opening Day lineup six straight years, it’s just been split across two positions (first base in 2024, 2023 and 2020; third base in 2022, 2021 and 2019).
Texas Rangers
Longest Streak of Consistency
Marcus Semien, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
2022-2024
Semien’s bat has started to betray him, and Seager’s body might not hold up long-term, but with a World Series trophy to show for it, the Rangers certainly are not regretting their offseason spending spree before the 2022 season.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Starting Pitcher
Nathan Eovaldi, 2024; Jacob deGrom, 2023; Jon Gray, 2022; Kyle Gibson, 2021; Lance Lynn, 2020; Mike Minor, 2019; Cole Hamels, 2018; Yu Darvish, 2017; Cole Hamels, 2016; Yovani Gallardo, 2015; Tanner Scheppers, 2014; Matt Harrison, 2013; Colby Lewis, 2012; C.J. Wilson, 2011; Scott Feldman, 2010; Kevin Millwood, 2009
Kevin Millwood. Kevin Millwood. That can’t be real. I’m a die-hard Rangers fan. I used to have a dog named Ranger. I would not have identified Kevin Millwood in this exercise. And with deGrom the odds-on favorite to be the Opening Day starter in 2025 … the streak continues.
Interesting Notes
- It’s not just starting pitcher; the Rangers haven’t had a repeat Opening Day left fielder since David Murphy in 2012-2013, with Evan Carter, Josh Smith, Brad Miller, David Dahl, Nick Solak, Joey Gallo, Ryan Rua, Jurickson Profar, Ian Desmond, Ryan Rua again and Shin-Soo Choo taking their turns out there.
- And lest you think we are done, the Rangers have had some massive turnover at DH as well, cycling through Wyatt Langford, Brad Miller, Willie Calhoun, Evan White, Shon-Soo Choo and Hunter Pence since Choo started in 2017-2018.
Toronto Blue Jays
Longest Streak of Consistency
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
Bo Bichette, SS
2020-2024
Guerrero only played third base as a rookie, but he didn’t open the season with the club, so his streak is first base only. And he’s an unsung iron man, playing 696 of a possible 708 games the last five years. Meanwhile, Bichette (seriously, Blue Jays, bring in a few more kids of big leaguers) is on the same streak, though his career has hiccupped a bit more dramatically than Guerrero’s.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
Second Base
Cavan Biggio, 2024; Whit Merrifield, 2023; Cavan Biggio, 2022; Marcus Semien, 2021; Cavan Biggio, 2020; Lourdes Gurriel Jr., 2019; Devon Travis, 2018
Cavan Biggio opened his career hot, hitting .240/.368/.430 across 159 games his first two seasons. And that led to the Blue Jays giving him so many chances, even as his career kept proving to be a few steps below that early performance. They finally cut bait last year, so this streak will continue.
Interesting Notes
- The last time the Blue Jays only had a right fielder start one year before moving on was Gabe Gross. And if you can’t accurately place him in your memory, that was 2005. They’ve cycled through Alex Ríos, José Bautista, Randal Grichuk, Teoscar Hernández and George Springer in the nearly 20 years since, with each getting at least two years.
Washington Nationals
Longest Streak of Consistency
Keibert Ruiz, C
2022-2024
The Nationals have had a lot of turnover in recent years, but Keibert Ruiz remains … and with him potentially under contract through 2032, the streak could theoretically get quite long.
Longest Streak of Inconsistency
First Base/Third Base
First Base: Joey Gallo, 2024; Dominic Smith, 2023; Josh Bell, 2022; Ryan Zimmerman, 2021; Eric Thames, 2020; Ryan Zimmerman, 2019
Third Base: Ildemaro Vargas, 2024; Jeimer Candelario, 2023; Maikel Franco, 2022; Starlin Castro, 2021; Asdrubal Cabrera, 2020; Anthony Rendon, 2019
Ryan Zimmerman started for the Nationals at third every year 2006 to 2014, then he started at first base in 2015-2019 and 2021 (he opted out of 2020). And him aside, the Nationals have not been able to land on any consistency at those positions. Just person-to-person-to-person. And call me a pessimist, but I don’t see Joey Gallo or Ildemaro Vargas repeating in 2025.
Interesting Notes
- Andrew Stevenson (2020-2021) is the only repeat left fielder the Nationals have had since Jayson Werth in 2016-2017. And you’d be forgiven if you had already forgotten Stevenson’s existence.
- The Nationals only had two Opening Day pitchers between 2012 and 2021, with Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer getting the ball most of those seasons but bouncing back and forth a bit.
Around the League
Longest Active Streaks of Consistency
1. Mike Trout, CF, Los Angeles Angels (12 years)
T2. Alex Bregman, 3B, Houston Astros (8 years)
T2. Max Kepler, RF, Minnesota Twins (8 years)
T4. Ozzie Albies, 2B, Atlanta Braves (7 years)
T4. Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox (7 years)
T4. José Ramírez, 3B, Cleveland Guardians, 7 years)
Longest Active Streaks of Inconsistency
1. San Francisco Giants Left Field (18 years)
2. Texas Rangers Starting Pitcher (16 years)
3. Cleveland Guardians Right Field (13 years)
T4. Chicago White Sox Second Base (12 years)
T4. Houston Astros Designated Hitter (12 years — also, forever)
T4. Texas Rangers Left Field (12 years)
Longest By Position
Catcher
Same: J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies (6 years)
Different: Cleveland Guardians (7 years)
First Base
Same: Pete Alonso, New York Mets/Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals (6 years)
Different: Washington Nationals (6 years)
Second Base
Same: Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves (7 years)
Different: Chicago White Sox (12 years)
Third Base
Same: Alex Bregman, Houston Astros (8 years)
Different: Kansas City Royals (7 years)
Shortstop
Same: J.P. Crawford, Seattle Mariners/Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays (5 years)
Different: Cincinnati Reds (8 years)
Left Field
Same: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (5 years)
Different: San Francisco Giants (18 years)
Center Field
Same: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (12 years)
Different: New York Mets (9 years)
Right Field
Same: Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins (8 years)
Different: Cleveland Guardians (13 years)
Designated Hitter
Same: Joey Meneses, Washington Nationals/Harold Ramírez, Tampa Bay Rays/Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates/Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies/Eloy Jiménez, Chicago White Sox (2 years, somehow)
Different: Houston Astros (12 years)
Starting Pitcher
Same: Shane Bieber, Cleveland Guardians (5 years)
Different: Texas Rangers (16 years)
