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Best Opening Day starts in Kansas City Royals history

By Leigh Oleszczak

DETROIT, MI - APRIL 04: A detailed view of the ceremonial Opening Day logo home plate used during the pre-game ceremonies prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park on April 4, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Royals 5-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 04: A detailed view of the ceremonial Opening Day logo home plate used during the pre-game ceremonies prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park on April 4, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Royals 5-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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Pitcher Kevin Appier of the Kansas City Royals – Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport
Pitcher Kevin Appier of the Kansas City Royals – Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport /

Kansas City Royals Best Opening Day Starts – No. 15: Kevin Appier (1992)

After notching a winning record in 1991, the Royals were hoping to go places in the 1992 season and gave Kevin Appier the ball in their first game of the season. Appier was coming off a very good season for the Royals in which he threw 207.2 innings and had a 3.42 ERA by the season’s end.

Appier started the 1992 season off and looked equally as dominant, pitching six innings. He allowed four hits and one run while striking out three batters, but unfortunately, didn’t get the win, as the Royals fell 5-3 to the Athletics.

Appier did have an outstanding season, however, pitching in 208.1 innings and finishing the 1992 campaign with an ERA of 2.46. He truly is an underappreciated member of the Royals and in baseball in general.

Kansas City Royals Best Opening Day Starts – No. 14: Dick Drago (1971)

The starter for the third Opening Day in Royals history was Dick Drago, who took the mound for the team in their opening game in 1971. Drago was clutch in the Royals’ 4-1 win over the California Angels, spinning nine innings of one-run ball while allowing just six hits and striking out two batters.

Pitchers tended to stay in games longer back when Drago played, so while the nine innings is obviously impressive, it wasn’t as big of an accomplishment back then. Still, Drago allowed just one run in his first game of the season and the Royals started the season off with a victory.

Drago had a fantastic season in 1971, throwing 241.1 innings and finishing with an ERA of 2.98 ERA. He went 17-11 as a starter and really had himself quite the year.

Drago also started on Opening Day the next year and we’ll get to that performance later on. He was the second Royals pitcher to start on Opening Day (Wally Bunker got the nod the first two years) and set the tone for how it’s done.

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