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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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Danny Duffy #41 of the Kansas City Royals delivers a pitch during Opening Day (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Danny Duffy #41 of the Kansas City Royals delivers a pitch during Opening Day (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Kansas City Royals Best Opening Day Starts – No. 11: Danny Duffy (2017)

The 2017 season served as the Royals’ “senior year”, so to speak. A lot of the homegrown players were in the final year of their contracts and the chances of them all returning to Kansas City was unlikely.

Danny Duffy knew it was up to him to get this season off on the right foot and he delivered. Duffman pitched six innings and gave up just three hits and one run while striking out eight batters.

Unfortunately, the Royals’ bullpen melted down, allowing six runs and giving KC a 7-1 loss to the Twins to open up their emotional season. It was a huge letdown because of how well Duffy had pitched, as it seemed like a wasted outing by the Royals’ best starter.

Duffy went on to have one of his best seasons in 2017, pitching 146.1 innings and sporting a 3.81 ERA. The Royals, unfortunately, finished the year with a losing record. Duffy has since pitched on Opening Day in two other seasons but never matched what he did in his first-ever Opening Day start.

Kansas City Royals Best Opening Day Starts – No. 10: Dick Drago (1972)

I said we’d get to Dick Drago’s other Opening Day performance and here it is! After dazzling the league in 1971, Drago was a no-brainer to have start for the Royals in their first game of the season the following year.

He outdid his previous Opening Day achievement one year earlier, but mostly in the strikeout department. Drago had essentially the same numbers (nine innings, six hits, one run) but struck out six batters as opposed to the two he had the previous year.

Drago had a respectable campaign in 1972, twirling 239.1 innings and ending that season with a 3.02 ERA. The Royals finished the season two games under .500, but Drago was definitely one of the bright spots of the team.

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