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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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Starting pitcher Bruce Chen #52 of the Kansas City Royals pitches on Opening Day of the 2012 MLB season (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Starting pitcher Bruce Chen #52 of the Kansas City Royals pitches on Opening Day of the 2012 MLB season (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

Kansas City Royals Best Opening Day Starts – No. 6: Bruce Chen (2012)

Bruce Chen might be one of the most popular Royals and that’s saying something considering how bad they were when he first joined the team in 2009.

By 2012, Chen had done enough to earn the Opening Day start (he had a 3.77 ERA in 2011) and had Royals fans all kinds of impressed with his outing. Chen twirled six scoreless innings and gave up just three hits while striking out four batters.

Unfortunately, the Royals weren’t quite ready to compete yet and didn’t give Chen any run support. The team went on to lose 5-0 to the Angels and wasted a valiant effort from Chen in his only Opening Day start with Kansas City.

The rest of the season went mostly south for Chen, as he had a 5.07 ERA but pitched in a career-high 34 games. Chen is one of those random players who Royals fans were always fond of and enjoyed watching, even when he wasn’t good.

Chen spent the next two years with the Royals and pitched in two games for Cleveland in 2015. That was it for the 2012 Royals Opening Day starter in the major leagues.

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