House That Hank Built
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The Five Least-Good Opening Day Starters in Atlanta Braves history

By Colby Wilson

Mar 30, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran (49) pitches during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Yankees at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran (49) pitches during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Yankees at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 18, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view of the scoreboard after the Chicago Cubs defeated the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The Cubs defeated the Braves 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 18, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view of the scoreboard after the Chicago Cubs defeated the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The Cubs defeated the Braves 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Rick Mahler (1988)

Rick Mahler was bright spot for a miserable stretch of baseball in Atlanta during the 1980s and actually started Opening Day on five

Rick Mahler
Rick Mahler /

occasions—more than Glavine and Smoltz (four apiece) during their careers and second all-time to Maddux (seven) and

Phil Niekro

(eight) among Atlanta-era hurlers.

Doesn’t mean he should’ve been doing so by 1988. Mahler was coming off a two-year stretch (22-31, 4.93 ERA, FIP around 4.70) that was particularly brutal. Although it was Glavine’s first full season, this was an Atlanta team that would go on to lose 106 games, so there weren’t a ton of intriguing options. Mahler led the league in hits allowed in three of his final four seasons as a Brave, including this one—he was gone to Cincinnati the next season.

Next: Len Barker (1984)

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