Roy Halladay & Worm Killer Wang @ The Bronx

The last time that Roy Halladay pitched a game against the Yankees, in the Bronx, where he got the loss, was September 21, 2004. Since 2001, Halladay has made 11 starts at the Stadium and Toronto has won 8 of those 11 games.

In his career, Chien-Ming Wang has made 5 starts against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. He’s never gone less than 7 innings in any of those games - and he’s never allowed more than 3 earned runs in any of those outings. The Yankees have won 3 of those 5 games - and each of the two losses were by just one run.

So, what are the odds of tomorrow’s home opener being just like the one from 1998? Yeah, I doubt it too.

It will probably be more like the Yanks home opener from 1992 or from 1986.

It’s interesting, there have not been a lot of Yankees home openers where the starting pitchers from both teams were really on their game. You probably have to go back to 1968 or to 1966 to find one.

Actually, since this current Yankee Stadium opened in 1973, there have been probably just two games where the Yankees starting pitcher was lights-out in the home opener: Rick Rhoden in 1988 and Catfish Hunter in 1977.

Maybe Wang can make it three guys before they shut the door on this Stadium?

March 30, 2008 | Filed Under Yankees History