The Yankees’ recent history with Opening Day has been terrible. Since 2009, the Yankees have won just twice to open the season. They also lost six games in a row before that streak was snapped last year. Suffice it to say, the first game of the year has not been kind to the Bombers. Masahiro Tanaka started three of those losses and he’s just been announced as the Opening Day starter for 2019. So are we in for another dud?
Going into spring, the question of the Opening Day starter didn’t exist. Fresh off signing a four-year extension and firmly-entrenched as the staff ace despite a rough second-half, Luis Severino was in line to start his second consecutive Opening Day.