St. Louis Cardinals (30-28 in 2020) vs. Cincinnati Reds (31-29 in 2020) Game No. 1 • Road Game No. 1 • Great American Ball Park • Thursday, April 1, 2021 RHP Jack Flaherty (4-3, 4.91 in 2020) vs. RHP Luis Castillo (4-6, 3.21 in 2020) OPENING DAY: The St. Louis Cardinals open their 130th season of play in the Na- OPENING DAY LEADERS tional League today as they visit the division-rival Cincinnati Reds in the opening CARDINALS vs. REDS Cardinals Rank HR Games game of the regular season ... The Cardinals are 59-68-2 (.464 win pct.) overall on All-Time (1892-2020):.......................1,197-1,091 1. Albert Pujols 4 11 Opening Day, including a 23-36 (.393) mark on the road. ROAD OPENERS: Since in St. Louis (1892-2020) ................................. 663-478 Yadier Molina 4 16 2010, the Cardinals open their season on the road for the 9th time in 12 seasons at Sportsman’s/Robison Field (1892-1920) .. 125-143 3. Stan Musial 3 21 (at Busch Stadium in 2011 vs. SD, 2017 vs. CHI, & 2020 vs. PIT). at Sportsman’s Park/Busch I (1920-66) ....... 319-171 Cardinals Rank RBI Games VS. THE RED LEGS: Today marks St. Louis’ 19th Opening Day meeting against at Busch Stadium II (1966-2005) ................. 139-119 1. Stan Musial 14 21 Cincinnati, with the Cardinals holding an all-time 10-8 margin (9-8 in Cincinnati) at Busch Stadium III (2006-20) ........................ 81-45 2. Albert Pujols 13 11 and winning the last three (2014, 2010, 1994) and five of the last six. OPENERS in Cincinnati (1892-2020): .......................531-612 3. Willie McGee 10 11 IN CINCY: Seventeen of 18 season openers between the Cardinals and Reds at League Pk/Palace of the Fans (1892-1912).... 71-123 Yadier Molina 10 16 have taken place in Cincinnati, with the only opening day vs. the Reds in St. Lou- at Crosley Field (1913-1970) ........................ 299-308 Cardinals Rank Hits Games is occurring in 1948 at Sportsman’s Park (4-0 win)... the last time the Cardinals at Riverfront/Cinergy Field (1970-2002) ......... 86-107 1. Stan Musial 23 21 and Reds faced off on Opening Day was 2014 at Great American Ball Park in a at Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey (2019) ............... 1-1 2. Yadier Molina 19 16 1-0 win, thanks to Yadier Molina’s 7th inning solo homer and 7.0 scoreless IP at Great American Ball Park (2003-20) ........76-74 3. Albert Pujols 17 11 from Adam Wainwright ... St. Louis opened the 2010 campaign with an 11-5 win 2020...................................................................... 6-4 Enos Slaughter 17 13 over the Reds as Albert Pujols went deep twice and scored four runs; Molina at Busch Stadium ............................................... 4-3 also hit a three-run homer in the 9th inning ... Ray Lankford led off the 1994 at Great American Ball Park ............................... 2-1 MOST OPENING DAY STARTS season by homering off Cincy’s José Rijo in a 6-4 win at Riverfront Stadium on 2019.................................................................... 12-7 Stan Musial 21 1942-44, 46-63 ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. 2018.................................................................... 12-7 Yadier Molina 17 2005-21 ROOKIES & FIRST TIMERS: Jake Woodford, John Nogowski, Edmundo Sosa, 2020 SCHEDULE AND RESULTS (6-4) Lou Brock 15 1965-79 Dylan Carlson, and Justin Williams are the five rookies on the Cardinals Open- 8/20 at STL .......W, 5-4 ......................Elledge-Iglesias Ozzie Smith 13 1982-95 ing Day roster, while this marks the first Opening Day rosters for Alex Reyes, 8/21 at STL .......L, 4-2 ...... Lorenzen-Cabrera-Iglesias Enos Slaughter 13 1938-42, 46-53 Woodford, Nogowski, Carlson, and Williams. 8/22 at STL .......W, 3-0 ................Kim-Miley-Gallegos 8/23 at STL .......W, 6-2 ....................... Cabrera-Mahle NEW TO THE FLOCK: Nolan Arenado is the only first-time Redbird on the Open- MOST OPENING DAY STARTS 8/31 at CIN ........W, 7-5 .....Hudson-DeSclafani-Gallegos BY A CATCHER - MLB HISTORY ing Day roster, while 19 players were developed within the Cardinals organization. 9/1 at CIN ..........W, 16-2 ..............................Kim-Gray Ivan Rodriguez 20 1992-2011 OPENING DAY NOTABLES: Paul DeJong’s fourth straight Opening Day start at 9/2 at CIN ..........L, 4-3 .....................Iglesias-Gallegos Yadier Molina 17 2005-21 shortstop (2018-21) is the club’s most since Edgar Renteria’s six consecutive 9/11 at STL .......L, 3-1 ............CASTILLO-Wainwright Benito Santiago 16 1987-97, 99, 02-05 (1999-2004) ... At age 22.160, Dylan Carlson today becomes the the 3rd-young- 9/12 at STL .......W, 7-1 ......................Hudson-Antone est starting center fielder in Cardinals Opening Day history behind Jack Smith 9/13 at STL .......L, 10-5 ............Bradley-Gant-Iglesias MOST CONSECUTIVE (20.294 in 1916) and David Green (22.111 in 1983). Notable recent younger OPENING DAY STARTS Last Cardinals sweep (3G): ... April 20-22, 2018 at CIN MLB center fielders to start Opening Day include Byron Buxton (22.108 in 2016) Last Reds sweep (4G): ..............June 5-8, 2017 at CIN Stan Musial 18 1946-63 Mike Trout (21.237 in 2013), Andrew Jones (21.347 in 1999), Carlos Beltran Yadier Molina 17 2005-21 (21.346 in 1999), and Ken Griffey Jr. (19.133 in 1989). Lou Brock 15 1965-79 LINEUP CHATTER: For the second consecutive season (2020-21), four infielders (excluding catcher) occupy the first four spots of the Cardi- LONGEST OPENING DAY nals Opening Day lineup, something that never occurred over the club’s previous 120 Opening Days from 1900-2019 ... Last season, the Car- START STREAK - BY POSITION dinals (Wong, Edman, Goldschmidt, DeJong) were joined by Cleveland and Toronto with four infielders batting 1-4 on Opening Day. (Elias) C Yadier Molina 17 2005-21 IN THE CARDS: Entering his 18th season (2004-21), Yadier Molina sports the longest active tenure with only one franchise in MLB, ahead LF Lou Brock 13 1967-79 of Washington’s Ryan Zimmerman (16, 2005-18, ‘20), and Adam Wainwright (16, 2005-10, ‘12-21) ... Molina’s 18th season with the same 2B Julian Javier 11 1961-71 organization is the most by any primary catcher in MLB history, surpassing 17 by Bill Dickey (Yankees, 1928-43, ‘46), Johnny Bench (Reds, 3B Ken Boyer 11 1955-65 1967-83), and Jorge Posada (Yankees, 1995-2011) ... Molina’s 18 seasons with the same franchise tie for 29th-longest tenure with one team in MLB history and is the longest since Hall of Famers Derek Jeter (20, 1995-2014, Yankees) and Chipper Jones (19, 1993, ‘95-2012, Braves). MOST SEASONS APPEARED IN A CARDINALS UNIFORM MORE MOLINA MILESTONES: Yadier Molina makes his 17th straight (2005-21) Opening Day start at catcher, extending his Cardinals fran- chise record for most consecutive starts at a single position ... Yadi’s 17 consecutive Opening Day starts rank 2nd in franchise history, trailing Stan Musial 22 1941-44, 46-63 only Stan Musial (18, 1946-63) ... Molina’s 17 Opening Day starts at catcher surpass Benito Santiago for 2nd-most all-time by a catcher Jesse Haines 18 1920-37 in MLB history, trailing Ivan Rodríguez (20), while Molina is the only catcher in MLB history (since 1913) to make 16 or more Opening Day Yadier Molina 18 2004-21 Bob Gibson 17 1959-75 starts with only one team, surpassing White Sox’s Ray Schalk (15, 1913-27) and Yankee’s Bill Dickey (15, 1930-43, ‘46). Lou Brock 16 1964-79 250 GOLDY DINGERS: Paul Goldschmidt’s next homer will be the 250th of his career, as he seeks to become the 9th player to hit home run Adam Wainwright 16 2005-10, 12-21 #250 in a Cardinals uniform and join Stan Musial (9/4/53 at Milwaukee Braves), Ken Boyer (7/10/65 at Chicago Cubs), Orlando Cepeda (6/9/67 Red Schoendienst 15 1945-56, 61-63 at LA Dodgers), Jim Edmonds (7/18/03 at LA Dodgers), Reggie Sanders (4/9/04 at Arizona), Albert Pujols (10/1/06 vs. Milwaukee), Scott Bob Forsch 15 1974-88 Rolen (8/23/06 at New York Mets), and Matt Holliday (9/27/13 vs. Chicago Cubs) ... Nolan Arenado enters the season with 235 career homers. Ozzie Smith 15 1982-96 CINCINNATI CONNECTIONS MOST SEASONS APPEARED EXCLUSIVELY W/ CARDINALS Daniel Ponce de Leon (38th round in 2012) and Reds broadcaster Jeff Brantley pitched in 48 Reds pro scout Bruce Manno worked in the Car- Tyler Webb (48th round in 2011) were both se- games for St. Louis in 1998. dinals for six seasons as Director of Player De- Stan Musial 22 1941-44, 46-63 lected by the Reds, but did not sign. velopment (2002-06) and Senior Director of Pro Reds first base coach Delino DeShields played Jesse Haines 18 1920-37 Scouting & Special Assistant to the GM (2007). Daniel Ponce de Leon (July 23, 2018 at GABP) two seasons with St. Louis (1997-98). Yadier Molina 18 2004-21 and Alex Reyes (August 9, 2016 at Busch) made Reds Bullpen Coach Lee Tunnell pitched in 32 Cardinals Hall of Famer Scott Rolen played his Bob Gibson 17 1959-75 their MLB debuts vs. Cincinnati. games for St. Louis in 1987. Adam Wainwright 16 2005-10, 12-21 final four seasons with the Reds (2009-12), where Mike Maddux was born in Dayton, Ohio...origi- he was a 2010 Gold Glove Award winner and two- Reds Special Asst. to the GM Marty Maier spent Pepper Martin 13 1928, 30-40, 44 nally selected by the Reds in the 36th round of time All-Star (2010-11).