Stephen Strasburg, 2012 Opening Day Starter, Becomes 5th Washington Nationals Pitcher To Start Regular Season Opener (PHOTOS)

PHOTOS: A Look Back At Nationals Opening Day Starters

Entering their eighth season in D.C., expectations are high for the Washington Nationals.

Flamethrower Stephen Strasburg was picked by Manager Davey Johnson to start the team's April 5, 2012, opener at the Chicago Cubs. Strasburg is the fifth pitcher in Nationals team history to start on Opening Day, joining Livan Hernandez (2005, 2006, 2011), John Patterson (2007), Odalis Perez (2008) and John Lannan (2009, 2010).

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft called the Wrigley Field start a "huge honor." After undergoing Tommy John surgery in Sept. 2010, Strasburg successfully finished his first full spring trainingsince then.

Washington narrowly lost its 2011 season opener at Nationals Park to Atlanta, 2-0. The club is 1-6 all-time in Opening Day games, scoring its only win in 2008 against the Braves.

Here's a look back at the Nationals' list of Opening Day starters since their 2005 move from Montreal to Washington:

Livan Hernandez (2005)

Nationals Opening Day Starters

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