The Cleveland Guardians and MLB made what they thought was the proper move when they pushed the start time of the game against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday into the afternoon to better handle an unfavorable weather forecast. Turns out the weather is not cooperating, and conditions at Progressive Field will be very difficult regardless.
The first pitch was moved up to 1:10 p.m. from its original 6:10 p.m. start to avoid potentially frigid temperatures. Yet, according to Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald and Morning-Journal, they are, in fact, unavoidable.
The Guardians-Royals game is still facing tough weather conditions, with temperatures likely to be at the freezing mark throughout the day.
“At 9 a.m. the temperature is 27 degrees. The wind chill makes it feel like 12 degrees. Nevertheless, the game between the Guardians and Royals for 1:10 p.m. is still on. By then the temperature is supposed to be a balmy 32 degrees,” Schudel wrote.
At 9 a.m. the temperature is 27 degrees. The wind chill makes it feel like 12 degrees. Nevertheless, the game between the #Guardians and #Royals for 1:10 p.m. is still on. By then the temperature is supposed to be a balmy 32 degrees.
— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) April 7, 2026
The Guardians were correct in that it will be colder in the evening, when the game was originally scheduled, than it will be in the afternoon. However, it will still be very challenging for the players and fans.
The Guardians have been dealing with weather issues for the past few days. Cleveland’s game against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday was rained out, and the teams played a doubleheader in cold and windy conditions on Sunday. It arguably had a great effect on the respective offenses, especially in the opener, when the teams combined for just three hits, with the Guardians getting just one, a wind-aided double, in a 1-0 loss.
On Monday, the Guardians and Royals played the first of their three-game series, with a game-time temperature closer to 40 degrees. Cleveland managed just four hits, with two home runs, in a 4-2 loss.
The offensive struggles are becoming something of an overall concern for the Guardians that can’t just be blamed on the weather it has faced during this first homestand of the season. They are batting .193 as a team with 34 runs scored in their 11 games.
Fortunately, temperatures are forecast to be in the mid-50s for the series finale against the Royals on Wednesday, which is set for its originally scheduled time of 1:10 p.m.
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