The Cleveland Guardians, at long last, will open their 2026 campaign on Thursday, visiting one of the toughest teams in the American League: the Seattle Mariners. Both squads won their division last year, with the M’s reaching the League Championship Series and the Guardians bowing out in the Wild Card round.
The roster is ready, and the Opening Day starter is ready, too. The real thing is about to start.
For Cleveland, it will be a new opportunity to win the World Series title for the first time since 1948. It is the longest active drought in the league at the moment.
Of course, fans want to see that changing, and time is starting to run out if we consider what is left of Jose Ramirez’s prime. J-Ram remains elite at 33 years old, but 2026 represents a perfect chance for the Guardians to take advantage of his peak and combine it with the emergence of young stars Chase DeLauter, Travis Bazzana, and others.
DeLauter will be part of the Opening Day lineup in all likelihood, but the same can’t be said about the No. 1 pick of the 2024 MLB Draft. In what is shaping up to be a close fight for the AL Central with the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals, Cleveland will prioritize another year of team control in exchange of waiting a month or two to call up their blue-chip prospect, who is clearly ready for MLB after slugging .857 in the Cactus League and posting a 137 wRC+ in the minors last year.
The Guardians know they can count on Ramirez’s all-around excellence, Kyle Manzardo and Rhys Hoskins’ power, and the talent of a steady, promising pitching staff. Therefore, whether they reach the promised land will depend on how much they can get from their young guys.
DeLauter, Bazzana, Bo Naylor, CJ Kayfus, George Valera, Parker Messick, Gavin Williams, Slade Cecconi, Peyton Pallette, and several others will determine just how far this team can go in 2026.
The potential is there for an amazing season, but a lot will have to go right for the Guardians to win the Fall Classic. Never say never, though.
Projected lineup vs. righties:
CF Steven Kwan
RF Chase DeLauter
3B Jose Ramirez
1B Kyle Manzardo
DH Rhys Hoskins
LF CJ Kayfus
SS Gabriel Arias
C Bo Naylor
2B Brayan Rocchio
Projected lineup vs. lefties:
CF Steven Kwan
LF Angel Martinez
3B Jose Ramirez
1B Rhys Hoskins
DH David Fry
SS Gabriel Arias
RF Chase DeLauter
2B Brayan Rocchio
C Austin Hedges
Rotation:
Thursday: Tanner Bibee
Friday: Gavin Williams
Saturday: Joey Cantillo
Sunday: Slade Cecconi
Monday: Parker Messick
Bullpen:
Cade Smith
Shawn Armstrong
Erik Sabrowski (L)
Tim Herrin (L)
Matt Festa
Peyton Pallette
Connor Brogdon
Colin Holderman
Projected AL Central standings:
Cleveland Guardians: 87-75
Detroit Tigers: 86-76
Kansas City Royals: 84-78
Minnesota Twins: 72-90
Chicago White Sox: 69-93
Projected season finish:
Guardians fall in the American League Championship Series
NEXT: 5 Bold Predictions For The Guardians In 2026
