The Cleveland Guardians and Seattle Mariners kicked off the 2026 season with an exciting Opening Day matchup at T-Mobile Park. Cleveland emerged victorious, securing a 6-4 win in a tightly contested game.
The Guardians’ offense was firing on all cylinders. Chase DeLauter made quite the splash in his MLB debut, notching three hits, including his first big league home run.
And he didn’t stop there-DeLauter went on to hit another, marking a memorable two-homer game. Rhys Hoskins also made a strong first impression with three hits in his debut for Cleveland, adding depth to their lineup.
On the flip side, it was a tough day for the Mariners’ Logan Gilbert, who struggled to find his rhythm on the mound. Cal Raleigh, unfortunately, continued his recent slump, going hitless in the game.
Looking ahead, Game 2 of this three-game series is set for Saturday afternoon. The Guardians will send Gavin Williams to the mound.
Williams, a 26-year-old left-hander, is coming off an impressive 2025 season where he stayed healthy and posted a 3.8 bWAR. He delivered career-best numbers, pitching 167.2 innings over 32 starts, ending with a 12-5 record and a 3.06 ERA.
Meanwhile, the Mariners will counter with George Kirby on Friday evening. The 28-year-old had a challenging start last season due to shoulder inflammation but managed to make 23 starts.
He wrapped up the year with a 10-8 record and a 4.21 ERA over 126.0 innings. Both teams will be eager to see how their starters perform as the series continues.