3/26/26

(Seattle, WA) The one day of the season where every team across Major League Baseball has hope and a fresh start and the beauty of that is just one reason why Opening Day is so special. While some teams are underdogs or not expected to go far, there is always that hope for a Cinderella run on Opening Day. There are also the favorites that believe Opening Day is the start of a historical season that will culminate with a championship.

In Seattle on Thursday night, two teams that fall more into the category of the latter began their 2026 campaigns. Two teams that both made the playoffs last season squared off to start the new season as the Cleveland Guardians took on the Seattle Mariners to begin a four-game series. Cleveland made an incredible run to capture the AL Central crown last season while Seattle won the AL West for the first time since 2001 before falling just seven outs shy of their first World Series appearance ever. While Cleveland is expected to take a step back, the M’s entered Opening Day as the favorites to claim the American League pennant.

Opening Day pitching matchups are always the best of the best with every team throwing out their respective aces to try to start the season with a win. Logan Gilbert would get the nod for the second consecutive Opening Day for the Mariners, looking to get back to being an innings eater after struggling with high pitch counts last year despite a strong season. Tanner Bibee would make his first Opening Day start for Cleveland after infamously missing his scheduled Opening Day start last season due to alleged stomach issues after eating Chipotle the day of his start.

Guardians 6, Mariners 4 (Game 1, March 26th)

Some teams see their offenses struggle out of the gates after shifting from Spring Training to real competitive competition. Neither the Cleveland Guardians or Seattle Mariners had to wait long for their first runs and home runs. In the top of the 1st, Chase DeLauter celebrated his first Opening Day as the rookie blasted his first career home run off of Logan Gilbert to right field. The lead didn’t last for long as Brendan Donovan began his Mariners tenure with his first swing as Mariner coming on a 3-1 fastball that he drove out to right and just kept fair for his first home run in his new threads. Those homers seemed to relax everyone as after an inning we were tied up at 1-1.

Logan Gilbert managed to strand a Rhys Hoskins double in the top of the 2nd and Seattle once again would flex their muscle in the home half of that inning. New everyday DH Dominic Canzone enjoyed a nice run in the World Baseball Classic with Team Italy and that helped him get off to a great start in the 2026 regular season. Canzone dropped his barrel on a sinker down in the zone and clobbered a solo shot out to right center for the M’s second home run in as many innings. For the first time in 2026, Seattle had a lead with a 2-1 advantage.

Tanner Bibee and Logan Gilbert both settled in after bumpy starts to their season and both put up quiet 3rd and 4th innings. In the top of the 5th, Cleveland showcased how pesky they could be just like the rest of their division. Rhys Hoskins led off the inning with a single to left and Daniel Schneeman followed with a double out to center to put runners on second and third with nobody out. It was going to be hard for Gilbert to protect the lead but did manage to get Gabriel Arias to pop out to Josh Naylor for the first out. Brayan Rocchio would not be as easy as he made Gilbert pay for a cutter down the middle and smoked it down the right field line. Hoskins and Schneeman both scored on Rocchio’s double and Cleveland was back in front, 3-2.

Tanner Bibee only got to enjoy that new lead for exactly one pitch as Seattle’s home run barrage continued. Luke Raley jumped on the first pitch of the bottom of the 5th and sent a laser beam out to right field and it just barely snuck over the wall for his first home run of the season. The 114-mph rocket brought Seattle back to life as once again the game was tied back up at 3-3. Seattle would put some pressure on with a two out walk by Leo Rivas followed by a double by Brendan Donovan, but Cal Raleigh went down swinging to end the threat and keep the game tied.

Dan Wilson went to his bullpen after Gilbert got the first out in the 6th and Jose A. Ferrer made his Mariner debut after being acquired in the Harry Ford trade with Washington. Kyle Manzardo was erased after he singled on a fielder’s choice and Rhys Hoskins parachuted a blooper down the right field line to put Guardians at the corners with two outs. Ferrer settled in and got Angel Martínez to fly out to Raley in right to escape the jam and keep the game tied.

Seattle stranded another double as Randy Arozarena was left out at second to end the 6th and Gabe Speier came on to pitch as Seattle burned both lefties out of their bullpen immediately. Brayan Rocchio’s single seemed harmless as he remained on first with two outs before Chase DeLauter singled to put two on with two away. The criminally underrated José Ramírez then clutched up as always for Cleveland by doubling into the left field corner. Rocchio and DeLauter both scored and Cleveland was back in front 5-3.

Dominic Canzone wasted no time getting one of those runs back as he jumped on the first pitch from Shawn Armstrong and sent his second home run of the season out to right center to make it 5-4. Unfortunately for the Mariners, Chase DeLauter would net himself his second homer of the game in the 9th taking Cooper Criswell out to right to make it 6-4. That is where the M’s ran out of gas. Closer Cade Smith came in and retired Arozarena, Raley, and Canzone in order despite Canzone smoking a line drive. It was not quite the start to the season the M’s had hoped for as they dropped the season opener to Cleveland, 6-4.

Notable Performances

Guardians

Mariners

• Dominic Canzone- 2-4, 2 HRs, 2 RBI, 2 R
• Brendan Donovan- 2-4, HR, 2B, RBI, R
• Logan Gilbert (ND)- 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO

What’s Next

Of course everyone loves to overreact to Opening Day (I am guilty as well) but the Seattle Mariners (0-1) surely aren’t panicking after just one game. The series with Cleveland will continue on Friday all the way through Sunday to complete the four-game series. The projected pitching matchups are below. Please note, Friday’s game will air exclusively on Apple TV while Sunday’s game will be on Peacock as Sunday Night Baseball shifts over to NBC after 36 seasons on ESPN.

Pitching Probables (Last Season’s Stats)

• Game 2, Friday 6:40pm (Apple TV)- Gavin Williams (12-5, 3.06 ERA) vs. Michael Wacha (10-8, 4.21 ERA)
• Game 3, Saturday 6:40pm- Joey Cantillo (5-3, 3.21 ERA) vs. Bryan Woo (15-7, 2.94 ERA)
• Game 4, Sunday 4:20pm (Peacock)- Slade Cecconi (7-7, 4.30 ERA) vs. Emerson Hancock (4-5, 4.90 ERA)

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