Royals-Guardians Game Moved to Afternoon Due to Cold

The April 7 matchup has been rescheduled to avoid freezing temperatures at night.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 6:37pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game between two teams, with sharp planes of color representing the players and field in an abstract, deconstructed style.A cubist interpretation of the Royals and Guardians facing off, with the game time shift a result of the unpredictable early-season weather.Kansas City Today

The April 7 game between the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians has been moved up to a 1:10 p.m. first pitch, five hours earlier than originally scheduled. The time change was made due to expected below-freezing temperatures in the evening that could have caused issues with the game schedule.

Why it matters

Rescheduling games due to weather is a common occurrence in baseball, but moving a game up by several hours to avoid extreme cold is less typical. This decision helps ensure the game can be played as planned without disrupting the teams' schedules further.

The details

The Royals and Guardians were facing the possibility of a backlog in their schedules or another doubleheader early in the season if the April 7 game was not moved up. Both teams have already had to make adjustments, with Kansas City playing a twinbill against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 4 and Cleveland coming off a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs on April 5.

  • The April 7 game was originally scheduled for an evening start.
  • The game has now been moved up to a 1:10 p.m. first pitch on April 7.

The players

Kansas City Royals

A Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri.

Cleveland Guardians

A Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio.

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The takeaway

This rescheduling highlights the challenges teams face in managing their schedules, especially early in the season when weather can be unpredictable. By moving the game up, the Royals and Guardians are able to avoid potential issues with freezing temperatures and ensure the game is played as planned.