Guardians-Mariners 2026 Opening Day FAQ

Thurs., 10:10 p.m. ET

Mar. 24, 2026 at 4:49am

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Baseball will be played at T-Mobile Park this Thursday for the first time since Game 5 of last year's American League Championship Series, where some of the most iconic moments of the entire season took place. The Mariners are returning to their home crowd following an offseason of heartbreak after coming just eight outs shy of their first World Series, but they are firmly ready to turn the page -- and believe they have the talent and newfound experience to climb the next October frontier. The Guardians, meanwhile, are seeking their third straight AL Central title since manager Stephen Vogt took over.

Why it matters

If this matchup wasn't already one of the best in this Opening Day slate, it's MLB's only that features two defending division champions going head to head. The game will also serve as a homecoming for Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, who makes his permanent residence in nearby Olympia, Wash., and was Seattle's bullpen coach during his first season after his playing days ended.

The details

First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET/7:10 PT on Thursday on MLB.TV. The game will be carried on Mariners.TV, the new in-market streaming option that will allow fans in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Montana and Hawaii to stream Mariners games live throughout the season. It will also be available via traditional cable outlets. On the radio, 710 Seattle Sports will air the game. In Cleveland, the game will be carried on CLEGuardians.TV presented by Progressive, which is back for a second season in 2026 and allows fans to stream all Guardians regular-season games in the club's home territory with no blackouts. You can also catch games on cable or satellite; channels will be announced closer to Opening Day.

  • The Mariners are returning to their home crowd following an offseason of heartbreak after coming just eight outs shy of their first World Series in last year's ALCS.
  • The Guardians are seeking their third straight AL Central title since manager Stephen Vogt took over.

The players

Stephen Vogt

The Guardians' manager who makes his permanent residence in nearby Olympia, Wash., and was Seattle's bullpen coach during his first season after his playing days ended.

Tony Arnerich

Cleveland's bench coach and Seattle's former bullpen coach.

Andy McKay

The Guardians' new field coordinator who was instrumental to the Mariners' ascent after over a decade in their front office.

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What they’re saying

“You set the tone for later in the game, for the rest of the season, all that kind of stuff. Don't get me wrong. I know it's one game, and we have 162 before the real stuff starts. So I'm not trying to be a superhero out there. But win or lose, good or bad, I'm going to throw the ball as aggressively as possible. That's the only thing I can do.”

— Logan Gilbert

“That September really helped me throughout the offseason in giving me some realizations of what I needed to do and gave me a clear path instead of searching so hard.”

— Tanner Bibee

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.