Right now, if you're clicking around your remote looking for a Cleveland Guardians game, you’re going to find a lot of "To Be Announced" or old reruns of that wild 2024 ALCS run. It’s mid-January. It's cold. The grass at Progressive Field is probably under a layer of frost, and the crack of the bat is still a few weeks away.
Basically, the Cleveland Guardians do not play a game today, January 14, 2026.
Baseball is a summer game, and we are currently in the heart of the "Hot Stove" season where front offices are doing more work than the players. But don't go anywhere. Even though there isn't a live game on TV this afternoon, the 2026 season schedule is officially out, and the broadcast landscape for Cleveland baseball just went through a massive earthquake. If you want to know what time do the guardians play today on tv once the season actually starts, the answer is going to look a lot different than it did last year.
When Does the 2026 Guardians Season Actually Start?
Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 26, 2026. That is the official Opening Day. For the ninth year in a row (seriously, ninth!), Cleveland starts the season on the road. They’ll be out in Seattle taking on the Mariners.
The first time you'll be able to watch them on TV for a meaningful game is that Thursday night. Usually, these West Coast openers start late for us Ohio folks—expect a first pitch around 10:10 PM ET. It’s a late night, but it’s baseball.
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If you can't wait until March, Spring Training is your first fix. The Guardians report to Goodyear, Arizona, in February. The first exhibition game is Saturday, February 21, against the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark. Those games usually start around 3:05 PM ET (1:05 PM local Arizona time).
The Huge Change in How to Watch the Guardians
Honestly, the biggest news this winter isn't a trade—it's the TV rights. For years, we dealt with the Bally Sports/Diamond Sports Group saga. That's over.
Starting this 2026 season, the Guardians have a new TV home. Major League Baseball has taken over the local broadcasts for several teams, including Cleveland. You’ve basically got two main ways to watch:
- CLEGuardians.TV: This is the new direct-to-consumer streaming service. No cable required. You pay a monthly fee (likely around $19.99) or a season pass price, and you can stream every single game that isn't a national exclusive.
- Local Cable/Satellite: Most local providers like Spectrum, Cox, and DirecTV will carry the MLB-produced feed.
The cool part? No more blackouts for local streamers who buy the specific Guardians package through MLB. That's a huge win for fans who cut the cord years ago and were tired of using "alternative" methods to see José Ramírez hit home runs.
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Key Dates for the 2026 Schedule
While you're waiting for that first pitch, here are the dates that actually matter:
- February 21: First Spring Training game (vs. Reds).
- March 26: Opening Day in Seattle.
- April 3: Home Opener at Progressive Field against the Chicago Cubs.
The Home Opener is going to be a tough ticket. Facing the Cubs in early April in Cleveland? Better bring a parka and some gloves. It’s only the second time in franchise history they’ve opened at home against a National League team.
National TV and Special Games
Even though most games will be on the new local MLB feed, the Guardians are finally getting some national respect. You’ll see them on the "big" channels throughout the year.
- Sunday Night Baseball (ESPN): Expect at least two or three appearances here if the team stays in the hunt for the AL Central.
- Peacock/NBC: There is a scheduled "Sunday Leadoff" game on March 29 against the Mariners that will be exclusive to Peacock/NBC.
- FOX/FS1: Saturday afternoon games are still a staple, especially for divisional matchups against the Twins or Tigers.
Why There’s No Game Today
It’s easy to get confused with the NBA and NHL in full swing. The Cleveland Cavaliers actually have a heavy schedule right now (they’re playing the 76ers tonight, in fact), but the Guardians are strictly in "off-season mode."
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The players are mostly down in Florida or Arizona or their home countries working out privately. Pitchers and catchers don't even report for another month. So, for today, your best bet for Guardians content on TV is checking out the MLB Network for "High Heat" or "MLB Tonight" to see if they've made any moves to bolster the outfield or the bullpen.
Actionable Steps for Guardians Fans
Since there's no game to watch this second, you should get your setup ready for March so you aren't scrambling on Opening Day.
- Check your provider: Call your cable company or check your streaming service (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo) to see if they’ve added the new MLB-produced Guardians channel.
- Download the MLB App: This is where the CLEGuardians.TV stream will live. If you plan on watching on your phone or Roku, you’ll need this updated.
- Sync your calendar: Go to the official Guardians website and "Sync Schedule" to your phone. It’ll automatically update with the correct times (mostly 6:40 PM for night games and 1:10 PM for day games) once they are finalized.
- Look for Fan Fest info: The team usually holds events in January or February where you can see players in person before they head to Arizona.
The wait for baseball is long, but we’re officially closer to the start of the 2026 season than we are to the end of the last one. Hang in there.