While we’re barely at the beginning of the MLB offseason, we got a reminder of how quickly the 2026 season will sneak up on us on Wednesday when the Guardians unveiled their spring training schedule for February and March.
The spring training slate will start on Feb. 21 with a split squad day against the Reds and Brewers before they have their first full-squad game a day later against the Athletics.
That kicks off what will be a 32-game slate that spans a little more than a month before the regular season begins on March 26th against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
Sadly, this year’s schedule doesn’t feature scrimmages against any of the countries competing in the World Baseball Classic.
None of the fun of this year’s spring training slate is coming to the Guardians
Next spring’s World Baseball Classic officially kicks off on March 5, and, as a part of that, multiple MLB teams are playing against the countries competing in the WBC in pre-tournament scrimmages… and the Guardians aren’t one of them.
Instead, they’ll play against the Dodgers on March 3 (the first day of WBC scrimmages) and have an off day on March 4.
They’re also missing on some of the novelties of this year’s spring slate. The Yankees are traveling from Florida to Arizona to face off against the Cubs in Mesa, Ariz. on March 23 and 24, while the Tigers will head from Florida to Scottsdale, Ariz. to take on the Rockies.
Both of those crossovers make sense given both the Yankees (Giants) and Tigers (Padres) are starting the season on the West Coast. The Guardians are starting their season in Seattle, but they’re ending the spring slate with two exhibition games against the Giants at Chase Field.
It’s the sixth straight spring slate they’ve finished at Chase Field.
It also remains to be seen how the World Baseball Classic will impact Cleveland’s roster. Although Bo Naylor and Cade Smith are the only current Guardians who competed in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (both for Team Canada), it wouldn’t be surprising if more Cleveland players join their respective country’s roster as the offseason goes on.
José Ramírez didn’t compete for the Dominican Republic in the 2023 Classic but has expressed interest in playing in next spring’s iteration.
Six of the Guardians’ spring opponents made the postseason last year (Reds, Brewers, Dodgers, Mariners, Padres and Cubs), and they’ll get their first look at the defending world champion Dodgers on March 24 when they travel to Camelback Ranch. The Dodgers head to Goodyear a week later on March 3.
This year’s Spring Breakout will come on March 19 when the Guardians travel to Tempe Diablo to take on the Angels. The Guardians beat the Mariners 8-7 in last year’s Spring Breakout, which featured contributions from Travis Bazzana, Parker Messick and Angel Geano.
This article was originally published on awaybackgone.com as Guardians spring training schedule devoid of any World Baseball Classic fun .
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