The 2026 Cleveland Guardians season is the 126th season for the franchise, which competes in the American League of Major League Baseball (MLB). The team's win over the San Diego Padres on August 15 was the 10,000th regular season win in franchise history; the Guardians became the third American League team to reach the mark.
On September 24, the Guardians clinched their third consecutive postseason berth with a 1–0 win over the Boston Red Sox.
On September 26, the penultimate day of the season, the Guardians clinched their third-straight American League Central division title with an 11–5 win over the Kansas City Royals combined with the Chicago White Sox's 9–6 loss to the Colorado Rockies. Much like last season, the Guardians staged a turnaround after being as much as seven games out of first place in July and having a 61–66 record on August 19.
Regular season
Standings
American League Central
American League Wild Card
Record against opponents
Game log
|-style="background:#bfb; | 1 || March 26 || @ Mariners || 6–4 || Brogdon (1–0) || Speier (0–1) || Smith (1) || 44,938 || 1–0 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 2 || March 27 || @ Mariners || 1–5 || Kirby (1–0) || Williams (0–1) || — || 36,987 || 1–1 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 3 || March 28 || @ Mariners || 6–5 || Smith (1–0) || Muñoz (0–1) || Brogdon (1) || 43,283 || 2–1 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 4 || March 29 || @ Mariners || 0–8 || Hancock (1–0) || Cecconi (0–1) || Criswell (1) || 30,800 || 2–2 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 5 || March 30 || @ Dodgers || 4–2 || Messick (1–0) || Sasaki (0–1) || — || 52,173 || 3–2 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 6 || March 31 || @ Dodgers || 1–4 || Ohtani (1–0) || Bibee (0–1) || — || 53,614 || 3–3 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 7 || April 1 || @ Dodgers || 4–1 || Williams (1–1) || Yamamoto (1–1) || — || 45,556 || 4–3 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 8 || April 3 || Cubs || 4–1 || Brogdon (2–0) || Harvey (0–1) || Smith (2) || 37,360 || 5–3 || W2 |-style="background:#bbb;" | — || April 4 || Cubs ||colspan="8"|Postponed (rain) (Makeup date: April 5) |-style="background:#fbb;" | 9 || April 5 || Cubs || 0–1 || Thielbar (1–0) || Brogdon (2–1) || Palencia (1) || || 5–4 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 10 || April 5 || Cubs || 6–5 || Armstrong (1–0) || Webb (0–1) || Smith (3) || 19,791 || 6–4 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 11 || April 6 || Royals || 2–4 || Wacha (1–0) || Pallette (0–1) || Erceg (3) || 13,143 || 6–5 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 12 || April 7 || Royals || 2–1 || Smith (2–0) || Schreiber (0–1) || — || 10,328 || 7–5 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 13 || April 8 || Royals || 10–2 || Cantillo (1–0) || Ragans (0–3) || Festa (1) || 14,734 || 8–5 || W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 14 || April 10 || @ Braves || 5–11 || Kinley (2–0) || Cecconi (0–2) || — || 40,363 || 8–6 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 15 || April 11 || @ Braves || 6–0 || Messick (2–0) || Pérez (0–1) || — || 40,195 || 9–6 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 16 || April 12 || @ Braves || 1–13 || Sale (3–1) || Bibee (0–2) || Dodd (1) || 29,084 || 9–7 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 17 || April 13 || @ Cardinals || 9–3 || Williams (2–1) || Liberatore (0–1) || — || 17,901 || 10–7 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 18 || April 14 || @ Cardinals || 5–6 || O'Brien (2–0) || Herrin (0–1) || — || 20,772 || 10–8 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 19 || April 15 || @ Cardinals || 3–5 || May (2–2) || Brogdon (2–2) || O'Brien (5) || 22,642 || 10–9 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 20 || April 16 || Orioles || 4–2 || Messick (3–0) || Baz (0–2) || Smith (4) || 14,748 || 11–9 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 21 || April 17 || Orioles || 4–6 || Garcia (2–0) || Sabrowski (0–1) || Helsley (6) || 23,988 || 11–10 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 22 || April 18 || Orioles || 4–2 || Williams (3–1) || Kremer (0–1) || Smith (5) || 20,783 || 12–10 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 23 || April 19 || Orioles || 8–4 || Festa (1–0) || Rogers (2–2) || — || 17,408 || 13–10 || W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 24 || April 20 || Astros || 2–9 || Arrighetti (2–0) || Cecconi (0–3) || — || 12,565 || 13–11 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 25 || April 21 || Astros || 8–5 || Pallette (1–1) || De Los Santos (0–1) || — || 15,448 || 14–11 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 26 || April 22 || Astros || 0–2 || Lambert (1–1) || Bibee (0–3) || De Los Santos (3) || 15,722 || 14–12 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 27 || April 24 || @ Blue Jays || 8–6 || Williams (4–1) || Scherzer (1–3) || Smith (6) || 41,671 || 15–12 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 28 || April 25 || @ Blue Jays || 3–5 || Gausman (2–1) || Cantillo (1–1) || Varland (2) || 41,543 || 15–13 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 29 || April 26 || @ Blue Jays || 2–4 || Fisher (1–0) || Cecconi (0–4) || Varland (3) || 41,136 || 15–14 || L2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 30 || April 27 || Rays || 2–3 || Matz (4–1) || Gaddis (0–1) || Baker (7) || 18,029 || 15–15 || L3 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 31 || April 28 || Rays || 0–1 || Martinez (2–1) || Bibee (0–4) || Sulser (1) || 16,213 || 15–16 || L4 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 32 || April 29 || Rays || 3–1 || Williams (5–1) || Rasmussen (2–1) || Smith (7) || 14,196 || 16–16 || W1
|-style="background:#bfb;" | 33 || May 1 || @ Athletics || 8–5 || Sabrowski (1–1) || Ginn (0–1) || Smith (8) || 12,122 || 17–16 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 34 || May 2 || @ Athletics || 14–6 || Cecconi (1–4) || Lopez (2–2) || — || 11,390 || 18–16 || W3 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 35 || May 3 || @ Athletics || 1–7 || Civale (3–1) || Messick (3–1) || — || 12,194 || 18–17 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 36 || May 4 || @ Royals || 2–6 || Wacha (3–2) || Bibee (0–5) || — || 16,434 || 18–18 || L2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 37 || May 5 || @ Royals || 3–5 || Kolek (1–0) || Williams (5–2) || Erceg (10) || 13,102 || 18–19 || L3 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 38 || May 6 || @ Royals || 3–1 || Cantillo (2–1) || Avila (0–2) || Smith (9) || 13,039 || 19–19 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 39 || May 7 || @ Royals || 8–5 || Cecconi (2–4) || Lugo (1–2) || Smith (10) || 24,892 || 20–19 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 40 || May 8 || Twins || 6–4 || Messick (4–1) || Prielipp (1–1) || Smith (11) || 19,030 || 21–19 || W3 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 41 || May 9 || Twins || 1–2 || Orze (1–1) || Pallette (1–2) || García (1) || 28,230 || 21–20 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 42 || May 10 || Twins || 4–5 || Rojas (1–0) || Williams (5–3) || Gómez (2) || 22,475 || 21–21 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 43 || May 11 || Angels || 7–2 || Cantillo (3–1) || Suter (1–2) || — || 15,492 || 22–21 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 44 || May 12 || Angels || 3–2 || Gaddis (1–1) || Ureña (1–4) || Smith (12) || 16,355 || 23–21 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 45 || May 13 || Angels || 4–2 || Messick (5–1) || Detmers (1–4) || Smith (13) || 21,142 || 24–21 || W3 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 46 || May 15 || Reds || 6–7 || Abbott (3–2) || Bibee (0–6) || Antone (1) || 27,903 || 24–22 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 47 || May 16 || Reds || 7–4 || Sabrowski (2–1) || Moll (1–3) || Smith (14) || 33,331 || 25–22 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 48 || May 17 || Reds || 10–3 || Williams (6–3) || Singer (2–4) || — || 27,388 || 26–22 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 49 || May 18 || @ Tigers || 8–2 || Cecconi (3–4) || Valdez (2–3) || — || 18,913 || 27–22 || W3 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 50 || May 19 || @ Tigers || 4–3 || Holderman (1–0) || Holton (0–3) || Smith (15) || 21,239 || 28–22 || W4 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 51 || May 20 || @ Tigers || 3–2 || Holderman (2–0) || Holton (0–4) || Smith (16) || 20,450 || 29–22 || W5 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 52 || May 21 || @ Tigers || 3–1 || Cantillo (4–1) || Mize (2–3) || Gaddis (1) || 25,687 || 30–22 || W6 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 53 || May 22 || @ Phillies || 1–0 || Williams (7–3) || Durán (1–2) || Smith (17) || 38,092 || 31–22 || W7 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 54 || May 23 || @ Phillies || 0–3 || Wheeler (4–0) || Cecconi (3–5) || Durán (9) || 36,125 || 31–23 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 55 || May 24 || @ Phillies || 3–1 || Messick (6–1) || Painter (1–5) || Smith (18) || 37,808 || 32–23 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 56 || May 25 || Nationals || 2–10 || Littell (4–4) || Bibee (0–7) || — || 25,494 || 32–24 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 57 || May 26 || Nationals || 3–6 || Cavalli (3–3) || Cantillo (4–2) || Parker (1) || 21,473 || 32–25 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 58 || May 27 || Nationals || 3–2 || Williams (8–3) || Mikolas (1–4) || Smith (19) || 19,559 || 33–25 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 59 || May 29 || Red Sox || 4–3 || Holderman (3–0) || Samaniego (0–3) || Smith (20) || 34,404 || 34–25 || W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 60 || May 30 || Red Sox || 1–9 || Gray (6–1) || Festa (1–1) || — || 35,740 || 34–26 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 61 || May 31 || Red Sox || 4–9 || Morán (1–2) || Holderman (3–1) || — || 28,798 || 34–27 || L2
|-style="background:#bfb;" | 62 || June 2 || @ Yankees || 9–4 || Holderman (4–1) || Schlittler (7–3) || — || 41,045 || 35–27 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 63 || June 3 || @ Yankees || 5–4 || Williams (9–3) || Cole (1–1) || Smith (21) || 37,683 || 36–27 || W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 64 || June 4 || @ Yankees || 1–2 || Headrick (4–1) || Heuer (0–1) || Bednar (13) || 39,504 || 36–28 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 65 || June 5 || @ Rangers || 2–3 || Gray (2–0) || Messick (6–2) || Latz (9) || 27,738 || 36–29 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 66 || June 6 || @ Rangers || 6–0 || Bibee (1–7) || Leiter (3–5) || — || 31,608 || 37–29 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 67 || June 7 || @ Rangers || 0–10 || deGrom (5–4) || Cantillo (4–3) || — || 34,851 || 37–30 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 68 || June 8 || Yankees || 5–7 || Bednar (2–3) || Armstrong (1–1) || — || 29,517 || 37–31 || L2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 69 || June 9 || Yankees || 2–3 || Doval (2–0) || Herrin (0–2) || Cruz (1) || 27,154 || 37–32 || L3 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 70 || June 10 || Yankees || 4–8 || Rodón (2–2) || Messick (6–3) || — || 31,586 || 37–33 || L4 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 71 || June 12 || Tigers || 3–2 || Bibee (2–7) || Flaherty (1–8) || Smith (22) || 35,427 || 38–33 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 72 || June 13 || Tigers || 3–1 || Cantillo (5–3) || Skubal (3–3) || Smith (23) || 32,683 || 39–33 || W2 |-style="background:#bbb;" | ― || June 14 || Tigers ||colspan="8"|Postponed (rain) (Makeup date: September 4) |-style="background:#fbb;" | 73 || June 16 || @ Brewers || 1–2 || Ashby (10–0) || Gaddis (1–2) || Megill (9) || 30,025 || 39–34 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 74 || June 17 || @ Brewers || 4–9 || Patrick (4–3) || Williams (9–4) || — || 30,452 || 39–35 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 75 || June 18 || @ Brewers || 4–2 || Messick (7–3) || Anderson (1–3) || Smith (24) || 36,386 || 40–35 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 76 || June 19 || @ Astros || 3–9 || Imai (4–3) || Bibee (2–8) || — || 33,279 || 40–36 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 77 || June 20 || @ Astros || 8–1 || Cantillo (6–3) || Arrighetti (7–3) || — || 32,678 || 41–36 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 78 || June 21 || @ Astros || 1–2 || Teng (4–6) || Cecconi (3–6) || Hader (5) || 36,807 || 41–37 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 79 || June 22 || @ White Sox || 5–6 || Murphy (2–0) || Smith (2–1) || — || 23,151 || 41–38 || L2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 80 || June 23 || @ White Sox || 1–2 || Burke (5–6) || Messick (7–4) || Newcomb (2) || 28,883 || 41–39 || L3 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 81 || June 24 || @ White Sox || 4–3 || Armstrong (2–1) || Taylor (2–1) || — || 17,664 || 42–39 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 82 || June 26 || Mariners || 1–3 || Castillo (3–6) || Herrin (0–3) || Muñoz (15) || 32,832 || 42–40 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;"