The Cleveland Guardians beat the Cincinnati Reds, 4-2, in their first game of 2026 spring training.
Baseball is back in Goodyear, Arizona!
The Cleveland Guardians took on the Cincinnati Reds in their Cactus League Opener and won the first game of 2026, 4-2.
Here are three standouts from the Guardians' first Spring Training game of 2026.
Logan Allen’s First Spring Start
Logan Allen took the mound for the Cleveland Guardians for their Cactus League opener at Goodyear. The left-hander is slightly ahead of schedule compared to the rest of Cleveland’s pitcher with him departing for the World Baseball Classic shortly.
Despite giving up a hit and a walk, Allen looked fairly sharp in his first spring outing. He ended up pitching two innings (32 pitches), with 59 percent of Allen’s pitches logging for strikes. Allen primarily used the fastball, with its velocity topping out at 98.4 mph.
All in all, Allen had a fairly successful spring debut.
Cleveland Guardians second baseman Juan Brito (74) tags out Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (37) in the first inning of a Cactus League game between the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz.Early Bo Naylor Success
Stephen Vogt named Bo Naylor as a potential breakout candidate for the Guardians during the 2026 season. In his first two at-bats.
In Bo’s first plate appearance of the day, he worked a four pitch walk off Reds starter Chase Burns. Then, the next time he stepped in the batter’s box, Naylor hit a double to deep center field, which came off the bat at 101 mph.
Yes, it’s a small sample size, but seeing Naylor pick up right where he left off last September is certainly an encouraging sign for himself and the Guardians.
Kahlil Watson Reaches Base Twice
Kahlil Watson ended up getting a pair of plate appearances in the Cactus League Opener after subbing in halfway through the game.
In his first at-bat, the left-hander hit an opposite-field hit to right field. Watson nearly had a stolen base two, if Carter Kieboom wasn’t called out for interference.
Then, in the seventh inning, Watson worked a four-pitch walk and came around to score, and extended Cleveland’s lead on a Kieboom double.
Watson’s primary goal this spring should be to leave a strong, lasting impression on the Guardians so that he can be an option for the team later in the year. He did just that in a small sample size in the opener.
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