Chase DeLauter hits two homers as Guardians open 2026 with 6-4 win in Seattle
A power statement to start the season
The Cleveland Guardians opened the 2026 regular season with a 6-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park, powered by two solo home runs from outfielder Chase DeLauter. The blasts were the first two regular-season hits of DeLauter’s major-league career and immediately made him a central figure in Cleveland’s season-opening win.
DeLauter, a highly regarded young player in the organization’s pipeline, had already reached the majors in an unusual way last fall, appearing for the first time in the postseason. On Friday night, his first regular-season game action produced instant impact as Cleveland generated key runs via the long ball and capitalized on timely extra-base hitting.
How the scoring unfolded
DeLauter’s first homer came off Seattle starter Logan Gilbert, a right-hander who has been a fixture in the Mariners’ rotation. DeLauter later added a second solo shot against right-hander Cooper Criswell, giving Cleveland two separate momentum jolts in a game that remained within reach for Seattle into the late innings.
Cleveland’s decisive offensive swing came from José Ramírez, whose go-ahead two-run double swung the lead at a pivotal moment. The Guardians finished with enough separation to withstand a Mariners push, turning a narrow advantage into a season-opening road win against a Seattle club that entered 2026 as a recent American League West champion.
- Final score: Guardians 6, Mariners 4
- DeLauter: two solo home runs (first two regular-season hits of his MLB career)
- Ramírez: go-ahead two-run double
Pitching snapshot: Bibee sets the tone early
Right-hander Tanner Bibee started for Cleveland and worked five innings, allowing three runs on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. His line reflected a solid early-season outing: strike-throwing that missed bats, paired with enough traffic to keep the Guardians’ defense engaged and the bullpen preparing earlier than a deeper start might require in late March.
DeLauter’s two homers and Ramírez’s two-run double accounted for the most consequential swings in Cleveland’s first win of 2026.
Why it matters for Cleveland
The opener offered a concise early look at how Cleveland can win: power arriving from an emerging bat, run production from the middle of the order, and rotation innings supported by strikeouts and bullpen coverage. For DeLauter specifically, the game established a baseline storyline for 2026—whether his spring momentum and prospect pedigree can translate into sustained major-league production over a full regular season.
The teams continue their opening series in Seattle, with Cleveland carrying a 1-0 record into the next game.