The home opener is special every year. Just kind of like setting a tone at home, what the fans can expect of us this year. It's a very important game for us. You can probably say even more, now that we didn't get the result we wanted in the first game, I think it's very important that we step on the pitch looking for three points at home and also offering something good for the fans.
As my friend Dana and I stood next to the giant balloon arch and let someone take our photo, people around us were feeling optimistic about "winning it all" and "getting a ring." Dana and I talked about how happy we were to be back, how good it felt to return to the ballpark we spend all summer in each summer, how fresh the grass smelled, and how grateful we were that the long offseason was over.
That makes it a perfect time to actually look forward to next year. The team released its 2026 season schedule Tuesday, Aug. 26. The most notable date for Guardians fans look forward to? The unofficial national holiday of the home opener, which is slated for April 3 when they will open the home schedule with the Chicago Cubs, the second time they've played an opener against a National League team.