CLEVELAND — The Guardians opened Progressive Field for the 2026 season April 3 with a 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs.
The Guardians went 4-3 on their season-opening road trip against the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers. Chase DeLauter was the story after crushing four home runs, though he also fouled a ball off his foot in the second Dodgers game. He left that game and sat out the next, but the rookie was in the lineup and crushed a home run in the seventh inning of the club’s home opener.
Here’s how the Guardians-Cubs game on April 3 unfolded.
Guardians beat the Cubs 4-1
Cade Smith has earned the save, and the Guardians have taken down the Cubs 4-1 at Progressive Field. Cleveland is 5-3 to start the season.
Guardians lead Cubs entering 9th inning
Shawn Armstrong worked the eighth inning and the Guardians couldn’t add any insurance runs to their lead in the bottom half of the inning.
Cleveland will take a 4-1 advantage into the ninth inning with Cade Smith entering the game for the save.
Chase DeLauter’s two-run home run extends Cleveland Guardians’ lead to 4-1 vs. Chicago Cubs
After Steven Kwan drew a walk against Cubs reliever Hunter Harvey, Chase DeLauter made Chicago pay by hitting Cleveland’s second home run of the seventh inning.
Facing a 3-1 count with two outs, DeLauter launched a two-run homer 401.6 feet to right field. The blast had an exit velocity of 109 mph.
The rookie sensation has appeared in seven games this season and hit five home runs.
After DeLauter’s homer, the Cubs replaced Harvey with reliever Jacob Webb. Jose Ramirez singled off Webb and advanced to second base with hustle and an error on Chicago. Kyle Manzardo grounded out to end the inning.
Earlier in the seventh inning, Gabriel Arias hit a solo homer to give the Guardians a 2-1 edge.
DeLauter and Arias combined to make it a three-run inning for the Guardians.
Gabriel Arias gives Guardians 2-1 lead vs. Cubs with solo home run in seventh inning
With one out, Gabriel Arias hit a solo home run to right field off Cubs reliever Hunter Harvey, boosting Cleveland to a 2-1 lead in the seventh inning.
Arias sent the homer 358 feet on a 2-2 pitch. It had an exit velocity of 101.9 mph.
In the fifth inning, Arias was thrown out at home plate, so his second homer this season represented a nice bit of redemption for the shortstop.
Guardians’ Daniel Schneemann makes highlight-reel catch in center field
Guardians relief pitcher Connor Brogdon should buy Daniel Schneemann some good candy for Easter this year.
In the seventh inning, Matt Shaw launched a pitch from Brogdon to center field, but Schneemann made a leaping catch against the outfield wall to secure the second out.
Then Pete Crow-Armstrong flew out to left field to end the top half of the inning.
Matt Festa relieves Joey Cantillo as Guardians keep Cuts from scoring in sixth inning
The Guardians summoned reliever Matt Festa to replace starting pitcher Joey Cantillo in the sixth inning.
Cantillo allowed a walk and a single to center field to start the inning. He then induced Ian Happ into flying out.
With runners on first and third and one out, Festa got Carson Kelly to pop out in foul territory for the second out of the inning. Then Michael Busch did the same against Festa to end the inning with the score tied 1-1.
Cantillo pitched 5⅓ innings and allowed one run, four hits and two walks. He struck out six. He threw 82 pitches, including 51 for strikes.
Guardians tie score 1-1 with Chase DeLauter’s clutch hit in fifth inning
The Guardians tied the score 1-1 with rookie Chase DeLauter delivering a clutch RBI single in the fifth inning.
Cleveland’s Daniel Schneemann smacked a leadoff double to center field on Colin Rea’s first pitch of the fifth inning. Then Gabriel Arias drew a walk. Brayan Rocchio laid a sacrifice bunt down the third-base side, advancing Schneemann to third and Arias to second.
The Cubs summoned reliever Hoby Milner to face Guardians leadoff batter Steven Kwan with one out and two men in scoring position. But Kwan popped out to shortstop.
With two outs, DeLauter hit an RBI single to left field, driving Schneemann home and tying the score 1-1. The inning ended a moment later, though, because Cubs left fielder Ian Happ threw out Arias at home plate for the third out.
Guardians trail Cubs after 4th inning
The Guardians put together a potential rally in the fourth inning, when Chase DeLauter and Jose Ramirez both reached base to put runners on first and second with nobody out.
But from there, Cleveland’s lineup couldn’t do anything, as Colin Rea sat down Kyle Manzardo, Bo Naylor and Angel Martinez in order to end the inning with the Cubs still leading 1-0. Rea struck out Manzardo and Naylor and then retired Martinez via a groundout on three pitches that were all below the zone.
Cade Horton leaves game with right forearm discomfort
Cubs pitcher Cade Horton left Friday’s game with right forearm discomfort, according to a press box announcement.
Gabriel Arias blunder leads to Cubs lead vs Guardians
Joey Cantillo will be tagged for an earned run, but there was nothing he did that warranted it.
In the top of the third, Pete Crow-Armstrong popped up a ball into shall left field. Gabriel Arias and Jose Ramirez were both under it, though it looked to be Arias’ ball as Ramirez bailed early. Arias, then, also pulled back at the last second, letting the ball drop for, technically, a double. Miguel Amaya then ripped a ball down the left-field line for an RBI double.
It’s one of those plays where it was definitely an error outside the box score, but because nobody touched the ball on a fly ball, it officially goes as a double.
Cubs pitcher Cade Horton leaving game with apparent injury
The Cubs are making a sudden pitching change after Cade Horton left the game with a potential arm injury.
Kyle Manzardo led off the second inning with a walk. Horton then threw two pitches to Bo Naylor the trainers looked at him on the mound and pulled him from the game.
Colin Rea is entering the game after scrambling to get ready.
And as quickly as the rain appeared, the skies have cleared and it’s again a sunny day in Cleveland. It’s been a very on-brand Midwest afternoon.
Kyle Manzardo makes unassisted double play
The Cubs recorded the first hit of the game, but that runner was eliminated via a double play in which Kyle Manzardo caught a line drive and and beat Carson Kelly back to first base.
Through two innings, Cantillo has allowed just that one hit and struck out three.
Rain coming down at Progressive Field for Guardians-Cubs
The rain arrived early, and it’s falling pretty hard.
In a matter of minutes, the skies went from clear to raining, sending many fans to the concourse to seek cover. The rain began at 4:17 p.m. in the first inning, and it might cause a delay, though they’re playing through it for now.
Guardians, Cubs score as Joey Cantillo strikes out 2 in 1st inning
Guardians starter Joey Cantillo sat down the Cubs 1-2-3 in the first inning, including two via strikeout, for a breezy opening.
Below is some pregame information.
Olympic hero Laila Edwards to throw out first pitch
Laila Edwards, a Cleveland Heights native who helped Team USA win an Olympic Gold Medal in women’s hockey two months ago, will throw out the first pitch today.
Is the Guardians-Cubs game in delay?
There is a chance for some inclement weather around Progressive Field, although the skies are mostly clear as of 3 p.m. and there are no delays.
Cleveland Guardians starting lineup today vs. Cubs
Here is the Guardians’ lineup:
Chicago Cubs starting lineup vs. Guardians
Here is the Cubs’ lineup:
Starting pitching matchup for Chicago Cubs at Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland’s Joey Cantillo will start on the mound opposite Chicago’s Cade Horton.
This will be the second start of the season for both pitchers.
Cantillo is 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA in 3½ innings this season. He has allowed two runs and four hits, walked three and struck out five. He has a WHIP of 1.91.
Horton is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in 6⅓ innings this season. He has allowed four hits and two runs, walked one and struck out four. He has a WHIP of 0.79.
Chase DeLauter injury update: Yes, he’s in the Guardians lineup
The star of the Guardians’ season-opening series in Seattle said, “I feel good,” late this morning, and was in the lineup the team posted today. DeLauter suffered a left foot contusion on March 31 against the Dodgers. For more on what DeLauter had to say ahead of the home opener, click here.
Where to watch Guardians game today vs. Cubs
Today’s home opener is being televised locally live on WKYC and Guardians TV. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET. The game also can be heard on WTAM-AM 1100, WHBC-AM 1480, WAKR-AM 1590, WMMS-FM 100.7, WJER-FM 100.9.
The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians score recap vs. Chicago Cubs as Chase DeLauter homers again
Reporting by Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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