So, you're sitting on the couch, or maybe you're stuck at work, and you just want to know what time do the indians play tonight. It’s a simple enough question, right? But if you’ve been out of the loop for a few seasons or you’re a die-hard traditionalist, the answer is a little more complicated than a simple "first pitch at 7:00."
Here is the thing: if you are looking for a Major League Baseball game under that name today, January 17, 2026, you aren’t going to find one on the scoreboard.
Why? Because baseball is currently in the deep freeze of the offseason. We are in that weird middle ground where the stove is hot with trade rumors, but the grass at Progressive Field is likely covered in a light dusting of Ohio snow.
When Does Cleveland Baseball Actually Start?
If you are itching for some action, you’ve got a bit of a wait. The team—now officially the Cleveland Guardians—doesn't take the field for real games until the spring. Honestly, the wait feels like forever when it's ten degrees outside, but the light at the end of the tunnel is coming.
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The first big date to circle on your calendar is February 12, 2026. That is when pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear, Arizona. It's not a "game" in the sense that you can bet on it or watch it on prime time, but it's the heartbeat of the season starting back up. The first full-squad workout follows shortly after on February 17.
Basically, we are exactly one month away from seeing guys in uniform again.
The 2026 Spring Training Kickoff
The actual games—the ones where you can sit in the sun with a hot dog and not care about the score—start in late February.
- February 21, 2026: The Guardians play a split-squad opener. One group faces the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark at 1:05 PM local time.
- The other half: They travel to face the Milwaukee Brewers in Phoenix at 1:10 PM.
If you’re looking for a night game specifically, those are rare in the Cactus League, but they do happen as the team gets closer to Opening Day.
The Regular Season: What Time Do the Indians Play Tonight?
When the calendar finally hits March 26, 2026, that is when the real stress begins. Cleveland opens the regular season on the road this year. They are heading way out west to take on the Seattle Mariners.
Opening Day is usually a mid-afternoon affair for the home team, but since they are in Seattle, expect a late-night start for those of us back in the Eastern Time Zone. Most Seattle home games kick off around 10:10 PM ET. You’re gonna need some extra coffee for that one.
After that four-game set in the Pacific Northwest, they head to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers. It's a brutal travel schedule to start the year, honestly.
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The Home Opener at Progressive Field
If you want to know what time do the indians play tonight because you want to be at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario, mark down April 3, 2026. That is the home opener against the Chicago Cubs.
- Expect a typical 4:10 PM or 3:10 PM start for the home opener.
- The city basically shuts down.
- Everyone pretends to be "sick" at work.
Still Calling Them the Indians? You Aren’t Alone
Look, a lot of people still type "Indians" into Google. It’s a 100-year habit. The name change to the Guardians back in 2022 was a massive shift, and for some fans, the old name is just part of their DNA.
The team chose "Guardians" as a nod to the "Guardians of Traffic" statues on the Hope Memorial Bridge right outside the stadium. It’s local. It’s gritty. It’s very Cleveland. But whether you call them the Tribe, the Guards, or the Indians, the schedule remains the same.
Interestingly, there is another team that actually is still the Indians. The Indianapolis Indians. They are the Triple-A affiliate for the Pittsburgh Pirates. If you were actually looking for them, their season starts around the same time as the Big Leagues, usually in late March or early April. They play at Victory Field in Indy, and their night games almost always start at 7:05 PM.
Dealing with the Winter Blues
Since there is no game tonight, what are you supposed to do?
The front office has been busy. The 2026 roster is looking like a mix of the reliable veterans we love—like Jose Ramirez, who is basically a lock for the Hall of Fame at this point—and a wave of young talent. Keep an eye on guys like Travis Bazzana. There is a lot of hype surrounding the farm system right now, and Spring Training is where we’ll see if that hype is real.
If you really need a baseball fix tonight, your best bet is checking out the winter leagues in the Dominican Republic or Venezuela. Or, you could do what most of us do: watch old highlights of the 2016 World Series run and try to forget how it ended.
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Actionable Steps for the 2026 Season
Stop checking the daily score for a few more weeks. Instead, get your logistics in order so you don't miss the first pitch in March.
- Sync your calendar: Go to the official MLB site and download the 2026 Guardians schedule directly to your phone. It updates automatically if there are rainouts or time changes.
- Check your local listings: Bally Sports (or whatever it's called this week) is usually the home for these games, but with the way sports broadcasting is changing, keep an eye on streaming announcements for 2026.
- Plan the Home Opener: Tickets for April 3rd against the Cubs are going to be a nightmare to get. If you aren't a season ticket holder, set an alert for the single-game ticket drop, which usually happens in February.
- Gear Up: If you’re still wearing your 2010-era jersey, that’s cool, but the new 2026 "City Connect" gear is rumored to be dropping soon.
The wait for baseball is the hardest part of winter. But before you know it, it’ll be a Tuesday night in July, and you’ll be asking what time do the indians play tonight just so you can catch the last three innings after dinner. Hang in there. February is right around the corner.