Predicting The Guardians 2026 Opening Day Lineup, Pre-Spring Training

Predicting The Guardians 2026 Opening Day Lineup, Pre-Spring TrainingStory byTommy WildTue, February 3, 2026 at 2:22 AM UTC·2 min read

In just under two weeks, the Cleveland Guardians will take the field for their first 2026 Spring Training game, and Opening Day will quickly follow.

As players start reporting to Goodyear to officially get the season underway, here is a projection of what Cleveland’s first lineup of the season could look like, pre-spring training.

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(For the sake if this projections, let’s assume the Seattle Mariners are starting a right-handed pitcher on Opening Day.)

• Steven Kwan - LF

• Chase DeLauter - RF

• Jose Ramirez - 3B

• Kyle Manzardo - 1B

• C.J. Kayfus - DH

• Juan Brito - 2B

• George Valera - RF

• Bo Naylor - C

• Brayan Rocchio - SS

Sep 19, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (23) celebrates with utility player David Fry (6), outfielder C.J. Kayfus (63) and first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) after a win against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Here are a couple of takeaways from this lineup prediction:

Steven Kwan Stays In Cleveland To Start The Season

While there was some Steven Kwan trade speculation over the offseason, it wouldn’t make any sense to move him this close to spring training. As long as the two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove is on the Guardians, he’ll be playing left field and leading off in the lineup.

Guardians Have Decisions To Make At DH

The Guardians have some decisions to make about how they want to use the designated hitter spot in their lineup throughout the season. It feels safe to assume that the majority of that time will be split between C.J. Kayfus and Kyle Manzardo, with one of them being the DH and the other at first base.

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David Fry will certainly find his way into that rotation; Nolan Jones could work his way in there, too, if he has a strong training camp.

Assuming the Mariners have a right-handed pitcher on the mound for Opening Day, it makes the most sense to have Kayfus start there for the first game of the season.

Guardians Middle Infield Alignment

Stephen Vogt made it clear during the Winter Meetings that Brayan Rocchio will see the majority of reps at shortstop, with Gabriel Arias moving around the field in a utility role. This could create a position battle for second base, for the second-straight spring.

Juan Brito could have, and probably should have, made his big-league debut in 2025, but injuries prevented that from happening. With Chris Antonetti insistent upon giving the young core opportunities, why not see what Brito can do at second base until Travis Bazzana is ready? Plus, Brito being a switch-hitter would give Cleveland some much-needed balance throughout the lineup.

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Having Brito start at second base might be the hottest take out of this lineup projection, but it’s not unrealistic either.

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