Other golfers now in contention with McIlroy’s six shot Saturday advantage disappearing, include Sam Burns, who sits alone at -10 currently in third. Shane Lowry, who lit up the crowd with an ace Saturday and a water hazard ball, carded a 68 to grab fourth. Jason Day and Justin Rose are only three behind with Scottie Scheffler, who really started the Saturday festivities being the first in at 65, in seventh. 

Saturday Theater!

Scheffler teed off Saturday at 12:16 pm, a full two hours and change before Rory and the others in pursuit. At even par no one knew what was in store. Roughly an hour and a half later, Scottie was at 5 under, yelling to anyone nearby, “Hey, I’m still here!” An eagle at 2, and birdies on the last three on the first nine started a buzz that would continue until after seven in the evening.

Cameron Young, with his backswing that pauses at the top, ended his first nine holes four under par and then the dam broke loose!

McIlroy started with a bogey then a birdie at 3 and would remain even par for the rest of the first nine. But he could never solve the problem of his wayward driver, and others started to drain birdie putts. 

Photo courtesy of Masters.com

Challengers

Sam Burns

Bogey free day on his 68. Some up and downs especially at the par 5 13. His second bounded over the green and his birdie putt just missed dropping. One of the best putters on tour, Sam dropping a few Sunday would lead to a green jacket moment.

Shane Lowry

The ace at the 6th was one of those shouts heard round Augusta. But on the 15th he tried to fly the green and watched in horror as his ball, landing between the sand trap on the right and the water on the left, bounced left into the pond protecting the green. His strong short game salvaged a par when a bogey was 60% possible.

Jason Day and Justin Rose

These two crafty veterans will be playing together today and if they battle like Annie Oakley and Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun (“I can do anything better than you…”), then they might both be in line for their first Masters wins. And both are MORE than deserving pros.

Amen Corner on a Saturday

Rory started the back with birdie but his up and down day commenced at Amen Corner again, just like in 2011. Trying to get his second shot onto the par 4 11th 520 yard green, Rory’s ball found the water. Two strokes lost. 

https://x.com/GolfonCBS/status/2043077526394700126

Then, on 12, McIlroy’s iron shots decided to continue their leftward trajectory. His ball bounced in the azaleas but somehow made it out near the drainage area. His tricky chip up was about 16 feet short and two putts later, the two men were tied at 11 under.

Who knows what might happen today? It’s a given that most golfers and patrons know the Masters starts on the final nine holes on Sunday. But in 2026, it started on Saturday! A glorious, incredible, indescribable, and shocking Saturday.

The post A Saturday unlike any other! appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

McIlroy leads the 2026 Masters by six shots, a Masters record, after a scintillating 65 with birdies on the last four hours, highlighted by this chip in on 17.

(Notice I won’t mention that ESPN did NOT show this live but made it APPEAR like it was live.)

Sam Burns and Patrick Reed (-6) and Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, and Tommy Fleetwood (-5) are in pursuit but might be playing for second as Saturday’s round commences. 

Friday at the Masters-Rory and the rest

Friday saw scores lower than Thursday’s. The golfers averaged 72.846 which was almost two full strokes better than Thursday’s 74.648. Rory’s 65 was the best of the day as the wind died down and the course was “gettable,” as Justin Rose mentioned. Terrell Hatton carded a 66 and American’s Cameron Young and Patrick Cantlay finished at five under 67s to round out other top 18 round scores.

The leaderboard has a truly international feel with America, England, Ireland, China, Australia and Norway vying to unseat Northern Ireland’s, McIlroy. Yes, you read that correctly. Norway! Thanks to Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan, who, like America’s Chris Gotterup, are both playing in their FIRST Masters and both making the cut. Reitan sits at four under while Gotterup is at -3.

Early favorites who crashed

LIV Tour was excited at the possibility of both Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau positioning themselves as early betting favorites. But Rahm made the cut on the line at +4, while Bryson won’t be around. He missed the cut at +6. So both will not feature in the Sunday “the tournament starts on the second nine at the Masters.”

Scottie Scheffler struggled these past two days. He shot 70-74 to sit at even par for the tournament. He was seen late Friday night working on his driver. This ended his streak of 11 consecutive rounds at or better than par.

Low Amateur

Jackson Herrington is crowned the low amateur for the 2026 Masters. He did not make the cut but finished at +8 beating the other four. The University of Tennessee sophomore qualified by being the runner up to another amateur Mason Howell in the US Amateur in California. Howell, playing alongside Rory for Thursday and Friday said the following after his Friday round about his nerves:

“I mean, I wouldn’t say going into it I was nervous, but I was when I was on the first tee [Thursday]. I couldn’t feel my arms and hit it in nine fairway!”

Mason, I think we would love to hit it into nine fairway if we had made the Masters. I’m sure I would have thrown up then hit a patron!

Watch for some players to make major movements up the charts on Saturday.

The post Rory Sits Alone at the Masters appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

Pairings for Friday

2026 Masters tee times, Friday groupings

• 7:40 a.m. — Sam Stevens, Sungjae Im
• 7:50 a.m. — Andrew Novak, Tom McKibbin, Brian Campbell
• 8:02 a.m. — Mike Weir, Wyndham Clark, Mateo Pulcini
• 8:14 a.m. — Zach Johnson, Michael Kim, Nicolai Højgaard
• 8:26 a.m. — Danny Willett, Davis Riley, Ethan Fang
• 8:38 a.m. — Adam Scott, Daniel Berger, Brian Harman
• 8:50 a.m. — Fred Couples, Min Woo Lee, Fifa Laopakdee
• 9:02 a.m. — Sergio Garcia, Aaron Rai, Jacob Bridgeman
• 9:19 a.m. — Harry Hall, Corey Conners, Michael Brennan
• 9:31 a.m. — J.J. Spaun, Maverick McNealy, Tyrrell Hatton
• 9:43 a.m. — Jon Rahm, Chris Gotterup, Ludvig Åberg
• 9:55 a.m. — Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka
• 10:07 a.m. — Sepp Straka, Ben Griffin, Justin Thomas
• 10:19 a.m. — Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre, Gary Woodland
• 10:31 a.m. — Harris English, Marco Penge, Si Woo Kim
• 10:51 a.m. — John Keefer, Haotong Li
• 11:03 a.m. — Naoyuki Kataoka, Max Homa, Carlos Ortiz
• 11:15 a.m. — Jose Maria Olazabal, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Aldrich Potgieter
• 11:27 a.m. — Angel Cabrera, Sami Valimaki, Jackson Herrington
• 11:39 a.m. — Charl Schwartzel, Max Greyserman, Ryan Fox
• 11:51 a.m. — Vijay Singh, Matt McCarty, Rasmus Højgaard
• 12:03 p.m. — Kurt Kitayama, Kristoffer Reitan, Casey Jarvis
• 12:15 p.m. — Bubba Watson, Nicolas Echavarria, Brandon Holtz
• 12:27 p.m. — Cameron Smith, Sam Burns, Jake Knapp
• 12:44 p.m. — Keegan Bradley, Ryan Gerard, Nick Taylor
• 12:56 p.m. — Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Jason Day
• 1:08 p.m. — Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood, Akshay Bhatia
• 1:20 p.m. — Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele
• 1:32 p.m. — Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa, Russell Henley
• 1:44 p.m. — Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, Mason Howell
• 1:56 p.m. — Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Alex Noren

Thursday the wind was anywhere from 8-10 mph with gusts even higher. With the course dry and holding very little, later groupings were struggling. They will look to take advantage of the 8-10 am tee times. Don’t be shocked if major contenders either go big…or go home!

With the chance to have better conditions, the goal for golfers like Scheffler, Spieth, Rahm, Rose and Thomas will be to move back up the leaderboard. The top 6 golfers for Thursday’s round all had tee times 10:31 or earlier. No rain is expected Friday and the wind is expected to be around 2 mph, much less than yesterday.

The post Friday’s Pairings for the Masters appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

Background

We will see Rory, last year’s champion, paired with the Amateur Champ, Mason Howell , and this year’s Players Champion, Cameron Young. There are quite a few interesting pairings for Thursday’s first tee time at 7:40 AM. Check out the Bryson, Matt Fitzpatrick and Xander Schaffle one! Three gentlemen that could win the green jacket.

For the afternoon round, you couldn’t beat Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose! So with today being the last practice round and the par three tournament, hopefully patrons are enjoying their pimento sandwiches, peach ice cream sandwiches, and breakfasts while identifying the best places to park and watch Thursday’s round.

Here are the pairings.

Thursday, Round 1

7:40 am: John Keefer, Haotong Li

7:50 am: Naoyuki Kataoka, Max Homa, Carlos Ortiz

8:02 am: Jose Maria Olazabal, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Aldrich Potgieter

8:14 am: Angel Cabrera, Sami Valimaki, Jackson Herrington (a)

8:26 am: Charl Schwartzel, Max Greyserman, Ryan Fox

8:38 am: Vijay Singh, Matt McCarty, Rasmus Hojgaard

8:50 am: Kurt Kitayama, Kristoffer Reitan, Casey Jarvis

9:02 am: Bubba Watson, Nicolas Echavarria, Brandon Holtz (a)

9:19 am: Cameron Smith, Sam Burns, Jake Knapp

9:31 am: Keegan Bradley, Ryan Gerard, Nick Taylor

9:43 am: Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Jason Day

9:55 am: Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood, Akshay Bhatia

10:07 am: Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele

10:19 am: Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa, Russell Henley

10:31 am: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, Mason Howell (a)

10:43 am: Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Alex Noren

11:03 am: Sam Stevens, Sungjae Im

11:15 am: Andrew Novak, Tom McKibbin, Brian Campbell

11:27 am: Mike Weir, Wyndham Clark, Mateo Pulcini (a)

11:39 am: Zach Johnson, Michael Kim, Nicolai Hojgaard

11:51 am: Danny Willett, Davis Riley, Ethan Fang (a)

12:03 pm: Adam Scott, Daniel Berger, Brian Harman

12:15 pm: Fred Couples, Min Woo Lee, Fifa Laopakdee (a)

12:27 pm: Sergio Garcia, Aaron Rai, Jacob Bridgeman

12:44 pm.: Harry Hall, Corey Conners, Michael Brennan

12:56 pm: J.J. Spaun, Maverick McNearly, Tyrrell Hatton

1:08 pm: Jon Rahm, Chris Gotterup, Ludvig Aberg

1:20 pm: Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka

1:32 pm: Sepp Straka, Ben Griffin, Justin Thomas

1:44 pm: Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre, Gary Woodland

1:56 pm: Harris English, Marco Penge, Si Woo Kim

If you think Si Woo Kim has a decided disadvantage teeing off last, keep this in mind. Jon Rahm (2023), Scottie Scheffler (2024) and Tiger Woods (1997) have won with the late Thursday tee time. In fact, Tiger’s 12 shot victory began with it. 

The Masters will give these later groups early times on Friday, where one could make a charge when the conditions are calm and pristine. But if the weather is bad on Friday morning, all bets are off!

Unfortunately, NO ONE has ever won the Masters when they are assigned the last Thursday tee time. Here’s hoping Kim destroys that statistic!

The post Masters Pairings for Thursday and Friday appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

#QuAkron #GuardsBall #SeriesSweep pic.twitter.com/M4WduDqRIG

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 4, 2026

This year’s RubberDucks roster includes 12 of Cleveland’s top-50 prospects, according to Prospects1500. Headlining this group are Ralphy Velazquez, Angel Genao, and Khal Stephen. There’s plenty of exciting young talent for fans to watch and cheer on this season, and so far, the results on the field look promising.

What’s New in 2026 for the Ducks?

There are a few changes for Akron this year:

• New Ownership: 2026 will be the first season under the Prospector Baseball Group, which bought the team from Ken Babby in December.

• New Ballpark Name: For the first time in its 29-year history, Akron’s home  stadium has a new name. This year the team is playing at 7 17 Credit Union Park. The naming rights deal lines up with the Warren-based credit union opening its first branch in Akron.

• New Additions to Extreme Foods: Seven new items are part of the Extreme Food Menu this season. The standout might be the WONE Smokestack—a layered sandwich with smoked brisket, pork belly, pepperjack cheese, crunchy chips and chipotle honey mustard, with $1 of each sale going to Valor Home. Other new options include loaded nachos, several stuffed “Dugouts,” a patty melt, and loaded pierogies.

• New Faces: There are 21 players on the initial roster that have previously played for Akron, but there are also 9 new faces this year. Six pitchers: Jack Carey, Jay Driver, Caden Favors, Reid Johnston, Carter Rustad, and Matt Wilkinson. And three position players: Juan Benjamin, Jose Devers, and Nick Mitchell.

Opening Series Breakdown

Here’s how the opening series played out:

Game 1: Velazquez Goes Deep

Akron opened the season with a 3-1 win over Reading. Genao singled in the third and Velazquez followed with a two-run bomb to center for the early lead. The 20-year-old first baseman now has 5 home runs in 6 career games against Reading. Stephen started on the mound and threw 4 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts. The bullpen combined for 8 more strikeouts and allowed just one run. Akron added an insurance run in the seventh on a Reading error.

Wreck-It-Ralphy went no-doubt to center in Thursday’s game.

The 2-run HR is your @Charbroil Opening Series Highlight pic.twitter.com/WFxUCOkGQ8

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 6, 2026

Game 2: Rosario Breaks Out

Akron beat Reading 9-3 behind 2 home runs and 5 RBI from Alfonsin Rosario. The Ducks put up 4 runs in the third, capped by Rosario’s first homer, and broke it open with 5 runs in the fifth that included a 3-run shot from Rosario. Lefty Josh Hartle was the starting pitcher and allowed just one run over 4.2 innings with 5 strikeouts. The bullpen finished it off with scoreless work from Driver, Rustad, and Johnston.

FONSI

Alfonsin Rosario launches a two-run shot!!! pic.twitter.com/nH1zhqcaGC

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 4, 2026

Game 3: Angel Seals the Series

Akron finished the sweep with a 5-0 win. Wuilfredo Antunez, Genao, and Mitchell all homered. Favors made his Double-A debut with 4 scoreless innings. Genao’s 3-run homer in the seventh broke the game open, and Mitchell added his first Double-A homer in the eighth. Four relievers combined for 5 more scoreless innings.

CLE No. 4 prospect @Prospects1500 Angel Genao belted a 3-run HR Saturday for the #RubberDucks. In 11 at-bats so far, Genao is batting .364 with a 1.053 OPS. He’s an exciting #GuardsBall prospect on the 40-man roster. #MiLB #QuAkron @NEOSportsInside

Video: @AkronRubberDuck pic.twitter.com/ov5GFDc78Z

— CLE Boxscore Beat (@CLEBoxscoreBeat) April 5, 2026

Players to Watch in ‘26

The first series gave us a glimpse of how good some of Cleveland’s prospects could be for Akron this year. Velazquez, Genao, and Stephen top the list, but a couple other names could step up as the season goes on. Jacob Cozart, for example, is a glove-first catcher who showed solid plate discipline last year. If he continues to develop offensively, he could make a splash. Righty reliever Dylan DeLucia, who pitched well for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, also has a chance to show he can handle a future role in the big leagues. How these players and others develop is not only important for Akron this season, but for the Guardians organization as a whole.

Tremendous outing by DeLucia!

Cleveland #Guardians RHP prospect Dylan DeLucia’s final line today for Team Italy vs Puerto Rico.

Line – 4.0(IP) 2H 0R 0ER 0BB 3SO

(58 Pitches 38 Strikes)

He topped out at 94.1 mph.#WBC2026 pic.twitter.com/gUDZNdRSDj

— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) March 14, 2026

What’s Next?

The RubberDucks will look to keep their early season winning streak going as they travel to Harrisburg (Nationals affiliate) for a six-game series starting Tuesday evening, April 7. After that, they’ll be back in Akron for another six-game set against Binghamton (Mets affiliate) starting April 14.

Tickets for all RubberDucks games are available for purchase by calling the RubberDucks Ticket Office at (330) 253-5153 or visiting akronrubberducks.com.

The post Guardians Prospects shine as RubberDucks open 2026 with Series Sweep appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

He cemented this even further when he signed an extension this season as he went on to say, “I’ve always said that I want to finish my entire career with this team, which has the best and most loyal fans in the world. Thank you to this organization for trusting in me. My main goal is to stay healthy and give 100% to this team so we can make the fans’ dream come true – winning the World Series.”

Turner has held the record since 1918. It’s crazy to think how long it took for a Cleveland player to surpass Turner. Ramírez is truly a hometown superstar and is now the only active player to currently lead a franchise in games played.

Photo by Charles Murray

Add it to the other records

Since debuting on September 1, 2013, Ramírez has helped guide Cleveland to seven playoff appearances (a club record), six AL Central
Division crowns, an ALCS run (2024) and a World Series berth in 2016. He is the only remaining member of the 2016 American
League Champion club. His five top-4 MVP finishes are T3rd in MLB since 2000 with Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Aaron Judge
and Shohei Ohtani, trailing only Mike Trout (8) and Albert Pujols (9).

The Baní, DR native also leads the franchise in extra-base hits while ranking 2nd in home runs (286), 2nd in total bases (3,018), 2nd in RBI (954), 2nd in stolen bases (289), 3rd in doubles (400) and 7th in hits (1,674). His seven All-Star nods are T2nd in club history with several other players, behind Bob Feller (8).

Ramírez won his sixth career Silver Slugger award last season, T4th-most among active MLB hitters with NYM’s Juan Soto, behind LAD’s Mookie Betts (7), HOU’s Jose Altuve (7) and LAA’s Mike Trout (9). He’s also tied Mike Schmidt for the 2nd-most by a third baseman, trailing only Wade Boggs (8). Ramírez  is one of two players in MLB history to have multiple seasons of 30+ doubles, 30+ home runs and 40+ steals, accompanied by Alfonso Soriano (‘02/’06), and the 2nd primary third baseman (min. 50% games played at 3B) in MLB history with three 30+HR/30+SB seasons.

Recognizing Ramírez

The Guardians honored Ramirez after the fifth inning on Monday in the matchup with Kansas City. He came out to the field and Sandy Alomar gave him a base which he lifted to the sky as the crowd gave their famous “José, José, José” chant.

Well, it’s official Jose Ramirez has played the most games in Cleveland’s baseball history with his 1620th game tonight! #GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/v2Q9buwPEf

— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) April 6, 2026

The future hall-of-famer loves Cleveland and Cleveland certainly loves him.

Build the statue.

The crowd singing Jose chant as he’s honored Monday night as the franchise leader in record games played. #GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/HTtYO2X2SM

— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) April 6, 2026

The post José Ramírez owns the record of most games played in Cleveland Baseball history appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

Betting Odds

Here are the betting odds for the Master’s (Top 5 only) and culled from various sports books.

Scottie Scheffler (+500)

Jon Rahm (+900)

Bryson DeChambeau (+1000)

Rory McIlroy (+1200)

Ludvig Aberg (+1400)

Early risers up the betting chart include Cameron Young and Matt Fitzpatrick at +2000. These two have been the best golfers the early part of 2026. Young has 3 top-10 in six starts (Won The Players Championship). Fitzpatrick has the same with a victory in the Valspar Championship and a second place finish to Cam in the Players.

How to predict a winner

Everyone is always trying to predict a winner for the tournament. Darts, random name picking, or your favorite social media follower. But here’s a look at some criteria that might be helpful for your prognostication!

Basically, try to look for the top performers in these golf metrics: (The top players are listed after. If they are mentioned once, their first name will be subsequently listed for other stats.)

1. Shots gained Tee to Green (SG TG).
   1. Rory, Matt, Collin Morikawa, Si Woo Kim, Tommy Fleetwood
2. SG Approach (SG AP) usually 150+ yards
   1. Adam Scott, Kurt Kitayama, Si Woo, Hideki Matsuyama
3. Course Experience and Major History

Winners: Rory, Scottie (2), Jon Rahm, Hideki, Dustin Johnson, Pat Reed, Sergio Garcia

Top-10’s last six years: Jon, Scottie, Cameron Smith, Pat, Collin

1. 3-putt avoidance
   1. Jacob Bridgeman, Jimmy Stanger, Austin Eckroat, Mackenzie Hughes
2. Valero (Prior week) win or top 20
   1. JJ Spaun, Matt Wallace, Michael Kim, Robert MacIntyre, Andrew Putnam, Ludvig Aberg

My guess

Look for a new first timer. Bryson DeChambeau is NOT listed in any of the categories since he plays on the LIV Tour. But he has been dominant this season on the minor tour, second only to Jon Rahm. But Bryson has two straight victories leading to this week. 

He has the game and has learned his lessons from his 25th and 26th finishes at the Masters, his two missed cuts and his 5th place finish last year.

So my pick is Bryson. But don’t be surprised if Si Woo Kim pressures him on the back 9 Sunday! The 30 year old from South Korea is back at the Masters since 2024. And if he were in contention, his caddy, Manuel Villegas, knows how to keep him focused. These two are primed for a great 2026!

Tournament basics

What: 2026 Masters Tournament
Where: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga.
When: Thursday-Sunday, April 9-12
Purse: $21 million, $4.2 million winner’s share (2025 figures)

How to watch Masters on TV

You can watch the 2026 Masters on TV via CBS and ESPN. ESPN will air the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday. CBS will carry the third and final rounds on Saturday and Sunday. ESPN will also air coverage of Wednesday’s Masters Par 3 Contest.

Check out the full TV schedule below.

Wednesday, April 8 (Par 3 Contest): 2-4 p.m. (ESPN)
Thursday, April 9: 1-3 p.m. ET (Prime Video); 3-7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Friday, April 10: 1-3 p.m. ET (Prime Video); 3-7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday, April 11: 12-2 p.m. ET (Paramount+); 2-7 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, April 12: 12-2 p.m. ET (Paramount+); 2-7 p.m. (CBS)

Last Year

Rory McIlroy won the title and grabbed his career Grand Slam by defeating Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff.

The post How to pick the Masters Champ 2026 appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

Joey Cantillo was on the bump for the Guards. He finished two outs short of a quality start, striking out 6 batters in 5.1
innings of work. Cantillo retired 8-straight batters prior to the onset of the 6th inning. Cantillo has allowed 2-or-fewer earned runs in 9-straight starts, the longest such streak by a Clevelander since a 13-start run by Corey Kluber from Aug. 18, 2017-April 17, 2018. Friday, his only mark of the day came on an RBI-double from Miguel Amaya in the 3rd inning.

Photo by Charles Murray

Gabriel Arias gave the Guardians their first lead of the afternoon with a solo home run to right field in the seventh inning. With that blast Arias has now homered in consecutive games for the 3rd time in his career.

Photo by Charles Murray

Chase DeLauter keeps rolling

Chase DeLauter produced three of Cleveland’s four runs with an RBI-single in the 5th inning and a 2-run homer in the
7th. This signaled his first three career RBI at Progressive Field. DeLauter has hit five home runs thru his first seven career regular season games. This feat ties him for the 2nd-most in MLB history with Mark Quinn (5HR, 1999) and Rece Hinds (5HR, 2024, trailing only Trevor Story (7 HR, 2016), per Sarah Langs.

DeLauter becomes the first player in Cleveland history to homer in four of his first seven career games. The last time a Clevelander hit a homer in their first regular season home game and regular season away game was Joe Charboneau in 1980. DeLauter also became the 8th player in franchise history to record multiple 3-hit performances in his first seven career games. Chase owns a .346 (9-for-26) batting average with 5 home runs, 8 RBI and a 1.293 OPS.

Photo by Charles Murray

DeLauter’s walk-up song. “Country Roads” is quickly becoming a part of the fans’ involvement as they sing it during his walk-up and when he homered.

Chase DeLauter OH MY GOODNESS!!! #GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/VScQWAuDPi

— Natalie (@nats_sportschat) April 3, 2026

With Friday’s win the Guardians sit at 5-3 on the season. They’ll face the Cubs in Game Two of the series Saturday with first pitch set for 7:15.

The post Chase DeLauter powers the Cleveland Guardians past the Cubs in Home Opener appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

All ready for Opening Day this Friday! Ps.ALL the seats are now blue!! pic.twitter.com/5EFBYQpq37

— Natalie (@nats_sportschat) April 1, 2026

Renovated Ballpark Concessions

The following updated ballpark concessions spaces will be coming to Progressive Field in 2026:

NEW: Arcade Marketplace

Located in Section 138, the new Arcade Marketplace will revamp the nearby, traditional Perry’s Ice Cream, Miller Bar, Market Garden, and La Cave Du Vin concession stands into a grab-and-go market featuring a broader selection of the food and beverage items fans love alongside shorter wait times and increased culinary offerings.

COMING SOON: The Landing

Located between Sections 162 and 164, The Landing transforms the former Fat Head’s Garden and beer tunnel into a self-checkout marketplace featuring a large beverage selection and hot food items for fans to easily access and enjoy. Additionally, a canopy and added furniture will further revamp this space into a gathering area for fans to meet and connect at the ballpark outside of their seats. Due to weather conditions this offseason, construction on this new area was delayed and its debut will be pushed back to late April.

NEW: Guardians Classics

Located in Section 556, the new Guardians Classics stand expands food and beverage access in the upper concourse of Progressive Field, offering fans the ballpark classics they know and love with the ease of a self-checkout option to avoid long wait times.

New Partner Activations and News

The following partnerships and partner extensions have been announced for 2026:

Progressive

Since 2008, the Guardians and Progressive have helped create unforgettable moments at The Corner of Carnegie and Ontario. This season, the two teamed up to craft an interactive ballpark mural and photo op near Section 170 for fans to share outside of Progressive Field and to celebrate those experiences. Illustrated by local Cleveland muralist Lisa Quine, a nationally recognized artist whose work can be seen on walls, stadiums, and landmarks across Cleveland and the country, the mural highlights the enduring connection between two Cleveland originals and reflects a shared pride in the city, culture, and community. It’s built not just to be admired, but to be experienced, too.

Marathon

This season, Marathon takes over as the entitlement sponsor of the former Fan Services Center, now reimagined as the Marathon Rewards Center, located just inside the Right Field Gate. While it remains a go-to destination for all Fan Services needs, the Marathon Rewards Center will also feature exciting activations throughout the season. From exclusive giveaways to special promotions, fans can look forward to added perks and engaging experiences all season long.

KeyBank

KeyBank card holders will be eligible to receive personalized offers throughout the 2026 season. Fans who add a KeyBank credit or debit card to their Guards Wallet presented by KeyBank prior to May 31 will receive $5 of loaded value to spend. At times throughout the season, fans who spend $100 on their KeyBank card at Progressive Field via the Guards Wallet will also receive $10 of loaded value to spend. Loaded value can be found in the Guards Wallet in the MLB Ballpark app and can be used at Progressive Field on concession items and in the Team Store.

Mountain Dew 

Batter up! As the official soft drink of the 2026 Major League Baseball season, Mountain Dew® Baja Blast® is officially launching its ‘Get a Baja for a Blast’ product reward promotion. Starting on MLB’s Opening Night, home runs that travel 420 feet-or-more during the regular season unlock a free Mountain Dew Baja Blast® for fans nationwide. Fans can visit BajaBlastHomeRuns.com to sign up, get the full offer terms, and add the Mountain Dew Baja Blast® Card to their mobile wallet. When a qualifying homer is hit during an MLB game anywhere across the country, fans can use their pass to redeem their free soda the day after, up to five different times throughout the season. All 420+ ft Blasts can be tracked on the Baja Blast leaderboard at MLB.com, so fans are always in the know. Sign up now and follow @MountainDew and @MLB for live updates and exclusive content. This partnership is just in the first inning; stay tuned as Mountain Dew and MLB reveal more throughout the season.

Ford

The Guardians are excited to partner with the Northeast Ohio Ford Dealers for the 2026 season, with Ford serving as the Official Truck of the Cleveland Guardians. Fans can visit the center field concourse to enjoy an interactive activation featuring games and prizes throughout the year.  Northeast Ohio residents can also enter for a chance to win a Guardians Edition Ford F-150 Raptor. Additionally, for every Guardians win, the Northeast Ohio Ford Dealers will donate $500 to Cleveland Guardians Charities to help expand access to youth sports across Cleveland. Northeast Ohio Ford Dealers will also be the presenting partner of CLE Inspires Month in May.

Great Day Improvements

The Guardians proudly welcome Great Day Improvements as the new entitlement sponsor of the Great Day Improvements Parking Garage at Progressive Field. The multi-year partnership will feature prominent Great Day Improvements brands such as Leafguard, Patio Enclosures, Universal Windows Direct, and The Bath Authority throughout the interior and exterior of the garage, enhancing the parking experience year-round. This partnership will also feature gameday activations throughout the season.

“At Great Day Improvements, we’re not only excited as Guardians fans about this partnership, but also as a hometown company deepening our investment in communities across Ohio,” said CEO of Great Day Improvements Drew Weinfurtner. Fans can expect the new garage entitlement to debut ahead of the 2026 regular season.

Century Federal Credit Union 

The Guardians and Century Federal Credit Union are proud to announce a new partnership for the 2026 season naming Century Federal the Official Credit Union of Cleveland Guardians Baseball. This collaboration unites two organizations with deep roots in Northeast Ohio dedicated to serving and supporting the local community. Through the partnership, fans can look forward to new initiatives and experiences that celebrate the shared values of teamwork, loyalty, and hometown pride.

Meijer 

The Guardians and Meijer are teaming up during the 2026 season to help fight hunger across Northeast Ohio through the new Saves for Good program presented by Meijer. For every Guardians save recorded this season, Meijer and the Guardians will donate $500 to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, with a total contribution of up to $30,000. Together, the Guardians and Meijer are turning key moments on the field into meaningful impact that supports local families throughout the Cleveland community.

Hyundai 

The Guardians are excited to partner again with Hyundai for another year of the 2026 Grand Slam Giveaway. Back for the 2026 season, one lucky winner will receive an all-new Hyundai Kona if the Guardians hit a grand slam in the third inning. You can enter today for your chance to win at HyundaiGrandSlam.com.

Bark in the Park presented by Milk-Bone and Pup-Peroni    

The Guardians are thrilled to welcome back Bark in the Park presented by Milk-Bone and Pup-Peroni for another season at Progressive Field. The fan-favorite event returns for four games (April 27 vs. TB, May 26 vs. WSH, June 29 vs. TEX, and September 14 vs. CWS). New this year, dog owners and their furry friends can join the Guardians Pup Pass presented by Milk-Bone and Pup-Peroni, where participants will receive a stamp at each Bark in the Park game attended. If you collect all four stamps to ‘round the bases,’ you will earn an exclusive Guardians and Milk-Bone and Pup-Peroni Pup Prize.

Mark West

The Guardians are excited to welcome Mark West as the Official Wine Partner of the Cleveland Guardians. Expanding on Mark West’s recent announcement as the Official Wine of Major League Baseball, the brand is excited to bring America’s #1 Pinot Noir under $15 to the Guardians fan base. Fans of legal drinking age can find Mark West throughout the ballpark and at the new Mark West Patio, coming soon in left field.

Kaulig Companies

Kaulig Giving, a long-time supporter of Cleveland Guardians Charities, will return as the presenting sponsor of the Cleveland Guardians Charities Giveathon on June 9. Kaulig Giving will also be an inaugural member of the Guardians RBI Champions program dedicated to providing access and resources to youth baseball and softball players in the Cleveland community.

Honda

The Guardians are excited to partner with Honda for the 2026 season. One lucky winner will receive a two-year lease on a 2026 Honda Civic; the winner will be announced August 1 during the Guardians game at Progressive Field.

Little Ouchies

The Guardians are proud to welcome Little Ouchies as a new partner for the 2026 season, enhancing the sensory-friendly experience at Progressive Field. In collaboration with KultureCity, Little Ouchies sensory tools and fidgets will now be included in complimentary sensory bags available to fans with sensory needs from upper and lower Fan Services locations with a valid driver’s license. As part of this partnership, Little Ouchies will also make a $5,000 donation to a local, autism-focused charity on Autism Awareness Night at Progressive Field.

MLB Ballpark App and Guards Wallet presented by KeyBank Upgrades

The new and improved MLB Ballpark app team page has been refreshed for the 2026 season with the addition of seat upgrades and the return of the Guards Wallet presented by KeyBank.

Now found in the MLB Ballpark app, seat upgrades are available during the entirety of the 2026 season at Progressive Field and allow ticket-holding fans to browse and select better locations to upgrade their seats. Additionally, the Guards Wallet in the MLB Ballpark app goes beyond listing Season Ticket Member benefits and includes the option to pay with stored credit and debit cards. New in 2026, fans can also earn rewards to spend in-park when using their KeyBank credit or debit card through the Guards Wallet or by playing the Photo Hunt game in the MLB Ballpark app.

&nb

Some new yummies at the ballpark #Guardsball pic.twitter.com/wINH4la4ke

— Natalie (@nats_sportschat) March 31, 2026

sp;

New Food and Beverage Options and Spaces at Progressive Field

The Guardians and foodservice partner, Delaware North, are excited to bring new food and beverage options to fans at Progressive Field this season. The new food items include:

“Good Company Spicy Thai Fries”

Created in collaboration with Good Company, the Spicy Thai Fries features crispy french fries topped with sweet chili pulled pork, shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, green onion and sambal mayo. Available at the Fry Box (Section 119).

“Jackhammer”

A spicy, pepperjack cheese sausage topped with ‘Pickle de Gallo’ salsa and served on a hot dog roll. Available at 5 Star (Section 150).

“Tallow Popcorn”

Freshly popped popcorn tossed with beef tallow butter and dusted with steak seasoning. Available at STEAK (Section 159).

“Steak Sandwich”

Grilled strip steak topped with chimichurri, provolone cheese and fried onions served on a sub bun. Available at STEAK (Section 159).

“Sauce the City Spicy Chicken”

Created in collaboration with Sauce the City, the Spicy Chicken features a crispy, breaded chicken breast tossed in Cleveland hot sauce, served with kale coleslaw, and ‘Kool Ranch’ sauce. Available at The Landing (Section 164; Left Field) and Guardians Grill 559 (Upper Deck).

“Beef Patty Melt”

An all-beef patty topped with caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, and bistro sauce served on gluten-free bread. Available at the Gluten-Free Stand (Section 171).

“Aladdin’s Med Dog”

Created in collaboration with Aladdin’s Eatery, the Med Dog features beef kafta topped with tomato cucumber salata, hummus, and Aladdin’s Hot Sauce served on a potato bun. Available at the Beer Hall Terrace Club (Level 4; Left Field).

NEW: Fat Head’s Brew Deck and STEAK

Fans can visit the new Fat Head’s Brew Deck as part of an expanded Corner Bar experience on the upper levels, featuring craft beer, interactive games and a new beer market. Additionally, premium concessions will also highlight STEAK, a local restaurant concept offering elevated items such as steak sandwiches, Carnival Crab Cakes and specialty offerings throughout 2026.

Guardians Team Store

The Guardians Team Store is opening a new retail location in Progressive Field’s upper deck, converting a former, old-style concessions stand into a new, walk-in shopping experience with a broad assortment of items featuring, but not limited to, women’s and kid’s products. Additionally, the main Guardians Team Store location, as well as locations in Sections 107 and 138, will be providing fans with a fast and seamless self-checkout option this season.

Ticket Offers and Special Ticket Packages

For more information on ticket offers at Progressive Field, visit CLEGuardians.com/ticketfinder. This online feature allows fans to explore ticket offers, products and promotions to find the experience that works best for them. The following ticket offers have been announced for 2026:

Progressive Field Ballpark Pass

For just $59 per month including all fees, the Ballpark Pass presented by Planet Fitness, includes a mobile Standing Room Only ticket to every Guardians home game in that month, including the Guardians Home Opener on April 3 as well as attendance at series against the Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles. The April Ballpark Pass is officially SOLD OUT, so be sure to get on the waitlist for May. Standing Room Only locations around Progressive Field include the Corner Bar, Left Field and Right Field drink rails, the Miller Lite Home Run Porch, Heritage Plaza, and the Blue Moon Terrace Garden and Terrace Hall. For more information and to purchase an April Ballpark Pass, visit CLEGuardians.com/ballparkpass.

Bottomless Bites

Enjoy unlimited ballpark classics at your next Guardians game with new Bottomless Bites.

Your purchase of a single-game Bottomless Bites ticket in the upper deck includes endless hot dogs, chips, popcorn, peanuts and fountain sodas, while a single-game Bottomless Bites ticket purchase in select lower-level sections includes access to the full, all-you-can-eat menu served in the Discount Drug Mart Club. Bottomless Bites tickets are only available for select games; for more information and to purchase Bottomless Bites, visit CLEGuardians.com/fanvalues.

Double Play Perks

Save on Guardians tickets with new Double Play Perks. When you purchase tickets to two (2) future games in a single transaction, you’ll receive a 15% discount off your second game (blackout dates apply; Double Play Perks cannot be combined with any other offers, discounts, or promotions). For more information and to purchase Double Play Perks, visit CLEGuardians.com/fanvalues.

Family Value Pack benefitting Cleveland Clinic Children’s

For just $99 including all fees, Family Value Packs include four tickets plus $40 of loaded value to use on merchandise and/or concessions. You can add up to four additional tickets for just $25 each, with each additional ticket adding $10 of loaded value. All Family Value Packs tickets are for seats located in the Family Deck and are available for Sunday through Thursday regular season home games only. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Cleveland Clinic Children’s. The loaded value associated with your ticket(s) can be found in the Guards Wallet presented by KeyBank in the MLB Ballpark app.

District Ticket presented by Miller Lite

For just $20 including all fees, the District Ticket includes a Standing Room Only ticket for all regular season home games with your first drink included (a 12 oz. domestic beer, Pepsi product, or bottled water). Just have your ticket scanned at the bar to redeem your free drink. Standing Room Only locations around Progressive Field include the Corner Bar, Left Field and Right Field drink rails, the Miller Lite Home Run Porch, Heritage Plaza, and the Blue Moon Terrace Garden and Terrace Hall. The loaded value associated with your ticket(s) can be found in the Guards Wallet presented by KeyBank in the MLB Ballpark app.

Kids Ticket

Kids Tickets start at $15, including all fees, for kids 12-and-under with the purchase of an adult ticket. Tickets are for seats located in the Family Deck and are available for all regular season home games (excluding April 3). Limit of two (2) Kids Tickets per adult ticket purchased.

Guardians Six Packs

Guardians Six Packs include six tickets to some of the biggest games of the year. Choose an existing Theme Pack or Build Your Own Six Pack with games that fit your schedule. New theme packs for the 2026 season include Dogs and Drinks, the Promo Pack, Fireworks Fans, and Marquee Matchups. Learn more at CLEGuardians.com/sixpacks.

Guardians Flex Voucher Plans

Purchase 20 or 40 vouchers to redeem at any time throughout the regular season once you know which games fit your schedule. One voucher is equivalent to one single-game ticket. You can redeem up to eight (8) vouchers for a single game.

COMING SOON: College Student Ticket Offer

Current undergraduate students can purchase Upper Bleachers or Upper Reserved tickets to all regular season home games for just $15, including all fees (excluding April 3). Using XNow verification, each student will receive a one-time-use code to purchase these discounted tickets. Learn more at CLEGuardians.com/students.

Military Appreciation Discount Ticket Offer

The Guardians have partnered with GOVX to offer members of the U.S. Military (active, retired, reserve, veteran) 15% off select tickets to Cleveland Guardians home games. After a quick verification process with GOVX, members of the military will receive a one-time-use code to purchase discounted seats. Learn more at CLEGuardians.com/military.

2026 Special Ticket Packages and Promotional Schedule

Throughout the 2026 season, fans will be able to buy specific Special Ticket Packages that include limited-edition promotional items and/or access to one-of-a-kind experiences related to the theme of that game. Special Ticket Packages provide fans of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to come together to celebrate Guardians baseball in fun and unique ways; any additional Special Ticket Packages will be announced throughout the season and can only be purchased at CLEGuardians.com/specials (not available for purchase via the MLB Ballpark app). Fans will also be able to experience many exciting ballpark gate giveaways and promotional items throughout the season. For more information on the 2026 Promotional Schedule, visit CLEGuardians.com/promotions.

Community Activations and News

The Guardians Community Impact team and on-field players and staff are continuing their dedication to improving communities across Northeast Ohio. These efforts in 2026 include:

UMPS CARE Official Leadership Program

The Guardians, in partnership with UMPS CARE, will launch a free training program preparing local youth to umpire baseball and softball games. Open to ages 16-and-over, participants will complete a 6-week course learning on-field umpiring mechanics. Sessions run from late April to early May at local ballfields or recreation centers and are led by the Greater Cleveland Umpires Association as well as official former MLB umpires.

Guardians Youth Summer Camps presented by Union Home Mortgage

In 2026, Guardians Youth Summer Camps will expand to new sites in Lakewood, Westlake, Sandusky, and Erie (PA), with the softball-only camp moving to Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights. Each camp offers skill instruction, high-energy activities, and Guardians-branded experiences for young athletes. New this year, select camps will include the exclusive

Progressive Field Experience, featuring on-field activities, behind-the-scenes access, and time on the Guardians diamond. This addition offers campers an exclusive memorable connection to the game and organization. Register today at CLEGuardians.com/summercamps.

Guardians Training Center

The Guardians, Tri-C®, and EL1 Sports will open the first Guardians Training Center at Tri-C’s Western Campus in Parma in late spring 2026. The 20,000-square-foot facility will provide year-round baseball and softball development with advanced technology and professional instruction for all ages and skill levels. Programs will include team training, clinics, and individual lessons led by former professional and college athletes. The facility will also provide free access for Guardians Nike RBI teams, host career panels, and educational sessions connecting Tri-C college students to sports industry opportunities.

Guardians G.R.I.T. Coaching Clinics

In 2026, the Guardians will introduce the G.R.I.T. Coaching Certification to set a new standard for youth coach development. Built around a growth mindset, routines, individualized plans, and a team-first approach, the first clinic will be held May 2 at Progressive Field with USA Baseball and the Positive Coaching Alliance. The initial cohort of eligible coaches includes those from Play Ball! CLE affiliate leagues, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Guardians Nike RBI, and Guardians Youth Summer Camps. Certification requires attending two clinics, volunteering at one community event, and completing one additional training such as CPR, SafeSport, or having an active coaching membership with ABCA, NFCA, or NFHS. Certified coaches will receive a signed certificate, VIP experience and public recognition at a Guardians game in August.

Guardians TV

Returning for its second year, MLB-produced Guardians TV will be available for fans to watch for approximately 145 games this season via local linear cable providers and a market-wide, blackout-free streaming option for just $99.99 a season. Guardians TV will feature new enhancements and even more behind-the-scenes access in 2026. Additionally, Guardians TV will also be simulcast locally on WKYC and regionally in Columbus (WBNS) and Buffalo, NY (WGRZ) for 10 select games. For more broadcast information and channel locations, visit CLEGuardians.com/watch.

Cleveland Guardians Official Press Release

The post Exciting new concessions, new spaces & much more at Progressive Field appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.

Schneemann fan assignment

Speaking of the fans there may be a new fun assignment in order. Schneemann’s dad shared a photo of Daniel walking on the field with José Ramírez.

Me: Saw you walking onto the field with Hosey… that’s kinda cool.

Daniel: Yeah… I like walking onto the field with him.

Me: Oh yeah? Why?

Daniel: Because nobody yells MY name. pic.twitter.com/SphdMQszl2

— Papa Schnee (@PatrickThePi) March 21, 2026

I think Cleveland fans can definitely come up with a chant for Schneemann. Yes, it’s difficult to beat the iconic lyrical sound of fans cheering on Ramírez. However, don’t underestimate the Guardians’ fanbase.

Jose delivers with 2 outs!! Guards up 5-1 pic.twitter.com/ieXVCXRwyq

— Natalie (@nats_sportschat) September 25, 2025

Path to The Show

Schneemann’s story is one that any fan of baseball can respect. Born in the heart of baseball country, Schneemann’s journey began with a standout collegiate career at Brigham Young University. There, he displayed his ability to play infield positions while maintaining impressive numbers at the plate. The Guardians saw his potential and drafted him, setting him on a path that would require patience, persistence, and a relentless drive to improve.

Unlike some prospects who soar quickly to the majors, Schneemann faced a prolonged wait as he navigated the labyrinth of minor league assignments, roster moves, and stiff competition. Year after year, he played in cities across the country, honing his skills and making incremental improvements. However, he was left watching others move up before him. The challenge demanded not only talent but a deep reservoir of determination and resilience. Through setbacks and near-misses, Schneemann never lost his focus on the ultimate goal…earning a spot on the Guardians’ major league roster.

Not looking back

That perseverance paid off in June of 2024 when the then 27-year-old got the call to the bigs. Ever since that moment “Schnee” has found his place with the team and embraced his role. Schneemann’s skill set is multifaceted. Defensively, he can comfortably transition between shortstop, second base, third base, and even the outfield. This flexibility allows manager Stephen Vogt to plug Schneemann into the lineup as needs arise, whether it’s due to injuries, rest days, or strategic matchups. His glove work is marked by quick hands, sure-footedness, and a strong, accurate arm. His patient approach, ability to draw walks, and knack for clutch hits have contributed to the team’s offensive depth.

Following an impressive rookie season in 2025 where he demonstrated high-level versatility by playing six positions (yes, SIX positions), Schneemann was named a top three finalist for the inaugural utility Gold Glove. Though he did not win the final award it was an honor to be nominated.

Schneemann proves invaluable

One of Schneemann’s most remarkable traits is his commitment to preparation. This dedication has paid off, as he’s consistently improving his batting average, on-base percentage, and defensive metrics each season. His teammates often praise his leadership qualities and willingness to mentor younger players. All of this further enhances his value to the clubhouse.

He’s off to a nice start in the early part of the season as he doubled in the Guardians win Monday over the Dodgers.

Schneeded it.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/wkIfoFco5m

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) March 31, 2026

As the Guardians continue to build toward future success, Schnee’s presence ensures they have a reliable player capable and willing to fill multiple roles.

Schnee’s story is one of resilience and quiet excellence. He embodies the Guardians’ team-first ethos. His long wait for a major league opportunity has only enhanced his appreciation for the game. With each season, Schneemann proves that he’s a true super-utility player. While he may not be recognized in the way that Ramírez is Daniel is a star in his own right. Next time you’re at the ballpark and see Schnee make sure you yell his name.

The post Why Daniel Schneemann likes walking on the field with José Ramírez appeared first on NEO Sports Insiders.