Guardians Opening Day, Progressive Field Updates, Artemis II Launch: CLE Daily

🌧️ 70°; Thunderstorms

🚀 To The Moon: Artemis II launched to the moon Wednesday evening. Learn about Cleveland's role in the mission. 

🍷 One Thing To Do Weekend: Head down to the flats and check out the revamped Shooters.

🥞 Easter Brunch Options: Here are 24 Easter brunches to across Northeast Ohio.

ICYMI: The Cleveland Catholic Diocese is closing the Immaculate Conception Church after nearly 150 years. Diocese officials say the church structure, neighboring rectory and school will be maintained.

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Today's Trivia

What was the nickname for the high-society group, which included Indians owner Bill Veeck and Cleveland Press society columnist Winsor French, which visited a variety of watering holes in the Cleveland area?

Check back on Monday for the answer to today's question.

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Here's what to know heading into the Cleveland Guardians 2026 home opener.

Sports | By Jaden Stambolia

Barring any rain delays or cancellations, the Guardians are expected to start their 32nd season at Progressive Field at 4:10 p.m. today against the Chicago Cubs. But before the Guards’ lefty Joey Cantillo throws the first pitch, here is info on the ballpark's new food options and the game itself. The Guardians are 4-3 heading into today’s home opener. That might not sound like much, but Cleveland faced two of the league’s best in its first two series. CM contributor Dennis Manoloff shares his takeaways from the Guards’ Hot Start here.

Where to Watch: Today's game is airing on ESPN Unlimited and MLB.TV. The rest of the first home stand of the season will air on MLB.TV (Saturday and Sunday) and Fox (Saturday).

• MLB.TV costs $99.99 for the season.

Hometown Pride: Get to the game early to see Cleveland Heights native Laila Edwards, a gold medal Olympian and three-time NCAA women’s hockey champion, throw out the ceremonial pitch.

New Star: While the stands are bound to chant “Jose!” for the star third baseman, Jose Ramirez, outfielder Steven Kwan is also expected to deliver base hits and gold glove defense. But all eyes are also on the red-hot right fielder Chase DeLauter.

• DeLauter became the second player in Major League history with four home runs in his first three games.

Concession Changes: A marketplace concept is entering the food lineup, following a three-phase, $200 million renovation of the stadium.

• Those at the game today have a lot of new, yummy options to enjoy at the Arcade in section 138, a grab-and-go area that aims not only to offer more options but also to get you back into your seats with shorter wait times.

• This self-checkout area, located between sections 162 and 164, is expected to open later this month with a huge stock of easy-to-grab hot food items and beverage options.

• Fat Head’s Brewery adds a beer market and interactive games to the upper level of the right field Corner Bar, and the Mark West Patio brings wine to the ballpark experience.

Local Love: With Delaware North leading food and beverage options, the Guardians partnered with some names that you're bound to recognize. Here are the must-haves, which you can find in the Beer Hall Terrance Club.

• Steak Tremont offers a steak sandwich and tallow popcorn;

• Ohio City’s Good Co. brings spicy thai fries, featuring pulled pork, veggies and spicy mayo; and

• Aladdin’s Eatery puts a spin on the hot dog with the Med Dog, featuring beef kafta, cucumber-tomato salata, hummus and its famous hot sauce.

Watch editor Dillon Stewart chat with Sound of Ideas’ Stephanie Haney and Hangry Brands’ Julie Lucastro about the stadium’s culinary updates on The Menu, a biweekly collaboration between Cleveland Magazine and Ideastream.

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Talk of the Town

• Organizers are starting a petition to recall Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. In a press release, they cite allegations of misallocated funds, a $2,200 office chair and other "mismanagement and questionable priorities."

• On April 16, Cosm will break ground on the Downtown immersive entertainment venue. Cosm gained final approval from the city planning commission on Feb. 20, which is a huge part of Bedrock's Rock Block site.

• Birdtown Brewing in Lakewood is officially opening on April 16. The new brewery, featuring a pizza menu by Geraci's, is located in a 100-year-old church building.

• After the City of Cleveland closed Eastside Market due to NEON Health Services Inc. failing to pay taxes and utility bills. Councilman Mike Plensek has sent a letter to the Cleveland FBI office requesting they investigate NEON's "operation and practices" for "their mismanagement of the Eastside Market."

• After the FirstEnergy bribery case ended in a hung jury, the forewoman says they "should have sent those guys to jail." Signal Ohio reports that there were three holdouts, and two of them could not be persuaded despite days of effort, resulting in a mistrial.

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SPONSORED

Book Lovers: Try These Spots!

Book lovers, these recommendations are for you! The local team at Love Cleveland Neighborhoods has collected their favorite indie bookstores and hidden reading spots.

Learn more at LoveClevelandNeighborhoods.com.

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In 1939, Judy Garland sang the national anthem before the Indians' home opener.

History |By Vince Guerrieri

The Indians got a special guest for their 1939 season opener, as the national anthem was sung by Judy Garland, an accomplished stage and screen star at 16 — with even greater stardom to come soon.

Garland (born Frances Gumm) was part of a vaudeville family, and she broke into movies as a teen, finding fame as the co-star of Mickey Rooney in the Andy Hardy movies. Filming had been completed for The Wizard of Oz earlier in 1939, and Garland was in Cleveland for a two-week engagement at Loew’s State Theatre in what’s now Playhouse Square: the first stage show at the theater in three years.

Read more about Garland's time in Cleveland.

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From the Editor

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard," former president John F. Kennedy said about the Apollo program. 

That quote rang through my head as I watched Artemis II launch. It was one of those historic moments that I wish I had gotten to watch with my great grandpa. 

My great grandpa was 38 years old when Apollo 11 landed on the moon. If all goes according to plan, I will be 28 years old when Artemis V is expected to begin building the moon base.