The Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Guardians are evenly matched in this Spring Training contest, with neither team heavily favored as exhibition games typically feature balanced odds. The Guardians enter with higher expectations despite projections suggesting they'll decline from their 88-74 record last season, while the Diamondbacks are working to improve from an 80-82 finish with DexWin - Best Odds on Your Favourite Sports.

The match starts at 8:05 PM local time on February 23, 2026, during the opening day of MLB Spring Training games across the league.

The game is being played in Arizona during Spring Training, with the Diamondbacks hosting the Guardians as part of the Cactus League schedule. The Guardians are running split-squad action with other games against the Reds and Brewers on the same day.

Spring Training games serve as evaluation periods rather than competitive contests, with both teams using the matchup to assess roster depth and player performance. The Guardians will feature rotation competition with starters like Logan Allen and Joey Cantillo getting opportunities, while the Diamondbacks continue building chemistry after offseason roster changes.

Head-to-head records between these teams are not the primary focus during Spring Training, as both clubs prioritize player development and roster evaluation over winning records. The Guardians and Diamondbacks will use this exhibition to prepare for the regular season, with the Guardians looking to prove doubters wrong after their surprising 2025 AL Central title.