The 2026 MLB Spring Training is now in full swing.
In the early morning hours of February 25 (KST), the LA Dodgers — who achieved back-to-back World Series titles following their 2024 championship through 2025 — will face the Cleveland Guardians, back-to-back AL Central champions, in the Cactus League.
The biggest highlight of this game is undoubtedly the 'Gavin vs. Gavin' starting pitching matchup.
The Dodgers' Gavin Stone returns to the mound for the first time in approximately 542 days following shoulder surgery, while Cleveland's ace Gavin Williams, who recorded 12 wins in the 2025 season, takes the opposing mound.
With Freddie Freeman's first appearance of 2026 Spring Training also scheduled, this promises to be a must-watch game despite being an exhibition.
Game Overview
| Category | Details |
| Event | 2026 MLB Spring Training (Cactus League) |
| Date & Time | Feb 25 (Tue) 05:05 AM (KST) / Feb 24 12:05 PM (Local Time) |
| Venue | Camelback Ranch (Glendale, Arizona) |
| Matchup | LA Dodgers vs Cleveland Guardians |
| Broadcast | SportsNet LA |
This game will be held at the Dodgers' spring training home, Camelback Ranch.
For the Dodgers, this is their fourth Spring Training game, and since joining the Cactus League schedule starting with a 15-2 blowout win against the Angels on February 21, the number of regular-caliber players taking the field has been gradually increasing.
The Cleveland Guardians have also been working through their Spring Training schedule since February 21 as they prepare for the 2026 season.
Starting Pitcher Matchup - 'Gavin vs. Gavin'
| Category | Gavin Stone (LA Dodgers) | Gavin Williams (Cleveland) |
| Throws/Bats | R/R | R/L |
| 2024 Season | 11W 5L / ERA 3.53 | - |
| 2025 Season | Missed entire season (shoulder surgery) | 12W 5L / ERA 3.06 |
| Innings | 140.1 IP (2024) | - |
| Strikeouts | 116 K (2024) | 173 K (2025) |
| WHIP | 1.21 (2024) | 1.27 (2025) |
| Notable | Returning after 542 days post-shoulder surgery | No. 1 in swing-and-miss rate during 2025 Spring Training |
The highlight of this game is undoubtedly the 'Gavin vs. Gavin' starting pitching matchup.
The Dodgers' Gavin Stone was a key pillar of their World Series championship run in 2024, recording the most starts (25 games) and most innings pitched (140.1 IP) among the team's starters.
However, he underwent surgery in October 2024 for a shoulder capsule tear along with partial rotator cuff and labrum tears, forcing him to miss the entire 2025 season.
This outing, marking his return after approximately 16 months of extensive rehabilitation, will be a deeply meaningful moment for Stone.
The positive signs from camp — his fastball reaching 96 mph and his changeup and other pitches looking sharp — are encouraging.
On the other side, Cleveland's Gavin Williams is a right-handed pitcher who established himself as the team's ace in 2025 with an impressive 12-5 record and 3.06 ERA.
He particularly showcased his strikeout ability with 173 Ks on the season.
During last year's Spring Training, he was dominant with a 1.13 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 8 innings, posting a 27.5% swing-and-miss rate — the highest among all pitchers in Spring Training.
As a power pitcher who consistently sits at 96-97 mph with his fastball, he will once again anchor the Cleveland rotation this season.
2025 Season Recap for Both Teams
| Category | LA Dodgers | Cleveland Guardians |
| 2025 Record | 93W 69L | 88W 74L |
| Division | NL West 1st | AL Central 1st |
| Postseason | World Series Champions (Back-to-back) | Eliminated in ALDS (Lost 1-2 to Detroit) |
| Key Offseason Move | Signed Kyle Tucker (4 years / $240M) | Internal roster restructuring |
The LA Dodgers finished the 2025 season at 93-69, winning the NL West, and went on to capture a dramatic back-to-back World Series title by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in extra innings of Game 7.
As the undisputed best team in MLB, they further bolstered their already formidable lineup during the offseason by signing Kyle Tucker to a 4-year, $240 million deal.
Their squad features some of the best players in Major League Baseball, including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Kyle Tucker, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The Cleveland Guardians trailed by as many as 15.5 games at one point during the 2025 season but mounted a dramatic comeback to clinch their second consecutive AL Central title on the final day of the season.
Behind their 88-74 record was the MVP-caliber performance of José Ramírez.
However, they were eliminated in the postseason, falling to the Detroit Tigers 1-2 in the ALDS.
During the offseason, they focused on internal roster development rather than making major free agent signings, banking on the growth of young pitchers like Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee.
Head-to-Head Record
| Category | Record |
| All-Time Regular Season Record | Dodgers 14W - Cleveland 10W |
| Most Recent Game | Sep 8, 2024 — Dodgers 4-0 Win |
| Postseason | 1920 World Series — Cleveland Won (Best-of-7) |
As interleague opponents, the Dodgers hold a 14-10 advantage in the all-time regular season series between the two teams.
Their most recent meeting was on September 8, 2024, when the Dodgers earned a 4-0 shutout victory.
In the postseason, the two teams have only met once — in the 1920 World Series, which Cleveland won.
Since they belong to different leagues and rarely face each other, this Spring Training matchup is all the more intriguing.
Key Players
Freddie Freeman (LA Dodgers / First Baseman)
Freeman, who is set to make his first appearance of 2026 Spring Training in this game, is a cornerstone of the Dodgers' lineup.
Entering his age-36 season, he is expected to deliver another consistent year, and the key question is what kind of form he will show in his first game.
As the 2024 World Series MVP, he is one of the most trusted hitters among Dodgers fans.
Gavin Stone (LA Dodgers / Starting Pitcher)
Stone's return to a live game mound for the first time in 542 days following shoulder surgery is the biggest storyline of this game.
After going 11-5 with a 3.53 ERA in 2024 as a key part of the Dodgers' rotation, this is the first chance to see whether he has regained his pre-injury stuff.
He has shown positive signs in camp, hitting 96 mph on his fastball, but live game action is a different challenge entirely.
José Ramírez (Cleveland Guardians / Third Baseman)
Ramírez is Cleveland's franchise star who earned his 7th All-Star selection in 2025 and set a career-high with 44 stolen bases.
He became the 24th player in MLB history — and the first third baseman — to reach 250 home runs and 250 stolen bases.
A living legend who surpassed Jim Thome for second place on Cleveland's all-time RBI list, his performance during Spring Training will be closely watched.
Game Key Points
1. Gavin Stone's Recovery Status
The biggest point of interest in this game is Gavin Stone's return to live action.
Given that he is coming back from a significant shoulder capsule tear, his velocity, command, and movement on each pitch must be carefully evaluated.
As it is Spring Training, he won't pitch deep into the game, but his performance over 2-3 innings will serve as a crucial indicator for constructing the Dodgers' 2026 rotation.
The Dodgers' starting rotation already boasts a stellar lineup of Yamamoto, Glasnow, Blake Snell, Emmet Sheehan, and Roki Sasaki — if Stone returns to form, the pitching staff would truly be the best in baseball.
2. Freddie Freeman's Spring Debut
Freeman will take the field in a live game for the first time this season.
Despite being 36 years old, Freeman remains a core piece of the Dodgers' lineup, and this will be a chance to assess the condition he returns in after the offseason.
Both his batting feel and defensive movement will be key checkpoints.
3. Growth of Cleveland's Young Talent
Instead of pursuing major free agent signings, the Cleveland Guardians are betting on the development of young players rising from their farm system.
Prospects such as Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, along with Chase DeLauter and Gabriel Arias, are making their case during Spring Training.
How much young talent can complement proven core players like José Ramírez and Steven Kwan will determine Cleveland's competitiveness in 2026.
Expected Key Players for Both Teams
| LA Dodgers | Position | Cleveland Guardians |
| Freddie Freeman | 1B | Kyle Manzardo |
| - | 3B | José Ramírez |
| - | SS | Brayan Rocchio / Gabriel Arias |
| - | LF | Steven Kwan |
| - | CF | Chase DeLauter |
| Gavin Stone | SP | Gavin Williams |
Due to the nature of Spring Training, full lineups have not been announced, and playing time for regulars may be limited.
For the Dodgers, Freeman's first appearance is confirmed, while the availability of key hitters such as Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts will need to be confirmed in the day-of lineup.
Cleveland's regulars, including José Ramírez and Steven Kwan, have been playing since the early stages of Spring Training and are likely to appear in this game as well.
What to Watch For
Gavin Stone's First Pitch Back
The very first pitch from Gavin Stone on the mound after 542 days will be the highlight of this game.
His peak fastball velocity before the shoulder surgery was 96 mph, and with reports from camp that he has already reached that same level, expectations are high for his live game performance.
Freeman's Spring Debut At-Bat
Freddie Freeman has delivered steady production every season since joining the Dodgers.
Entering his age-36 season, all eyes will be on his very first at-bat to see whether he can continue to perform at his usual level.
The Opening Act of the 2026 Season
A matchup between the Dodgers, who are pursuing a World Series three-peat, and Cleveland, who are dreaming of a third straight AL Central title, carries symbolic significance even in a spring exhibition.
Both teams are painting a big picture for the 2026 season, and the content of their Spring Training games will serve as the first clues in gauging the direction of their respective campaigns.
Game Prediction
Given the nature of Spring Training, individual player conditioning and game content matter far more than wins and losses at this stage.
The Dodgers have clear objectives in evaluating Gavin Stone's recovery and seeing Freddie Freeman's first appearance, while Cleveland's primary focus is assessing Gavin Williams' readiness for the season.
On pure roster talent, the Dodgers boast an overwhelming squad even by MLB-wide standards, but simple comparisons are difficult in exhibition games where prospects see significant playing time.
The main focus should be on the pitching performances of both 'Gavins' — and in particular, how much confidence Gavin Stone shows in his return from injury will be the single biggest storyline of this game.