Last spring, the Cleveland Guardians seemed to be in a rebuild year.
It was the team’s first season with its new name, but that was hardly the only “new” thing about the 2022 Guardians squad.
The Guardians were the youngest team in MLB in 2022, with 17 rookies making their major league debuts.
No one picked the young team to win their division, but that’s exactly what they did, beating out the second-place White Sox by 11 games. The Guardians would go on to win a Wild Card playoff series against Tampa Bay before falling to the Yankees in a tough Division Series matchup.
Suffice to say, going into the 2023 season, the Guardians are on everybody’s radar.
With Ohio sports betting up and running, Progressive Field should be as rockin’ as ever in 2023. Here is a handy guide to Guardians home games this year, including details on the team’s promotional schedule and how to bet on Cleveland baseball in 2023.
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Guardians return talented core in 2023
The Cleveland Guardians are returning almost all of their young core and will again be managed by Terry Francona, who won the American League Manager of the Year award for his team’s surprising 2022 season.
The Guardians will also have veteran All-Star third baseman José Ramírez back after signing him to a new seven-year contract at the start of last season.
Ramírez will be rejoined by 2022 Gold Glove winners like second baseman Andres Gimenez, left fielder Steven Kwan and center fielder Myles Straw, as well as a sturdy pitching rotation anchored by former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber.
The Guardians aren’t completely resting on their 2022 laurels going into the 2023 season. The team signed two accomplished free agents in the offseason who should help Cleveland a lot this year — first baseman and proven power hitter Josh Bell and veteran catcher Mike Zunino.
How to bet on the Guardians at Ohio sportsbooks
This is the first season that Guardians fans can legally bet on the team in the state, with Ohio launching legal sports betting statewide on Jan. 1.
Fans in Ohio can use any of the 16 online sportsbooks available in the state to bet on the Guardians, including spreads, moneylines, props and futures, such as division winners, World Series champs and win totals.
Bet365 Sportsbook is the official online sportsbook of the Cleveland Guardians.
Here are the Guardians’ current odds for the 2023 season.
Cleveland Guardians 2023 promotions
Not that they need it, but the Guardians’ 2023 promotional nights at Progressive Field will give fans a little extra incentive to head out to the ballpark this season.
The May 28 afternoon game against the St. Louis Cardinals is the first of nine Kids Fun Days this year at Progressive Field. After the games, kids (with accompanying adults) are able to run the bases.
Another highlight of the promotional schedule is the Guardians Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Aug. 19, with the team giving away a to-be-determined Guardians Hall of Fame Bobblehead. The Guardians will induct at least one new (to be announced) member into the team’s Hall of Fame. At the last Guardians Hall of Fame induction in 2016, the team inducted Jim Thome, Albert Belle, Charlie Jamieson and Frank Robinson.
Date | Promo | |
---|---|---|
April 7, 4:10 p.m. | 2023 Magnet Schedule & Car Magnet giveaway | All fans |
May 12, 7:10 p.m. | Asian American Pacific Islander heritage celebration | |
May 13, 6:10 p.m. | Mystery Gold Glove replica giveaway | First 10,000 fans |
May 26, 7:10 p.m. | Free Shirt Friday giveaway and Dollar Dog Night | First 12,500 fans |
May 27, 7:15 p.m. | Josh Naylor jersey giveaway | First 12,500 fans |
May 28, 1:40 p.m. | Kids Fun Day and Kids Run the Bases | |
June 9, 7:10 p.m. | Free Shirt Friday giveaway, Dollar Dog Night and Pride Celebration | First 12,500 fans |
June 10, 6:10 p.m. | Triston McKenzie giveaway | First 12,500 fans |
June 11, 1:40 p.m. | Kids Fun Day and Kids Run the Bases | |
June 22, 1:10 p.m. | Trucker Cap giveaway | First 10,000 fans |
June 23, 7:10 p.m. | Free Shirt Friday giveaway and Dollar Dog Night | First 12,500 fans |
June 24, 4:10 p.m. | Andrés Giménez Bobblehead giveaway | First 12,500 fans |
June 25, 1:40 p.m. | Kids Fun Day and Kids Run the Bases | |
July 3, 7:10 p.m. | Hawaiian Shirt giveaway and Dollar Dog Night | While supplies last |
July 5, 7:10 p.m. | Larry Doby 1948 Cap giveaway and Larry Doby Celebration | First 10,000 fans |
July 7, 7:10 p.m. | Free Shirt Friday | First 12,500 fans |
July 8, 4:10 p.m. | José Ramírez Reversible Bucket Hat giveaway | First 15,000 fans |
July 9, 1:40 p.m. | Kids Fun Day and Kids Run the Bases | |
July 21, 7:10 p.m. | Free Shirt Friday giveaway and Dollar Dog Night | First 12,500 fans |
July 22, 7:10 p.m. | Steven Kwan Bobblehead giveaway | First 12,500 fans |
July 23, 1:40 p.m. | Kids Fun Day and Kids Run the Bases | |
July 26, 1:10 p.m. | Stainless Steel Tumbler giveaway | First 10,000 fans |
Aug. 4, 7:10 p.m. | Free Shirt Friday giveaway, Rock ‘N’ Blast fireworks and Dollar Dog Night | First 12,500 fans |
Aug. 5, 7:10 p.m. | Weekender Bag giveaway and Rock ‘N’ Blast fireworks | First 12,500 fans |
Aug. 6, 12:05 p.m. | Kids Fun Day and Kids Run the Bases | |
Aug. 18, 7:10 p.m. | Free Shirt Friday giveaway and Dollar Dog Night | First 12,500 fans |
Aug. 19, 7:10 p.m. | Guardians Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony with Guardians Hall of Fame Bobblehead giveaway | First 12,500 fans |
Aug. 20, 1:40 p.m. | Kids Fun Day and Kids Run the Bases | |
Sept. 1, 7:10 p.m. | Free Shirt Friday giveaway and Dollar Dog Night | First 12,500 fans |
Sept. 2, 6:10 p.m. | Emmanuel Clase Bobblehead giveaway | First 12,500 fans |
Sept. 3, 4:10 p.m. | Kids Fun Day and Kids Run the Bases | |
Sept. 15, 7:10 p.m. | Hispanic Heritage Celebration | |
Sept. 16, 6:10 p.m. | Lightweight Hoodie giveaway | First 10,000 fans |
Sept. 23, 6:10 p.m. | Fan Appreciation Night, Dollar Dog Night and 2024 Schedule Poster giveaway | All fans |
Sept. 24, 1:40 p.m. | Kids Fun Day and Kids Run the Bases |
Sports betting options near Progressive Field
Besides betting on game day with one of the sportsbooks apps, fans can also find a few retail sportsbooks near Progressive Field.
The Guardians have been approved for a retail sportsbook by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. But at the start of the year, when the team unveiled planned upgrades to Progressive Field for 2024 and 2025, they did not include plans for a retail sportsbook area at the stadium.
In January, the Guardians’ president of business operations Brian Barren told cleveland.com that the team was still “working through what a retail sports (gaming) option might look like here at Progressive Field.”
But there are a few retail sports betting options within walking distance of Progressive Field that Guardians fans can hit up before or after a game.
Right next door to the stadium is the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, which houses a Caesars Sportsbook. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse’s sportsbook is open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-midnight; Saturday 9 a.m.-1 a.m.; and Sunday 9 a.m.-midnight.
JACK Cleveland Casino, which features a betJACK Sportsbook on premises, is just a half mile from Progressive Field. JACK Cleveland Casino’s sportsbook is open Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. and Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-1 a.m.
There are also a couple of bars near Progressive Field that have sports betting kiosks — The Clevelander and Whistle & Keg Taproom, both near each other on Huron Road and about a one minute walk from the stadium.
What’s new at Guardians games in 2023?
In January the Guardians announced plans for renovation projects at Progressive Field, including new fan areas like the Terrace Hub (currently the Terrace Club) with an “authentic-to-Cleveland beer food and beverage experience,” the Dugout Club (an exclusive lounge behind home plate) and a revamped upper deck that will feature a beer garden down the left field line.
But construction on those new areas won’t begin until after this season, with the new areas being rolled out in the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
This season, Guardians fans will, as usual, have a few new food options to choose from. The team usually waits until closer to the start of the season to announce the new menu items available at the stadium.
Last season, the Guardians introduced new items like the Southside Slope Sandwich (grilled kielbasa with sauteed pierogi and onions), the Pork Mac & Cheese Cone (waffle cone with mac and cheese and Montgomery Inn pulled pork) and Plant-Based Nachos at the Tostitos Nachos Stands throughout the lower level of the stadium.
Look for an update on new food and any other possible additions at Progressive Field later in the offseason.