MLB Rivalry Weekend Pits Cincinnati Reds' Terry Francona Against Cleveland Guardians

Terry Francona switched allegiances when he signed on as the Cincinnati Reds' manager last fall, setting him up to face his former team in the Cleveland Guardians over MLB Rivalry Weekend.

Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona (77) looks up to watch the field in the sixth inning of a MLB game against the St. Louis at Great American Ball Park in Downtown Cincinnati. | Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

For over a decade, Terry Francona was the top man in the Cleveland Guardians' dugout.

The veteran skipper led Cleveland to six playoff berths, four AL Central titles and one AL pennant between 2013 and 2023, also guiding the club as they rebranded from the Indians to the Guardians. Even though he fell one win shy of winning a World Series in 2016, Francona still established himself as the winningest manager in franchise history.

Now, 20 months removed from announcing his retirement and leaving Cleveland behind, Francona will be facing off against his former team in Cincinnati.

Francona signed on as the Cincinnati Reds' manager last fall, just one year after he seemingly stepped away from the game. He has his new squad sitting at 21-24 entering the very first MLB Rivalry Weekend, which will pit them against their in-state foes – the Guardians.

Cleveland, meanwhile, has thrived under new manager Stephen Vogt, who guided them to an ALCS appearance in 2024. Vogt has the Guardians riding high in 2025 as well, carrying a 25-18 record into the weekend.

Francona played for both Ohio teams, suiting up for Cincinnati in 1987 and Cleveland in 1988. He managed the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1990s and the Boston Red Sox in the 2000s before returning to the Buckeye State, winning two World Series along the way.

The Reds won't visit the Guardians until June 9, which will mark Francona's return to Cleveland. He will return to Boston three weeks later on June 30.

As for the interleague rivalry matchup between the Reds and Guardians, game one will get underway Friday at 6:40 p.m. ET.

Related MLB Stories

• RUSHING ENJOYS HISTORIC DEBUT: Catcher Dalton Rushing, the No. 1 prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system, scored three runs and broke a Statcast Era record against the Athletics on Thursday night. CLICK HERE

• FURCAL ARRESTED: Rafael Furcal, who retired from MLB in 2015, has turned himself into authorities after he was accused of throwing a deadly missile into an occupied vehicle. CLICK HERE

• MLB ATTENDANCE RECORD: The Twins-Orioles and Cardinals-Phillies doubleheaders certainly juiced the overall numbers, but a record number of fans still poured into MLB ballparks on Wednesday. CLICK HERE

Follow Fastball On SI on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball On SI coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

You can also follow Sam Connon on Twitter @SamConnon.