MLB
Garrett Cleavinger Returns to Rays’ World Series Roster
Tampa Bay omitted the left-handed reliever from its ALCS roster after the Division Series.
Cleavinger replaces Hopkins on the World Series roster, MLB.com announced.
Tampa Bay had made the opposite change for the American League Championship Series against Cleveland. The Rays added rookie right-hander Brody Hopkins and omitted left-hander Garrett Cleavinger for that round, with the rest of the Division Series roster retained.
Cleavinger pitched in 51 regular-season games and finished with a 4.79 ERA. He was on the Rays’ Division Series roster but did not appear during their three-game sweep of the New York Yankees.
Hopkins made his major league debut September 13. In six regular-season appearances, he recorded seven strikeouts and six walks over 5⅓ innings, with a 5.06 ERA.
That October 12 announcement involved just one change to Tampa Bay’s 26-player group. The ALCS roster contained 12 pitchers and 14 position players. Hopkins’ inclusion for the Cleveland series gave manager Kevin Cash an additional right-handed bullpen option. Cleavinger is a left-handed reliever.
