The essentials
Brewers and Rays submit 26-man World Series rosters, with Tampa Bay swapping Brody Hopkins for Garrett Cleavinger.
The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays have submitted their 26-man rosters for the 2026 World Series. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday evening in Milwaukee, and neither franchise has previously won a World Series.
Tampa Bay made a change to its submitted group, replacing Brody Hopkins with Garrett Cleavinger. The available reporting identifies this as the Rays' roster adjustment ahead of the series.
On the pitching side, Bryan Baker tied for the regular-season MLB lead with 41 saves. The available reporting does not specify Baker's role on either roster or whether he is part of the active World Series group.
Reporting does not indicate the reason for the Hopkins-to-Cleavinger change.
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Tampa Bay's Cleavinger addition marks its only reported roster change
Viewed through roster construction, the Rays' decision to add Garrett Cleavinger in place of Brody Hopkins shows how teams can refine a 26-man group before a championship series begins. The move reflects a targeted adjustment rather than a broad overhaul. Both clubs enter the series with rosters finalized ahead of Friday's Game 1 in Milwaukee, and neither has previously won a World Series.
Bryan Baker's 41 saves frame a bullpen-focused World Series build
From a pitching-depth perspective, the 41 saves that tied Bryan Baker for the regular-season MLB lead highlight how late-inning relief can shape a short series. Cleavinger's inclusion adds another option to Tampa Bay's pitching group, which may give the staff more matchup flexibility in high-leverage moments during a seven-game championship format.