The 2026 World Series begins Friday night, with the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays facing up to determine a first-time champion, in a series that will go through at least Tuesday and potentially through Halloween.
Three former Dodgers are active for the series — two for the Rays, one for the Brewers.
Jonny DeLuca has started all nine postseason games in center field so far for the Rays, with six hits, including a double, in 30 at-bats plus a walk and two stolen bases. Acquired from the Dodgers in the Tyler Glasnow trade, DeLuca’s third season with Tampa Bay was his best, hitting .266/.300/.429 with a 102 wRC+ in 112, coupled with solid defense for 2.4 fWAR.
Garrett Cleavinger pitched in 51 games for the Rays this season, but none since September 4, missing time in the regular season’s final month with left forearm tightness. He put up a 4.79 ERA and 4.24 xERA in his fifth season with Tampa Bay. The Dodgers dealt the left-hander to the Rays at the 2022 trade deadline, clearing a roster spot as he was further down the bullpen depth chart.
Cleavinger was active for the Division Series, but did not pitch during the three-game sweep of the New York Yankees. Cleavinger is back active for the Fall Classic.
Dustin May was a trade deadline acquisition this year for the Brewers from the St. Louis Cardinals, a year and a half since he last pitched for the Dodgers. May struggled down the stretch with Milwaukee, putting up a 5.65 ERA and 6.06 xERA in 10 starts.
May started Game 3 of the Division Series for the Braves, and allowed two runs in three innings in San Diego. He pitched a scoreless inning in relief against the Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLCS, then pitched three more innings in relief in Game 4. Within his first five batters, May allowed two singles then a three-run home run to Shohei Ohtani, the first long ball for Ohtani in eight weeks.
Other former Dodgers are on the Rays, but both Ryan Pepiot (hip inflammation) and Gavin Lux (right shoulder impingement) were on the injured list all season. Michael Grove missed all of 2025 after shoulder surgery and signed with Tampa Bay during the offseason and pitched three games in relief this season, going back and forth between the majors and Triple-A. But he was claimed off waivers by the Braves in September.