The 2026 World Series is finally here, and it’s a battle between two teams, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays, guaranteeing us a first-time champion. But what’s really wild is that three former Dodgers players are active and ready to make their mark on baseball’s biggest stage.
DeLuca Is Absolutely Crushing It For The Rays
Let’s talk about Jonny DeLuca first. This dude has been a force in center field for the Rays, starting all nine of their postseason games so far. He’s snagged six hits, including a double, in 30 at-bats. Plus, he’s got a walk and two stolen bases. Seriously, he’s making things happen out there! The Dodgers traded him in the Tyler Glasnow deal, and man, has he ever paid off for Tampa Bay. This is his third season with them, and it’s been his best one yet, rocking a .266/.300/.429 line with a 102 wRC+ in 112 games. Add in his solid defense, and you’re looking at a huge 2.4 fWAR. Rays fans have to be absolutely stoked about what he brings to the table.
May’s Rocky Road And Cleavinger’s Comeback
Then there’s Garrett Cleavinger, also with the Rays. He pitched in 51 games this season, but then he went quiet after September 4, missing the final month of the regular season with left forearm tightness. That’s a brutal break right before the playoffs. His regular season numbers were a 4.79 ERA and a 4.24 xERA in his fifth year with Tampa Bay. The Dodgers sent him packing at the 2022 trade deadline, clearing a spot because he was buried on their bullpen depth chart. He was active for the Division Series, but didn’t even get to throw a pitch during their three-game sweep of the Yankees. But here’s the kicker: he’s back, active for the Fall Classic. Talk about battling back!
Over on the Brewers side, we’ve got Dustin May. They picked him up at the trade deadline this year from the St. Louis Cardinals, after he hadn’t pitched for the Dodgers in a year and a half. Things got rough for May down the stretch with Milwaukee, posting a 5.65 ERA and a gnarly 6.06 xERA in 10 starts. He even started Game 3 of the Division Series for the Brewers (definitely not the Braves, sorry typo in the initial reporting!) and gave up two runs in just three innings in San Diego. Then, in relief during the NLCS, he had a scoreless inning against the Dodgers in Game 2, but Game 4 was a different story. Within his first five batters, he gave up two singles, and then, BAM, a three-run bomb to Shohei Ohtani. That was Ohtani’s first long ball in eight weeks, so you know May’s gotta be feeling that one. That’s a tough moment to have heading into the World Series.
Injuries Keep Other Former Dodgers Off The Big Stage
It’s worth a quick shout out to some other ex-Dodgers who are on the Rays roster but won’t be playing in the Series. Ryan Pepiot and Gavin Lux were both on the injured list all season, Pepiot with hip inflammation and Lux with a right shoulder impingement. Rough break for those guys. Michael Grove, another former Dodger, missed all of 2025 after shoulder surgery, then signed with Tampa Bay in the offseason, pitching three relief games this season bouncing between the majors and Triple-A. But he got claimed off waivers by the Braves in September, so he’s not around for this run either.
The stage is set, with the series kicking off Friday night. These teams are playing for ultimate glory, and with the series potentially running through Halloween, it’s gonna be a wild ride. Will DeLuca continue his hot streak? Can Cleavinger make an impact? And can May shake off that Ohtani homer? We’re about to find out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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