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Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday that Cleavinger (calf) is on track to rejoin the active roster "closer to the weekend," Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Cleavinger has already made four rehab appearances with Triple-A Durham but has been shaky, yielding four runs with a 4:5 K:BB. The Rays want him to have a couple more rehab outings to sharpen things up before activating the reliever this weekend. Cleavinger has been out since late March with right calf tightness.
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Rays' Garrett Cleavinger: Kicks off rehab assignment
Rotowire
Cleavinger (calf) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Sunday, walking three and giving up a three-run home run in one-third of an inning.
Cleavinger, who's recovering from right calf tightness, wasn't sharp in his first game action since March 30. The Rays will presumably want the southpaw to get a few rehab outings under his belt to knock off the rust before they consider reinstating him from the injured list, likely positioning Cleavinger for a return in late April if all goes well in his subsequent appearances at Triple-A.
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Rays' Garrett Cleavinger: Live BP on tap for Thursday
Rotowire
Cleavinger (calf) is scheduled to face hitters in live batting practice Thursday, per MLB.com.
The left-hander is working his way back from right calf tightness, and the expectation is that he'll be able to rejoin Tampa Bay's bullpen at some point in mid-to-late April. Cleavinger has given up two runs on three hits and four walks over 2.1 innings to begin the year, so it's possible the Rays will ease him back into the high-leverage mix once he's cleared to return.
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Rays' Garrett Cleavinger: Lands on IL with calf tightness
Rotowire
The Rays placed Cleavinger on the 15-day injured list Friday with right calf tightness.
Cleavinger has had a rough start to the season, posting a 7.71 ERA and 3:4 K:BB over 2.1 innings covering three appearances. If he is merely dealing with tightness and not a strain, he has a good chance to be activated when first eligible April 15.
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Rays' Garrett Cleavinger: Headed for closer committee
Rotowire
Cleavinger has given up one hit with one strikeout and no walks over two scoreless Grapefruit League appearances. He also struck out one in a scoreless frame for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
Cleavinger's game work has been a bit light this spring while away from the Rays for the World Baseball Classic, but he should be ready for Opening Day all the same. The left-hander and Griffin Jax are poised to begin the season splitting closing duties, with Edwin Uceta set to join the mix once he recovers from a shoulder issue. Cleavinger was dominant while serving in a setup role last year, recording two saves and 22 holds with a 2.35 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 82:18 K:BB across 61.1 innings.
Rays' Garrett Cleavinger: Avoids arbitration with TB
Rotowire
Cleavinger agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Rays on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The left-hander will double his salary in his second year of arbitration eligibility after tallying two saves and 22 holds with a 2.35 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 81:18 K:BB over 61.1 innings last season. Cleavinger is expected to begin 2026 as part of Tampa Bay's closer committee, with Griffin Jax and Edwin Uceta also in the mix.
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Rays' Garrett Cleavinger: Will be part of closer committee
Rotowire
Cleavinger, Griffin Jax and Edwin Uceta are expected to be part of a closer-by-committee for the Rays in 2026, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays elected to decline Pete Fairbanks' $11 million option, and the plan for now is to fill that ninth-inning vacancy with multiple players. Cleavinger had the best season of his career in 2025, holding a 2.35 ERA and 82:18 K:BB over 61.1 innings. The lefty has neutral splits, so he should not be at a matchup disadvantage when it comes to who manager Kevin Cash chooses to deploy in save situations.
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Rays' Garrett Cleavinger: Called upon for save
Rotowire
Cleavinger picked up the save Tuesday against Seattle, throwing a perfect inning with zero strikeouts.
Griffin Jax began the ninth inning, but after he yielded a pair of walks and a single to the first three batters he faced, Tampa Bay turned to Cleavinger with the bases loaded and nobody out. Cleavinger surrendered a sacrifice fly, with the run being attributed to Jax, but Cleavinger didn't allow the Mariners to complete the comeback. Now with two saves on the season, Cleavinger has an impressive 1.75 ERA in 51.1 innings. He hasn't allowed a run in 18 straight innings.
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Rays' Garrett Cleavinger: Takes fourth loss
Rotowire
Cleavinger (0-4) allowed one earned run on two hits and a walk without recording an out in the ninth inning to take the loss Saturday against the Twins.
Cleavinger posted a 2.70 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 10 innings in June and began July with two scoreless outings. He didn't have his best stuff Saturday, however, as he allowed a walk and two singles -- the latter of which was a bunt -- to allow a walk-off win for the Twins.
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Rays' Garrett Cleavinger: Rare misstep
Rotowire
Cleavinger (0-1) allowed one earned run on one hit while striking out two across two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Friday against the Astros.
Cleavinger has been one of the Rays' most reliable high-leverage relievers this season, and he's maintained an impressive 27:4 K:BB across 21.1 frames while turning in scoreless efforts in 17 of 23 appearances. He stumbled Friday, however, allowing a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning after striking out the first two batters he faced to take his first loss of the campaign.
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