Tampa Bay and Cleveland made late pitching adjustments before the American League Championship Series, with the Rays bringing rookie right-hander Brody Hopkins onto their roster and the Guardians adding right-hander Slade Cecconi.
Key takeaways
- The Rays added rookie right-hander Brody Hopkins for the ALCS.
- Left-handed reliever Garrett Cleavinger was removed from Tampa Bay’s roster.
- Cleveland selected right-hander Slade Cecconi for its Championship Series group.
- Both clubs turned to fresh pitching options as the series roster came into focus.
Rays change the look of their pitching staff
Hopkins gives Tampa Bay another right-handed arm and puts a rookie in the middle of a postseason roster decision. The Rays made room by dropping Cleavinger, a left-handed bullpen option, shifting the balance of the staff as the club prepares for the ALCS.
The move places Hopkins in a setting where every inning carries weight. Tampa Bay has elected to give the rookie a chance to contribute on the league’s biggest October stage rather than retain Cleavinger in the relief mix.
Guardians bring in Cecconi
Cleveland’s corresponding change adds Cecconi, another right-hander, to its American League Championship Series roster. The Guardians will have an additional arm available as the series begins, adding depth to a staff that will be asked to cover the tense, short-leash innings of postseason baseball.
Roster moves can look small on paper, but October clubs build their choices around matchups, recovery and the possibility that one unexpected inning decides a game. Hopkins and Cecconi now have that opportunity in front of them.
