Garrett Cleavinger

Active

Tampa Bay Rays · Pitcher

Age 326' 1" · 225 lbsThrows Left

#250 Current

FBaseball Overview

At 32 years old, Cleavinger operates as a multi-inning reliever in Tampa Bay's bullpen, offering modest win-save upside while primarily contributing strikeout value. His 2025 campaign demonstrated promise with an impressive 2.35 ERA and sub-1.00 WHIP across 61.1 innings, though early 2026 numbers suggest some regression with a 4.43 ERA and 1.25 WHIP through limited action. Managers should view him as a depth play for strikeout accumulation rather than a reliable source of wins or saves, given his secondary relief role and the volatility already evident this season. His value hinges on whether the Rays afford him additional innings and whether his early-season struggles prove merely a variance issue tied to his small 2026 sample.

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2020	Philadelphia Phillies	1	0	0	0	0	13.50	3.00	1	0.2	0
2021	Los Angeles Dodgers	22	1	2	4	0	3.00	1.78	21	18.0	12
2022	2 teams▼	17	0	1	1	0	3.91	0.91	32	23.0	7
2023	Tampa Bay Rays	15	0	1	0	0	3.00	1.00	14	12.0	6
2024	Tampa Bay Rays	68	0	7	5	6	3.75	1.38	71	60.0	31
2025	Tampa Bay Rays	67	0	2	6	2	2.35	0.95	82	61.1	18
2026	Tampa Bay Rays	37	0	3	3	2	3.31	1.22	45	32.2	15
Career	Totals	227	1	16	19	10	3.21	1.19	266	207.2	89

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2015	Aberdeen IronBirds	19	0	6	1	1	2.16	1.28	32	25.0	18
2016	2 teams▼	37	0	7	3	4	3.07	1.23	102	76.1	34
2017	2 teams▼	38	0	2	5	4	6.00	1.65	59	54.0	32
2018	2 teams▼	12	0	1	1	0	7.42	1.88	18	13.1	12
2019	Reading Fightin Phils	34	0	3	2	0	3.66	1.28	83	51.2	34
2021	Oklahoma City Dodgers	11	0	1	0	0	1.54	1.20	25	11.2	5
2022	2 teams▼	31	1	0	2	3	2.37	1.11	64	38.0	20
2026	Durham Bulls	6	0	0	0	0	8.31	1.85	5	4.1	5
Career	Totals	188	1	20	14	12	3.81	1.35	388	274.1	160

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Game Log2026 MLB

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Advanced Stats2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo95.6 mph

Avg Spin2569 rpm

Whiff %28.5%

K %33.1%

BB %11.0%

Hard Hit %41.3%

Barrel %8.0%

xERA3.51

xBA Against0.217

xSLG Against0.344

BA Against0.217

SLG Against0.374

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

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Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2020

Philadelphia Phillies

13.50

3.00

0.2

2021

Los Angeles Dodgers

3.00

1.78

18.0

2022

2 teams▼

3.91

0.91

23.0

2023

Tampa Bay Rays

3.00

1.00

12.0

2024

Tampa Bay Rays

3.75

1.38

60.0

2025

Tampa Bay Rays

2.35

0.95

61.1

2026

Tampa Bay Rays

3.31

1.22

32.2

Career

Totals

227

3.21

1.19

266

207.2

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2015

Aberdeen IronBirds

2.16

1.28

25.0

2016

2 teams▼

3.07

1.23

102

76.1

2017

2 teams▼

6.00

1.65

54.0

2018

2 teams▼

7.42

1.88

13.1

2019

Reading Fightin Phils

3.66

1.28

51.2

2021

Oklahoma City Dodgers

1.54

1.20

11.2

2022

2 teams▼

2.37

1.11

38.0

2026

Durham Bulls

8.31

1.85

4.1

Career

Totals

188

3.81

1.35

388

274.1

160