Mariners’ Catcher Cal Raleigh Scratched From Lineup Before Loss

The Seattle Mariners scratched catcher Cal Raleigh from Saturday night’s lineup because of general soreness, pulling him just over an hour before first pitch in a 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Kansas City Royals.

Let’s dig into what’s going on with Raleigh, the lineup shuffle, and how Seattle’s handling injuries during a tricky stretch.

Raleigh Scratched: Soreness, Imaging, and Day-to-Day Status

General soreness led the team to send Raleigh for imaging, and now he’s listed as day-to-day. He was supposed to bat second and catch, but the Mariners pulled him before fans even got through the gates.

Honestly, it seems like they just want to play it safe with Raleigh, since he’s pretty crucial when he’s right. After the scratch, Seattle had to rework the lineup, making changes to keep the offense afloat and hopefully give Raleigh a chance to heal up for the long haul.

Lineup Shuffle: Who Did What on Saturday?

With Raleigh out, Julio Rodríguez slid into the two-spot, keeping his bat near the top. Backup catcher Mitch Garver stepped in behind the plate and hit eighth, so at least the Mariners had a veteran back there while Raleigh rests.

Cal Raleigh’s Seasonal Trajectory: From MVP Power to a Struggling Start and a Spark

The Mariners have seen Raleigh at his best before. Last season, Raleigh finished as the AL MVP runner-up after blasting 60 home runs and driving in 125 runs—those numbers show just how much he can impact a lineup.

This year, though, he’s been fighting through a rough patch, hitting just .186 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in 33 games. Fans are definitely wondering if he’ll snap out of it.

Still, there’s a spark. Five of his seven homers have come in the last 15 games, so the power hasn’t disappeared. If he can get healthy and back in rhythm, Raleigh might just anchor the offense again.

Roster Moves and Depth Chart Shuffles

With another infielder hurt and depth stretched thin, Seattle made a few roster moves to patch things together. Here’s what happened over the weekend:

• Will Wilson landed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Thursday) with a left thumb fracture.
• The Mariners called up Jhonny Pereda from Triple-A Tacoma to help out at catcher while Raleigh recovers.
• With Raleigh out, Julio Rodríguez moving up in the order kept the offense moving in a tight game.
• Backup catcher Mitch Garver got the start behind the plate and hit eighth, giving Seattle a steady hand when Raleigh can’t go.

What’s Next for Seattle?

As Raleigh eyes a return, the Mariners face a tricky balance. They need to stay careful, but they also want to win right now.

The team will watch imaging results and symptoms closely. They’re trying to keep their edge in the short term, without risking Raleigh’s long-term health.

That 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Royals? It really showed how thin Seattle’s depth looks during this hectic stretch.

So what’s next? Expect more lineup shuffling and extra chances for young guys like Pereda.

And of course, everyone’s still wondering—will Raleigh get back to his power-hitting ways this season?

 
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