The Seattle Mariners were forced to make a last-minute adjustment to their lineup on Saturday, as star catcher Cal Raleigh was scratched just over an hour before first pitch against the Kansas City Royals. The team has not yet disclosed the reason for the late change.
Raleigh was originally slated to bat second and start behind the plate, but fans at T-Mobile Park instead saw a reshuffled batting order. In his absence, dynamic center fielder Julio Rodríguez moved up to the two-hole, while backup catcher Mitch Garver dropped to eighth in the lineup.
It's been a tale of two seasons so far for the reigning AL MVP runner-up. After a historic 2025 campaign where he crushed 60 home runs and drove in 125 RBI, Raleigh has struggled mightily out of the gate in 2026, hitting just .186 with seven homers and 18 RBI through 33 games. However, there are signs of a turnaround: five of those home runs have come in his last 15 contests, suggesting the big catcher is finally heating up.
In a corresponding roster move, the Mariners placed infielder Will Wilson on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Thursday) with a left thumb fracture. To fill the roster spot, the team recalled catcher Jhonny Pereda from Triple-A Tacoma, adding extra depth behind the plate while Raleigh's status remains uncertain.
For Mariners fans and fantasy owners alike, all eyes will be on the team's pregame report on Sunday to see if their slugging backstop is ready to return to action.