After a brief three-game absence, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is back in the lineup Tuesday, ready to make an impact. The slugger, who missed time due to a sore right side, is starting as the designated hitter in his customary No. 2 spot in the order.

"As we talked about with side injuries, you have to be really, really careful," manager Dan Wilson emphasized. The issue first cropped up after Friday night's game against the Kansas City Royals, leading to a late scratch on Saturday.

Raleigh noted there wasn't a single moment when the injury occurred, and he's been "playing it safe" on the advice of the team's training staff. To be thorough, he underwent an MRI on Saturday to rule out any structural damage, which came back clean.

Following Monday's thrilling 5-4 win over the major league-leading Atlanta Braves, Wilson hinted that a decision on Raleigh's return would come Tuesday. After completing pregame workouts Monday, the catcher got the green light. "Obviously we're going to be cautious as we get him back into it," Wilson added. "But a chance for him to swing the bat today."

Remarkably, Raleigh—now in his sixth season with the Mariners—has never landed on the injured list, a testament to his durability behind the plate. However, the team plans to monitor his return closely, with Mitch Garver starting at catcher for the second straight game. "We're looking at it pretty much at-bat to at-bat at this point," Wilson said.

While Raleigh's overall numbers—a .186 average with seven homers and 18 RBIs through 33 games—might not jump off the page, there's reason for optimism. After a sluggish start at the plate, the reigning AL MVP runner-up (who crushed 60 homers and drove in 125 runs last season) has found his groove, with five of his seven home runs coming in the last 15 games. For Mariners fans and those tracking his gear on the field, this return could be the spark Seattle needs.