Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh will miss his third consecutive start Monday night as he continues to deal with a sore right side, manager Dan Wilson confirmed. The discomfort first surfaced after Friday's game against the Kansas City Royals, leading to a late scratch from Saturday's lineup.

Raleigh, last season's AL MVP runner-up after a monster campaign that included 60 home runs and 125 RBIs, admitted there was no single moment he could pinpoint as the cause. "I'm playing it safe," Raleigh said, noting that the team's training staff recommended the cautious approach. He underwent an MRI on Saturday and is awaiting the results.

Wilson offered an optimistic update: "I think he's getting himself into a good spot. He's testing himself a little more today. We'll have more information once we see how he feels after he's done some work."

The Mariners have not yet decided whether to place Raleigh on the injured list, though Wilson indicated a decision is expected within the next day or so. As for Monday's game against the Atlanta Braves, the skipper said any potential bench availability would be determined closer to first pitch.

While Raleigh's .186 batting average through 33 games is far below his MVP-caliber standards, there are encouraging signs beneath the surface. After an ice-cold start, the backstop has rediscovered his power stroke, launching five of his seven home runs over the past 15 games. For a catcher who's become the heart of Seattle's lineup, every day of rest is a careful calculation between long-term health and short-term production.