After the game, Garver addressed a defensive scare in the seventh inning when he awkwardly rolled on his knee while attempting to track a foul pop-up. “It wasn’t my most graceful moment,” Garver said. “I just jammed up my back. There’s nothing with my knee or anything. It should be fine.”

The veteran catcher also made an impact offensively, posting a 2026 line of 51 at-bats, 9 runs, 9 hits, 1 home run, 3 RBIs, a .176 average, a .354 on-base percentage and a .609 OPS, highlighted by his first homer of the season as he helped Seattle build early momentum in a game where the lineup produced a season-high in extra-base hits.

Garver steps up behind the plate after Raleigh injury

With Raleigh sidelined due to a right oblique strain, Garver is expected to handle the bulk of the catching duties during his absence, a role he stepped into immediately while managing the pitching staff.

He was also involved in a crucial overturned ABS challenge in the fourth inning that turned a ball call into a strikeout, helping Seattle maintain control of the game early. Garver’s ability to stay composed behind the plate proved important as the Mariners leaned on depth at catcher following Raleigh’s injury.

Mariners offense powers win despite late-game scare

Seattle’s offense carried the load, highlighted by Luke Raley’s early three-run homer and a strong overall showing that included 11 hits and multiple extra-base contributions. Luis Castillo earned his first win of the season, while the Mariners improved their recent dominance over Houston.

Seattle now turns its attention to a weekend series against the San Diego Padres, continuing a stretch of strong offensive production despite roster challenges.

Garver brings a wealth of experience to the lineup, having won a World Series with the Texas Rangers in 2023 and boasting a career total of over 100 home runs. While he has struggled early in the 2026 MLB season with a .180 batting average.

The second option on the Mariners’ depth chart is Jhonny Pereda, who was recently recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to provide much-needed support for the catching rotation. Pereda has shown promise in his limited opportunities this year.

Are the Mariners losing a lot without Raleigh?

Despite his reputation as a powerhouse, Cal Raleigh has been enduring a statistically brutal 2026 campaign, hampered by the very oblique injury that eventually landed him on the shelf. Prior to being sidelined, he was hitting just .161 with a meager .560 OPS.

The Mariners currently sit at 22-23, placing them second in the AL West and struggling to find consistent offensive rhythm as a collective unit. While Raleigh’s power is always missed, his recent slump was actively hurting the lineup’s efficiency, and the move to the injured list may actually provide the team a chance to reset.

Seattle’s pitching staff remains among the most talented in the American League, which should keep the team competitive even while their star catcher is absent. If Garver can find his timing and Pereda maintains his steady play, the Mariners are well-positioned to weather this storm.

After the game, Raleigh reflected on the mental challenge of navigating the prolonged skid. “Sometimes, you’ve just got to throw everything out the window and just go out there and say, ‘Screw it,’ and try to compete,” Raleigh said, according to MLB.com. “Sometimes, you’ve got to put the numbers and the technique and mechanics aside and just go out there and grind it out.”

Raleigh’s seventh-inning single into the right-center gap ended a hitless streak that dated back to April 27 and was approaching the longest in Mariners franchise history. The catcher later added another hit in the eighth inning, turning a frustrating stretch into his sixth multi-hit game of the season.

Mariners teammates celebrate Raleigh’s breakthrough

The emotional moment immediately sparked reactions throughout Seattle’s dugout, as teammates made sure to celebrate Raleigh finally getting back into the hit column.

Bryan Woo waved towels at Raleigh after he later scored on Randy Arozarena’s RBI double, while Josh Naylor jokingly pretended to preserve the baseball from the slump-ending hit as a keepsake.

Woo also revealed postgame that Raleigh had taken a shower in full uniform following Monday’s game after another hitless performance, an idea encouraged by Logan Gilbert as the team searched for any possible spark.

Raleigh still looking for offensive consistency

Despite the encouraging performance, Raleigh is still attempting to climb out of a difficult offensive start to the season. Entering the game, the catcher had gone 15 days without a hit while continuing to struggle statistically at the plate.

Raleigh is still batting .166 with a .249 on-base percentage and remains among the MLB leaders in strikeouts. However, the two-hit night against Houston could provide an important confidence boost moving forward as the Mariners continue their push through the season.

According to the team’s public relations account on X, “Ryan Loutos, RHP, placed on unconditional release waivers.” The move capped a brief, hectic stint in Seattle marked by roster shuffling and limited opportunity

During his brief career, Loutos has bounced between teams — moving from the Cardinals to the Dodgers and later the Nationals — appearing in 15 MLB games across three clubs. His 14 1/3 innings came with a 10.14 ERA, a tough reminder of how hard it is to stick in the majors, even as others around the league, amid Brendan Donovan enjoying best start of career with Mariners, find early momentum.

Mariners move on, Loutos at a career crossroads

The Mariners activated shortstop J.P. Crawford from the injured list and optioned infielder Ryan Bliss to Triple-A Tacoma as part of the same roster shuffle. For Loutos, the release signals a turning point, forcing him to consider his next steps in a league that is unforgiving for pitchers on the fringe of rosters.

From D-III to the majors: a brief, turbulent ride

Loutos’ journey from a small St. Louis college to MLB stardom, however fleeting, is a reminder of both the opportunity and volatility inherent in professional baseball. While the Mariners pivot toward their series opener against the Los Angeles Angels, Loutos faces the challenge of redefining his path in a game where careers can shift overnight.

The Mariners haven’t made any announcement regarding Raleigh that would indicate a physical setback. Thus, his absence from the opening matchup against the Yankees is entirely due to load management.

It wouldn’t make sense for Raleigh’s benching to be a strategic decision, as he is one of Seattle’s best players. Moreover, his switch-hitting skill set means there aren’t many matchups across MLB the Mariners would shy away from. However, he has struggled to start the 2026 season.

As Ryan Weathers makes his first start of the year for the Pinstripes, Raleigh will be watching from the dugout. With Raleigh out of the diamond, Seattle will rely on Brendan Donovan, who is enjoying the best start of his career, and company to lead the Mariners to victory over the uninvited visit from the Bronx.

Rest day for Raleigh

Since Opening Day in 2026, the Mariners haven’t had a day off. Seattle started the season with a four-game series against the Cleveland Guardians, meaning it will play seven straight games before enjoying a rest day. With that in mind, it makes sense why Raleigh has been given a day off on March 30. Still, the fact that it’s in the first game against Aaron Judge and the Yankees raises eyebrows and might send the wrong message around the league.

Last season, Raleigh finished second in AL MVP voting, behind none other than Judge. Fans were looking forward to the first showdown between the two stars, but it will have to wait for the next meeting between the Mariners and Yankees, who will face off again on March 31 and April 1. All signs indicate Raleigh will be good to go then.

Seattle’s replacements for Raleigh

Whether he returns to his catching duties or serves as a designated hitter is a different question. Most likely, he will be back behind the plate. If not, then why didn’t Seattle use Raleigh as a DH from the start against the Yankees? So far this season, Raleigh has only played as a catcher. He might be due soon, though.

Last year, he logged 121 games as a catcher and 38 as a designated hitter—roughly a 4:1 ratio. Thus, his next outing could very well come as a DH, even if it sends mixed signals from the Mariners. As Raleigh misses the opening game of the Yankees-Mariners series, he will be replaced at the catcher’s box by Mitch Garver. Meanwhile, Rob Refsnyder will serve as designated hitter.

Donovan hit .429 against the Cleveland Guardians in the Mariners’ first series of the year, which ended in a 2-2 split. That mark represents the best start of his career, topping his .364 opening from the 2025 season and every other start he had with the Cardinals dating back to 2022.

Through those first four games, Donovan’s .429 average hasn’t just been impressive, it’s also placed him inside the top ten of multiple batting leaderboards. Even Aaron Judge hasn’t managed that yet, as he’s currently locked in an early home run race with Chase DeLauter of the Guardians.

Donovan proving to be an offensive gem

Donovan has already delivered two home runs for Seattle and is projected by Baseball Reference to finish with 13 in the 2026 season. In just 14 at-bats, he’s added four RBIs and struck out only four times, showing a disciplined and intelligent approach at the plate for the former Cardinals utility man.

Among the various leaderboards he’s climbing, one of the most notable is Runs Created, where Baseball Reference has him tied for sixth with Munetaka Murakami at seven runs. That kind of production is key for a team looking to stack wins early in the season.

Another important metric early on is Times On Base. With 10 so far, Donovan is demonstrating strong pitch recognition and patience at the plate. He currently sits tied for second in that category alongside several other players.

His performance shouldn’t come as a complete surprise, either. During spring training, Donovan hit .413 across 17 games, recording 19 hits in 46 at-bats, giving Seattle Mariners fans a glimpse of what he’s now delivering in the regular season.

Hours after Arozarena expressed his frustration to reporters, Raleigh moved to de-escalate the tension with a clarifying statement. “There’s no beef with Randy. I love him. He’s my brother,” Raleigh told the Seattle Times’ Ryan Divish, as reported on Divish’s X account.

With Raleigh’s comments, the air appears cleared between the two stars as the MLB regular season looms. The Mariners are desperate for a unified front as they look to finish what they started in 2025, a season that saw them fall just short of a World Series berth after a heartbreaking American League Championship Series exit at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays.

For now, the focus remains on the international stage. Team USA is looking to punch its ticket to the quarterfinals with a pivotal clash against Italy, while Mexico faces a must-win scenario in their final pool play matchups to keep their championship hopes alive and potentially set up a high-stakes rematch in the knockout rounds.

The Raleigh-Arozarena incident

The friction ignited during a tense middle-inning plate appearance for Arozarena. As the outfielder stepped into the box, he extended his hand toward Raleigh—his primary catcher in Seattle—expecting a brief acknowledgment. Instead, Raleigh remained focused on his pitcher, seemingly ignoring the gesture and leaving Arozarena visibly stunned at home plate.

Arozarena didn’t hide his emotions after the game during his postgame availability. However, with Raleigh’s public apology and the Mariners’ leadership stepping in, both players are expected to be back in lockstep by the time they return to Peoria for the final days of spring camp.

The Mariners open their 2026 campaign at home against the Cleveland Guardians, and manager Dan Wilson is banking on his two most explosive offensive weapons to be fully aligned. After the narrowest of misses last October, Seattle can ill-afford any lingering distractions if they hope to secure the first pennant in franchise history.

“How do you think I should respond to Cal Raleigh? I’ll say it in four languages,” Arozarena told reporter Juan Sandoval during a heated postgame availability. “First, in Spanish: The only thing he should be thankful for is having such great parents. He’s well-educated, thank God; I even saw them at the hotel a few days ago.”

Arozarena didn’t stop there, escalating his rhetoric as the interview continued: “Straight Cuban style? He can go f*** himself. Mexican style? Go to hell. And in English? That fake ‘good to see you’ he hit me with? He can shove it. I’m out.“

The outburst highlights a growing rift in the Mariners’ clubhouse just weeks before Opening Day. Arozarena’s frustration was likely compounded by Mexico’s 5–3 loss to the U.S., a result that pushed the Americans to 3-0 in Pool B and left Mexico’s quarterfinal hopes hanging by a thread.

Arozarena quieted as Team USA takes control of Pool B

Arozarena’s bat was as cold as his postgame comments on Monday night. The left fielder went 0-for-3 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch, failing to provide the offensive spark Mexico needed to overcome a dominant start by U.S. ace Paul Skenes. Now sitting at 2-1, Mexico no longer controls its own destiny in Houston.

Mexico’s path to the quarterfinals now depends on the result of Tuesday’s matchup between Italy and the United States. If Team USA defeats the Italians, Mexico will face a “win-and-in” scenario in their pool-play finale against Italy on Wednesday. A loss by the U.S., however, could trigger a complicated three-way tiebreaker in Pool B.

As the first round nears its conclusion, the knockout bracket is beginning to take shape. Powerhouses like Japan, South Korea, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic have already punched their tickets to the quarterfinals, leaving just a few remaining spots for the World Classic Baseball‘s final push in Miami.

Raleigh’s impressive hitting statistics propelled him to the forefront of the MVP race in 2025, although the award ultimately went to Aaron Judge, who turned in an exceptional season. In the aftermath of the announcement, Raleigh humorously addressed the MVP award’s outcome, offering insights into what it might take to secure such an accolade.

During an interview with Foul Territory, Raleigh was asked a pointed question: “If 60 home runs, a division title, and elite defense aren’t enough to win MVP, what is?” He wittily responded, “You need to win the World Series too [laughs].”

Raleigh’s remark highlighted his perspective on the MVP award results. While Judge excelled in regular-season statistics, his individual performance contrasted with the Yankees’ overall team achievements. Conversely, Raleigh’s contributions aligned with the Mariners’ successful campaign.

Raleigh’s thoughts on the MVP decision

Beyond his light-hearted remarks, Raleigh expressed his genuine feelings on the MVP voting process. “Those are things that are out of our control. I just want to be as consistent as possible, focus on the little things, one pitch at a time, win as many games as possible,“ Raleigh commented.

With this motivation driving him, Raleigh’s ambitions for the upcoming season have the Mariners’ fanbase eagerly anticipating his contributions. If he continues to deliver with such efficacy at the plate, he stands poised to be an instrumental force in shaping the team’s success.

Projected Opening Day lineup featuring Raleigh

As anticipation builds across MLB for players to return to the diamond, Mariners fans are eager to see the lineup that will take the field on Opening Day of the 2026 season, especially with Raleigh at its core.

Here is the projected lineup for the Mariners:

1. Victor Robles RF
2. Cal Raleigh C
3. Julio Rodriguez
4. Josh Naylor 1B
5. Randy Arozarena LF
6. Brendan Donovan 3B
7. J.P. Crawford SS
8. Dominic Canzone DH
9. Cole Young 2B

“Source confirms Phillies signed utilityman Dylan Moore to a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training. Moore, 33, is a .206/.310/.383 hitter with 63 home runs in seven major-league seasons. Has played everywhere except catcher, but mostly 2B, SS, LF, RF,” Scott Lauber reported on X.

What stands out most is that Moore is an experienced yet still relatively young player who could be a low-cost option for the Phillies. He played on multiple sub–$1 million contracts with the Mariners until 2023, when he signed a three-year, $8.8 million deal.

A solid offseason move for the Phillies

Moore could be considered a savvy pickup for Philadelphia, especially as analysts and Phillies observers have pointed out that he fits the type of player who could help the team, provided he earns a roster spot.

“Dylan Moore is an interesting pickup for PHI. Extremely patient hitter that might not get to good EVs, but can pull the ball in the air. Model for success is 2024, where he had elite PD and decent contact rates. Needs to limit strikeouts. A good utilityman pickup and project,” wrote Past The Eye Test Baseball (@pasttheyetestbaseball) on X.

Moore owns a .310 career on-base percentage, and last season, despite appearing in 30 games with the Rangers, he posted his second-best home run total with 11 long balls. It was also his fourth-lowest strikeout season, finishing with 82.

The report came from Adam Jude during an appearance on Foul Territory. Jude noted that Suarez would be an ideal fit for the Mariners but emphasized that the organization is reluctant to block its top prospects. “He [Suárez] checks all the boxes, an amazing clubhouse guy,” Jude said. “They [the Mariners] have a lot of young, talented infielders coming, knocking at the door.”

“They don’t want to block those guys,” Jude added, specifically pointing to Emerson as a prime candidate to take over at third base, a factor that could be one of the main obstacles to Suarez returning to Seattle next season.

With or without Suarez, the Mariners’ offseason hasn’t gone well

According to part of Adam Jude’s report, the Mariners have not had a strong offseason. The situation appears to go beyond prospects and the Suarez case, as the beat writer notes that while the team is still looking for players on the market, the roster currently feels incomplete.

“There’s some bubbling frustration brewing with Mariners fans,” Jude said, adding that rumors surrounding Brendan Donovan continue to circulate but that nothing serious has materialized so far. He did note, however, that the Josh Naylor contract was an important step for the organization.

“Need to know how this is possibly a B offseason. They’ve subtracted more than they’ve added. They’re short two bats and at this moment they’re worse than they were when the year ended. It’s a D+ for me,” Mariners fan Ben Sansaver wrote on X (@sansaver23).