Ahead of Sunday’s finale, Seattle manager Dan Wilson made notable lineup adjustments to sustain the momentum. One key change involves catcher Cal Raleigh, who will move from the No. 6 spot he occupied on Saturday up to the cleanup role. Raleigh began the year batting in the top four but has struggled at the plate, gradually dropping in the order.
In contrast, Josh Naylor, who hit cleanup on Saturday, will slide down to the No. 5 spot on Sunday, while the top three spots in the order remain unchanged. Here is the Mariners’ lineup for Sunday:
– Leadoff: R. Arozarena (LF)
– D. Canzone (DH)
– J. Rodríguez (CF)
– C. Raleigh (C)
– J. Naylor (1B)
– W. Wilson (3B)
– C. Young (2B)
– V. Robles (RF)
– L. Rivas (SS)
– B. Miller (SP)
Raleigh’s 2026 season has drawn particular attention after a standout 2025. Last year, Raleigh led MLB with 60 home runs and 125 RBIs, finishing second in the American League MVP race behind Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees. This season, however, has been a stark contrast. Over 96 games and 341 at-bats, Raleigh is hitting .158 with 54 hits, 14 home runs, and 47 RBIs. His slugging percentage sits at .305, contributing to a .580 OPS.
As the Mariners head into Sunday’s game, the mood is clearly buoyed by the late-inning heroics of the previous two days and the strategic shift in the batting order designed to maximize run production and maintain pressure on the Cubs. The final matchup of the series will determine whether Seattle can complete the series win and extend its momentum into the next stretch of the schedule.
