Raleigh has been a driving force for the Mariners in recent games, delivering a trio of home runs in the series opener against Philadelphia and adding another homer the following day. In total, he has launched four homers across his last three appearances, underscoring the brief burst of power that has helped him climb back into the conversation as a key contributor for Seattle.
With Friday night’s series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays on the horizon, Mariners manager Dan Wilson has implemented a notable lineup change surrounding Raleigh. In the most recent game against Philadelphia, Raleigh served as the designated hitter and hit cleanup. For the Friday matchup, the plan is to move him to the fifth spot in the batting order and have him return behind the plate as the starting catcher for right-hander Emerson Hancock.
The full Mariners lineup for Friday’s game was circulated by Underdog MLB, illustrating how the team intends to deploy its players. The proposed order places Raleigh at the designated catching position in conjunction with a reshuffled defensive frame, aiming to maximize Raleigh’s production while leveraging his receiving duties on the mound.
Raleigh’s 2026 season has presented its own set of challenges. As of Friday, he was batting .167 across 100 games and 354 at-bats, a mark that represents the lowest batting average of his major-league career by a wide margin. Despite the low average, Raleigh has compiled 32 runs, 59 hits, 18 home runs, and 59 RBIs, posting a slugging percentage of .342 and an OPS of .625. The numbers reflect a year of adjustment, with the power stroke still asserting itself in key moments.
Seattle’s overall performance this season has been a point of emphasis for fans and observers alike. The Mariners have been among the league’s more underwhelming clubs relative to the high expectations that accompanied their 2023 playoff push and the prominent roster they carried into 2026. At present, Seattle stands 64-70 on the year, finding themselves six games below .500. However, they remain within striking distance in the American League West and the Wild Card picture, sitting 3.0 games behind the division-leading team and four games out of a Wild Card berth.
The ongoing storyline for Seattle centers on balancing development with competitive results. Raleigh’s continued emergence, even amid a challenging overall campaign, provides tangible reasons for optimism. His recent power display demonstrates that he remains a critical piece of the Mariners’ offense as they navigate a tough schedule and look to close the year strong. As the team makes strategic decisions about lineup construction and defensive alignment, Raleigh’s role behind the plate and in the middle of the order will likely continue to be a focal point for fans and evaluators alike.
For fans following the Mariners, the upcoming series against Toronto offers an immediate test and an opportunity to assess how the club leverages its roster in the wake of Raleigh’s hot stretch. The matchup against a capable Blue Jays squad will demand consistency from Seattle’s pitching staff and disciplined at-bats from Raleigh and his teammates. As the season progresses, every game counts in the race toward postseason contention, and Raleigh’s contributions—both in power and defense—remain an important barometer of the Mariners’ overall trajectory.
In summary, Cal Raleigh’s recent surge has injected a spark into Seattle’s lineup, even as the team works to stabilize within a competitive American League landscape. The decision to shift him in the order and back behind the plate for the upcoming game reflects a strategic approach aimed at maximizing offensive potential while maintaining defensive alignment. Mariners fans will be watching closely to see if Raleigh’s hot streak can become a longer-term trend and whether Seattle can translate glimpses of late-season form into a sustained push toward a postseason berth.
