Let's dive into the intriguing dynamics as the Mariners gear up to host the Yankees. Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt stirred the pot with his comment that Cal Raleigh "obviously" should have taken home the AL MVP over Aaron Judge last year. It feels more like a nod of confidence than a real critique.
The Yankees, meanwhile, are riding high with Judge, their three-time AL MVP, who shook off a rough opener to launch homers in back-to-back games, sealing a sweep against the Giants in San Francisco. Judge is already making his presence felt early in the season.
On the flip side, Cal Raleigh is still finding his groove. In 18 plate appearances against Cleveland, he managed just two hits, drew three walks, and struck out 10 times.
Not exactly the start "Big Dumper" was hoping for after his explosive 60-homer season in 2025. But hey, it's early days, and everyone has their ups and downs.
Raleigh's timing seems a bit off at the plate, perhaps a consequence of a disrupted spring. His stint with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic was rocky-he didn’t get much action and ended up 0-for-9. Plus, the right-handed pitchers are exploiting him with inside fastballs, and he's struggling, evidenced by a 57.9% whiff rate.
While there's room for concern, it's early to hit the panic button. Raleigh isn't the only Mariner off to a slow start; stars like Julio Rodríguez and Josh Naylor also struggled in the opening series.
As for the MVP debate, while Vogt's endorsement of Raleigh is heartfelt, Judge's performance last season was undeniably stellar. But for 2026, Raleigh has some catching up to do if he wants to be in that conversation again.
The upcoming series against the Yankees is set to be a thrilling showdown. With both teams eager to make their mark, fans can expect some exciting baseball action.