Raleigh, last season’s MVP runner-up, is off to a rocky start this year. Through the first two games, he’s struggled to find his groove, going 0-for-7 with seven strikeouts.
While he managed to draw a walk, his pitch recognition has been off. Known for his disciplined approach in 2025, Raleigh has been chasing offspeed pitches in the dirt and high fastballs.
In Saturday’s 5-1 victory, one at-bat saw Raleigh strike out on seven pitches, none of which were in the strike zone. But with 160 games left, there’s plenty of time for him to bounce back.
His manager, Dan Wilson, remains confident, highlighting Raleigh’s outstanding defensive contributions and leadership with the pitching staff. “He’s just missing some pitches,” Wilson noted.
“He’s Cal. He’s going to find it, and it’s just a matter of time.”
As the Mariners prepare to face the Guardians, left-hander Joey Cantillo is set to pitch, likely putting Mitch Garver behind the plate. This raises questions about Raleigh’s role-will he sit out, or take on the designated hitter spot to get some right-handed at-bats? This decision impacts Victor Robles and Rob Refsnyder, who typically face lefties.
First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. PT, with Bryan Woo, an All-Star last season, making his first start of 2026.
In other news, the Mariners’ bullpen showed improvement on Friday. Eduard Bazardo, Matt Brash, and Andres Munoz combined for three scoreless innings. Bazardo, fresh off a World Baseball Classic win with Venezuela, shared his excitement about that experience before the season opener.
Offensively, the Mariners have scored nine runs in two games-a strong start with historical significance in how they've achieved it.
Don’t forget to join our MARINERS on ROUNDTABLE community for free! Share your thoughts and engage with staff and fellow fans. Download the Roundtable APP for easy access.