Mariners bench Cal Raleigh as early struggles continue against Yankees
The Seattle Mariners have left star catcher Cal Raleigh out of the lineup for their series opener against the New York Yankees. Manager Dan Wilson has opted to rest the 2025 AL MVP runner-up after just four games into the new season. Meanwhile, Mitch Garver will start behind the plate and bat sixth in his first appearance of the year.
The decision comes as Raleigh struggles early, recording only two hits in 15 at-bats with 10 strikeouts against the Cleveland Guardians. Raleigh's slow start mirrors his 2025 campaign, when it took until his 10th game for his batting average to rise above .200—the Mendoza line. Despite this, the Mariners remain optimistic about his power, projecting at least 30 home runs for the 2026 season. Last year, he set a career high by appearing in 159 games.
His absence from Monday's lineup means he will face Aaron Judge, batting second for the Yankees, only if he enters as a pinch hitter. Without a start, Raleigh will have at most two opportunities to face Judge during the regular season.
Off the field, Raleigh has earned high praise from peers and rivals alike. Stephen Vogt, manager of the Guardians, has called him the best two-way catcher in baseball. Even Judge, his former teammate at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, commended Raleigh's work ethic during their time together. Though the US team lost to Japan in that tournament's final, Raleigh's performance solidified his reputation as a top-tier player. With Raleigh on the bench, the Mariners will rely on Garver to handle catching duties against the Yankees. The team's long-term confidence in Raleigh's power remains unchanged, but his early-season struggles have led to an immediate adjustment in the lineup. His limited chances to face Judge this series add another layer to the matchup's intrigue.
