Cal Raleigh Placed On IL Due To Oblique Strain, Should Fantasy Managers Panic?

May 11, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) puts on his mask after a play during the second inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Coming off a historic campaign in 2025, Seattle Mariners star catcher Cal Raleigh has endured one of the most notable slumps to start the 2026 season. His struggles have made an impact on a Mariners squad that has posted a modest 21-23 record through mid-May.

Fantasy baseball managers have begun to hit the panic button on Raleigh, and reasonably so. Last year's home run champ is hitting just .161 from the plate, racking up 26 hits, 16 runs, seven homers and 18 RBIs over 161 at-bats. His 57 strikeouts have raised concerns alongside a vastly inefficient batting average.

The struggles continued on Thursday afternoon, when the Mariners placed Raleigh on the Injured List. The All-Star hit IL for the first time in his career after suffering an oblique strain just one game after snapping his 38-at-bat slump on Tuesday. Raleigh was removed in the final inning of Wednesday's 4-3 loss to Houston due to soreness, posting an 0-for-4 start prior to his substitution.

Raleigh will miss some time to recover, with managers remaining optimistic for a quick turnaround coming off his absence. Seattle subsequently recalled Jhonny Pereda from Triple A, who will look to offer a spark in the MVP runner-up's absence. Let's look at Raleigh's fantasy outlook amid his tough start as he gets some time off:

Should Fantasy Managers Panic Over Cal Raleigh After IL Designation