Seattle Mariners Catcher Cal Raleigh Returns to Lineup After 3-Game Absence

SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners are coming off an impressive 5-4 win against the Atlanta Braves on Monday.

The Mariners scored five unanswered runs in the bottom of the sixth inning en route to the win. More impressively, they did it without one of their best players.

Seattle starting catcher and 2025 All-Star Cal Raleigh was out the last two games against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday and Sunday and game one against Atlanta on Monday. Raleigh was absent due to right side soreness.

For game two of the series against the Braves, which will take place at 6:40 p.m. PT on Tuesday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Raleigh will be in the lineup batting second as the team's designated hitter.

Mitch Garver, who's filled in for Raleigh at catcher in two of the last three games, will start behind the plate Tuesday.

According to pregame comments made by manager Dan Wilson, Raleigh passed all of the Mariners' testing and protocols and "feels nothing" in his side and is good to go. He'll be able to make full use of his switch-hitting abilities and bat from both sides of the plate.

As for Raleigh's chances at returning behind the dish, Seattle is willing to be patient and see how the 2025 Home Run Derby champion responds in his first game back.

"We're looking at it pretty much at-bat to at-bat at this point," Wilson said Tuesday. "Just continue to watch it and we'll make decisions as the assessments come in. ... I think he's full-go and is able to do it. Obviously if something comes back up, we'll have to take some kind of action at that point. We'll just have to continue to be in good communication. He's been great about it, so that's just what it's going to take."