Mariners rest Cal Raleigh, but he still saves the day vs. Yankees

Cal Raleigh was set to have the day off on Monday to help deal with a poor start to the year, but ultimately came up clutch for the Mariners.

With Cal Raleigh struggling to begin the year, the Mariners decided to give him the night off on Monday versus the Yankees. However, when push came to shove manager Dan Wilson turned to his most trusted lieutenant, who proceeded to deliver the team’s first walk-off win of this young season.

Raleigh had entered Monday night’s game leading the majors with 10 strikeouts, and when he pinch-hit for Dominic Canzone in the seventh inning he quickly increased the number to 11 Ks. The 2025 AL MVP runner-up wouldn’t make the same mistake again the next time he was up, in the bottom of the ninth and with the game tied at 1-1.

With one out and runners on the corners, Raleigh blasted a single down the line past a diving Ben Rice to right field, giving Leo Rivas more than enough time to cross home plate for the winning run. This was just what the Mariners’ clubhouse leader needed to get his season kick-started, as the fifth walk-off hit of his Major League career clinched a 2-1 win versus the Yankees.

Yes, it’s still ridiculously early and yes, Raleigh similarly started last season slowly before embarking on a historic 60-home run campaign. However, following a 0-for-9 showing at the WBC which included no playing time in the semi-final or final for Team USA, he was eager to get going and show he’s still the best all around catcher in the game.

Dan Wilson explains why he initially gave Cal Raleigh the night off

The Mariners are determined to give Raleigh more time off in 2026 following a career-high 159 games last season. Speaking about him ahead of Monday’s series opener against the Yankees, Wilson had said:

“We’re trying to assess this as we go and make sure that we don’t put him in a tough spot. I think he’s a hard guy to get out of the lineup because he wants to be in there so badly. But, I think it just felt like today was a good day to get him some rest.”

With having an off-day behind the plate at least, Raleigh was asked how much this impacted his approach heading into Monday night. Not too much it turns out, as he said:

“I didn’t go through my normal routine, kind of took it easy. Obviously I still got my work in. … You’re always one foul-dip away from going in the game. So you’re still ready, you’re still kind of mentally there, checking in, and obviously getting hot around that second half of the game.”

Cal Raleigh breaks down his game-winning hit

In respect of the crucial at-bat in the bottom of the ninth, Raleigh was asked what he was looking for when facing Yankees reliever Paul Blackburn. He said:

“He went two cutters there to start the at-bat, curveball. I was just looking for some heart, some heart in the heart of the play and it cut into my hands a little bit, but it was fair. So yeah, to me I was just trying to get a barrel on the ball, trying to get something to the outfield, trying to square something up, keep it simple. I was able to get enough of it to get it through.”

As much as Wilson is used to Raleigh delivering for the team, he remains impressed with what he continues to achieve. Speaking about the 2024 Platinum Glove winner‘s performance as a pinch-hitter, he said:

“For Cal to go from a day off to getting into that game, and then getting a couple (at-bats) and breaking it open there at the end to get the walk-off feels really good. Great to see that from Cal and that was a big win for us tonight.”

No panic about early-season hitting woes for some of the M’s big bats

Early in the season it’s often easy for things to look worse than they really are, as players find their timing and get into the swing of things. Even following Monday’s walk-off hit, Raleigh is just 3-for-17, Julio Rodríguez is only 1-for-19 and Josh Naylor is hitless in 19 at-bats.

However, this isn’t Raleigh’s first rodeo and he understandably is not concerned about how he or his two teammates have begun the season. He said:

“It’ll be okay. I know a lot of guys in the locker room, a lot of people across the league are fighting the same thing. Guys are trying to find timing and it’s under a microscope more so now than it is in the middle of the season, just because it’s the start of the season and everybody’s excited. They can keep up with certain numbers, but it’s not a big deal. I don’t think it’s going to last like that.”

Other Mariners notes from 2-1 win versus Yankees

Luis Castillo allowed just two hits and a couple of walks over 6.0 shutout innings. He recorded his 1,500th career strikeout against Aaron Judge in the sixth inning.

Cole Young went 3-for-4 on the night with a double and an RBI, for his third career three-hit game in the majors. All four of his RBI this season have been of the clutch variety, coming with two outs.

Brendan Donovan extended his on-base streak to five games and became one of just seven players to reach 13+ times in his first five games with the Mariners. Randy Arozarena hit a single in the first inning and has also reached base in all five games to begin this season.

Quote of the night

Even though Raleigh grabbed the main headlines, he was full of praise for what his replacement Mitch Garver did behind the plate on the night specifically, as well as in general. He said:

“Garv knows these guys just as well as I do. He’s a great baseball mind. He’s been around a long time. There’s a reason he’s able to do what he does. He sees the game in a very good way and I’m very grateful, obviously, to have him. It’s another set of eyes that I can pick somebody’s brain. I can talk to him about pitch calling, game planning, what he sees in pitchers. Sometimes you need that clear kind of look through the lens from another person and he definitely brings that.”

Photos court​‌esy of Tim Rogers Photography

• Seahawks Rookie Mini-Camp Highlights: Key Performers & Insights
• Mariners Scratch Raleigh, Call Up Pereda Ahead of Johnson Celebration
• Seahawks Rookie Camp Day 1 Highlights
• Exploring Jadarian Price’s Impact on Seahawks’ Offense
• Seattle Storm’s Preseason Breakdown: Stats and Highlights