Mariners' Cal Raleigh Out of Lineup for Series Opener vs. Yankees

Reigning AL MVP runner-up sits as Mariners face off against Aaron Judge and the Yankees

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:48am

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A fractured, cubist-style illustration depicting a baseball game between the Mariners and Yankees, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color, conveying the strategic considerations behind resting a star player.The Mariners' decision to rest their star catcher Cal Raleigh against the Yankees reflects a strategic approach to managing his workload after a historic 2025 season.NYC Today

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who hit a franchise-record 60 home runs last season, will not be in the lineup for the team's series opener against the New York Yankees. Mariners manager Dan Wilson said the decision was made to give Raleigh some rest after a shorter spring training and his participation in the World Baseball Classic.

Why it matters

Raleigh's absence from the lineup is notable as the Mariners face off against reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge and the powerful Yankees lineup. Raleigh had an MVP-caliber season in 2025, but the Mariners want to manage his workload early in the 2026 campaign.

The details

Raleigh, 29, has struggled out of the gate this season, going just 2-for-15 with 10 strikeouts in Seattle's opening series against the Cleveland Guardians. The Mariners are opting to start veteran catcher Mitch Garver in Raleigh's place for the series opener against the Yankees.

  • Raleigh appeared in a career-high 159 games for the Mariners last season, racking up 705 plate appearances.
  • It wasn't until his 10th game of the 2025 season that Raleigh's average climbed above the Mendoza line, and it took until mid-April for him to start hitting home runs at a prodigious clip.

The players

Cal Raleigh

The Mariners' All-Star catcher, who hit a franchise-record 60 home runs in 2025 and finished as the AL MVP runner-up.

Aaron Judge

The reigning AL MVP and star outfielder for the New York Yankees, who will be facing the Mariners in the series opener.

Dan Wilson

The manager of the Seattle Mariners, who made the decision to sit Raleigh for the series opener against the Yankees.

Mitch Garver

The veteran catcher who will start in place of Raleigh for the Mariners in the series opener against the Yankees.

Stephen Vogt

The former major league catcher and current manager of the Cleveland Guardians, who praised Raleigh's multidimensional talents as a catcher.

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What they’re saying

“Greatness leaves a trail. Just how he controls himself, how he controls that pitching staff, he's going to have another great year, that's for sure.”

— Aaron Judge

“For him to hit 60 homers again is unrealistic. I think if anybody's expectation is 50-plus homers for anyone, it's just not realistic. But, I think Cal's still a great offensive player, and I think he's going to have another great year.”

— Stephen Vogt, Guardians manager

What’s next

The Mariners will monitor Raleigh's workload throughout the season to ensure he is fresh for the stretch run and playoffs. He is expected to return to the lineup for the next game of the series against the Yankees.

The takeaway

The Mariners are taking a proactive approach to managing Raleigh's playing time early in the season, recognizing that his historic 2025 campaign may be difficult to replicate. By giving him rest now, they hope to keep him fresh and productive throughout the full 162-game schedule.