SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners got their superstar catcher back ahead of game one of a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday at T-Mobile Park.

Cal Raleigh was activated off the injured list after a month-long stint on the shelf due to a right oblique strain. And his return from the IL seemed to come at a perfect time.

The Mariners' starting rotation has had several different set-ups and arrangements this season. Bryce Miller began the year on the IL with his own oblique strain. Due to his delayed season debut and fellow starter Emerson Hancock having a career-best season, Seattle has kept six starters on the roster since Miller's activation May 13.

Seattle has approached having six starters in various different ways. For two road trips, the team has opted for a traditional six-man rotation.

In between those two trips, Miller and Luis Castillo have piggybacked off one another, with one of the two getting the start and the other pitching in long relief.

Miller has a 1.54 ERA and has struck out 36 hitters in 35 innings pitched across six outings (five starts) since his return.

Castillo has a 2.86 ERA and has fanned 28 hitters in 28.1 innings of work across six appearances (four starts) since Miller's activation.

The Mariners will be going back to a piggyback approach beginning with their current six-game homestand against the Orioles and Boston Red Sox, but it won't be limited to just Miller and Castillo.

According to Seattle general manager Justin Hollander, who spoke to the media before Tuesday's game, every starter will rotate having a piggyback outing from now through the All-Star Break, which takes places July 13-16.

The rotation will have four "normal" starts followed by one piggyback until the break.

The decision was a unanimous one between the six starters, per Hollander.

The piggyback will begin with its typical arrangement in the series opener against the Red Sox at 7:10 p.m. PT on Friday. Miller will start with Castillo pitching in long relief.

Beyond that, the team has the rotation mapped out per pregame comments made by Mariners manager Dan Wilson. But that map is still tentative based on if something unexpected happens in the month between now and the All-Star Break.

"We talk a lot about that group and how they work well together," Wilson said. "How they lean into each other, how they are all about this team and about winning. And they understand just how important this stretch is. All these guys are on board with doing what's best for our club right now and what's best for our bullpen. These guys are ready to go and ready to take it on. Just continues to prove over and over again what a special group this starting staff is."

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