Cal Raleigh has started to work his way back from an oblique strain
The Seattle Mariners defeated the Athletics 9-2 on Monday night in West Sacramento, Calif. As a result of the win, the M's are now 26-29 and just 1.5 games back of the A's for first place in the mediocre American League West.
Part of the reason for Seattle's inconsistency this season has been a string of injuries, including to one of the most critical players on the Mariners roster.
Cal Raleigh, who finished second in American League MVP voting in 2025, had a slow start to this season. Through 41 games, he slashed .161/.243/.317 with a .560 OPS and hit four doubles and seven home runs with 18 RBIs.
Most of the top hitters in Seattle's lineup, including first baseman Josh Naylor and center fielder Julio Rodriguez, had slow starts to the year but picked it up after the one-month mark into the season.
However, Raleigh was unable to go on a hot streak, in large part due to a nagging injury.
The 2025 All-Star missed three total games against the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves from May 2-4 due to right side soreness that was originally revealed to be an oblique strain.
Raleigh returned May 5 and tried to fight through his lingering soreness but tweaked the injury again in a game against the Houston Astros on May 13.
Raleigh exited the game and was placed on the 10-day injured list with the oblique strain May 14.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (left) celebrates with first baseman Josh Naylor after the latter scores a run in a game against the San Diego Padres on May 16 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. | Richard Dizon/Imagn Images.According to a recent report, Raleigh is starting to work his way back from the first injured list placement of his career.
According to a report on "X" from MLB.com reporter Daniel Kramer, via comments made by Mariners manager Dan Wilson, Raleigh was scheduled for a light catching session Monday. It marked his first bit of baseball activity since being placed on the IL.
Raleigh is currently at the team's spring trainingcomplex in Peoria, Ariz., and will likely stay there for longer while rehabbing.
Despite Seattle's slow start, it's still right in the thick of the division and the playoff race as a whole.
Game two of the series between the Mariners and Athletics will begin at 6:40 p.m. PT on Tuesday at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, Calif. The Mariners will send right-hander Emerson Hancock to the mound while the A's could counter with top prospect Gage Jump, who is reportedly being called up to the big leagues. He's got 56 strikeouts in 38 innings at Triple-A.
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