The Seattle Mariners will play their 54th recreation of the season after they play host to the Washington Nationals on Wednesday evening, placing them one-third of the way in which via their 2025 marketing campaign.
And catcher Cal Raleigh probably will make his 53rd look.
Granted, 11 of these have come as a chosen hitter, however the American League West-leading Mariners simply cannot afford to depart the “Large Dumper” out of the lineup.
Raleigh hit two house runs Tuesday, his 18th and nineteenth of the season, to not solely lead the Mariners to a 9-1 victory towards Washington however to surpass the New York Yankees’ Aaron Decide for the league lead in that class. Solely the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani with 20 has hit extra within the majors.
“I am simply attempting to be as constant as potential and do what I do nicely,” Raleigh stated. “I am at all times striving to be a extra full hitter. You by no means determine this recreation out. If you suppose you do, it will kick your butt.”
Raleigh is hitting .258 this season and is on tempo for 57 homers and 111 RBIs, all of which might be career-high totals. Plus, he is a Platinum Glove winner as the most effective defender within the league.
Mariners supervisor Dan Wilson, who caught 14 seasons within the majors, stated he is aware of Raleigh’s going to wish a break sooner or later.
“I believe the concept is attempt to get him the DH days, which do assist a minimum of from the psychological grind standpoint and a bodily grind standpoint from getting away from behind the plate,” Wilson stated. “However we simply talked about it a lot, simply what he does, and calling the sport what he does, and the bodily calls for. He looks as if he will get three or 4 foul ideas each single evening again there. After which what he does offensively and to have the ability to do it as a lot as he does is exceptional.”
Julio Rodriguez additionally homered for the Mariners on Tuesday and rookie right-hander Logan Evans allowed one run on 4 hits over eight innings.
Evans was noticed within the outfield throughout batting observe over the weekend in Houston, listening intently to no matter Raleigh needed to supply.
“Cal is just like the chief of this crew. I believe lots of people know that,” Evans instructed The Seattle Instances. “He has the accolades and all of the stuff to type of again up on why he’s, however I do not suppose he makes use of that. I do not suppose he goes round saying, like, ‘That is proper as a result of I am a Platinum Glover.’ I believe individuals simply respect that about him and know that he reveals up each day, working as onerous as he can.”
The Nationals’ lone run off Evans got here on James Wooden’s 448-foot blast to straightaway middle discipline within the fourth inning.
“We must be aggressive on that first pitch … we fell behind after which we began chasing,” Nationals supervisor Dave Martinez stated. “We hit a pair balls within the hole … however when he is like that and he is attacking like that, you bought to go up there and be able to hit.”
Wednesday’s matchup is about to characteristic a pair of right-handers within the Nationals’ Trevor Williams (2-5, 6.39 ERA) and the Mariners’ George Kirby (0-1, 12.27), who will probably be making simply his second begin of the season attributable to proper shoulder irritation.
Williams has a 4.00 ERA with out a choice in two profession begins versus Seattle.
Kirby is 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA in two profession conferences with Washington.
–Area Stage Media