Cal Raleigh excluded from Mariners’ lineup amidst brutal batting slump

The Seattle Mariners have left star catcher Cal Raleigh out of the lineup for Monday’s game against the New York Yankees, giving him his first rest day of the season.

Raleigh is currently in the middle of one of the worst batting slumps of his career. He’s gone 2-of-15 at the plate to start the season with 10 strikeouts.

He’s coming off a career year for Seattle last season, and team manager Dan Wilson said Monday’s rest will be good for Raleigh.

“A day off for a catcher like that is always a mental reset, not having to partake in the grind back there pitch-to-pitch and then take your AB’s,” Wilson said. “There’s always value in just getting a complete day, too. So, in a lot of ways, it’s a mental and physical off day as we’ve talked about.”

Raleigh was the catcher in all four games to open the season. After smashing 60 home runs in last year’s breakout campaign, it’s likely only a matter of time until he’s back in his element.