Raleigh scratched – Cal Raleigh was removed from the lineup before a Royals game, while Jhonny Pereda was recalled after a thumb injury sidelined Will Wilson.
Raleigh’s unexpected scratch before Saturday’s game quickly turned into a bigger Mariners roster shuffle, with another catcher soon called up.
Cal Raleigh had been scheduled to start behind the plate and bat second against the Royals, facing right-hander Seth Lugo. Instead, Mitch Garver took over the catching duties, moving into the lineup while Garver was slotted in a later batting spot.
In tandem with the change in Seattle, Tacoma also announced that it had scratched Jhonny Pereda from its starting lineup. Not long after, Misryoum understood why: Pereda’s call-up was tied to a different roster issue rather than replacing Raleigh.
The Mariners’ next move centered on an injury to Will Wilson. who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left thumb. retroactive to April 30.. In this context. recalling Pereda helps the organization preserve depth at catcher while managing the ripple effects of injuries across the roster.
With Pereda being the only catcher on the 40-man roster beyond Raleigh and Garver, the recall underscores how quickly game-day lineups can expand into roster planning. Pereda had also been productive at Triple-A, giving the organization reason to trust him as they recalibrate.
A slow start earlier in the season had complicated Raleigh’s momentum, but recent stretches show he’s finding his rhythm at the plate. Over the season’s early window, Raleigh had started in most games, and while his batting output varied, his power recently showed up more consistently.
Meanwhile, this kind of lineup adjustment is often as much about readiness as it is about performance. Teams manage daily matchups and workload, but injuries and depth charts can force quicker decisions than fans usually see.
For the Mariners, Saturday’s change is more than one game’s lineup tweak. It’s a reminder that roster depth, especially in premium positions like catcher, can become the difference between staying steady and scrambling when injuries hit.