Lineups: Mariners give Raleigh a day off in crucial finale vs Rangers

The struggling Seattle Mariners are looking to leave Texas with a series split, and they’ll be doing so with Cal Raleigh on the bench.

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Seattle’s starting catcher is out of the lineup for their rare Monday series finale against the Texas Rangers, who have taken two of the first three games of the pivotal four-game set. First pitch is set for 11:35 a.m., with Mariners Radio Network coverage on Seattle Sports starting at 10:30 with the pregame show.

This entire series has been important, but Monday’s game now is especially so. Not only would a Mariners win bring them back with a half-game of Texas for the AL West lead, but it would keep them alive for the season series tiebreaker with the Rangers, who have won six of the nine games between the division rivals thus far this year. The M’s and Rangers will play one more three-game series in Seattle from Sept. 8-10.

If Seattle can win Monday and sweep that final series, they’ll finish with a 7-6 record against Texas. But if Texas wins any one of those remaining games, it will hit seven wins over the Mariners and clinch the tiebreaker advantage.

The Mariners won 6-4 Sunday to snap a four-game losing streak.

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Raleigh has been mired in a season-long slump a year after setting multiple records with an MLB-leading 60 home runs. He enters Monday with a .165 batting average, .569 OPS and minus-0.3 bWAR in 74 games. This will be the first game he has not started since Seattle returned from the All-Star break on July 17. In nine games since that point, he is hitting 4 for 31 (.129) with a home run, three walks and 10 strikeouts.

Mitch Garver will catch in Raleigh’s place, while Luke Raley will play center field with Julio Rodríguez serving as the designated hitter for the second time in three games. Rodríguez is just nine days removed from returning from the concussion injured list. Mariners insider Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports provided an update on Rodríguez from manager Dan Wilson before the game.

Julio as the DH today was part of the plan for him coming off the concussion list according to Wilson.

“We wanted definitely to take the head injury seriously and this is where we are at. Err on the side of caution.”

— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) July 27, 2026

Dominic Canzone is playing right field and hitting third a day after going 3 for 5 with a double, a go-ahead three-run homer and four RBIs. The 28-year-old slugger is slashing .260/.332/.512 for an .844 OPS with 16 homers, 46 RBIs ad a 1.5 bWAR in 91 games.

Here is Seattle’s lineup for Monday’s finale:

Set for the series finale. #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/U7ty2E7XGn

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 27, 2026

The Mariners will turn to veteran right-hander George Kirby (8-8, 3.57 ERA) on the mound. Kirby has thrown six straight quality starts, posting a 2.61 ERA over that stretch. He also has a track record of success at Texas’ Globe Life Field with a career 3.16 ERA and 0.935 WHIP in four games at the ballpark.

Right-hander Kumar Rocker (3-8, 4.13 ERA) gets the start for Texas.

Here is the Rangers’ lineup for Monday:

Looking to lock up the series. #AllForTX pic.twitter.com/6DowTHL33c

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) July 27, 2026

The Rangers enter Monday with a 53-52 record, putting them 1 1/2 games ahead of the Mariners (52-54) and two in front of the Houston Astros (52-55) in the AL West.

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