The Whole League Is Crumbling, But Cal Raleigh Delivered The Biggest Boost To M's Fans This Week

Woof, that 5-3 loss to the Orioles? Hard to swallow, especially this early in the season. But hold up, Emerald City, because amidst all the tough news out there, we just got a shot of pure Mariners adrenaline straight to the veins! Our guy, Cal Raleigh, is officially BACK from his oblique strain, and honestly, can we get a collective sigh of relief? T-Mobile Park needed this.

The Big Dumper is Back!

The Big Dumper is back where he belongs behind the plate, and that's absolutely huge for the M's. Raleigh hit the IL in early April with that nagging strained oblique, but he's already back on the field, which feels like a miracle when you look around the rest of the league. It's not just him, either. We've seen a few other familiar faces making their way back this week, like J.P. Crawford, who was out with a bruised hand. Across MLB, players like Yainer Diaz, Kodai Senga, Casey Mize, and Hunter Brown have also returned. The overall injury list is actually shrinking faster than it's growing, which is a rare good sign in baseball as teams try to find their early season form.

MLB's Star Power Is On The IL

But don't let that fool you into thinking the league isn't absolutely brutal right now. While we're

Trade on Every Game with Kalshi

Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.

celebrating Raleigh's return, you gotta remember what some other fanbases are dealing with. We're talking absolute fantasy nightmares out there. Jose Ramirez is staring down more than a month off with a fractured hamate bone. That's a first-round pick gone, just like that. And he's not alone, not by a long shot. Just two weeks ago, Aaron Judge went down with a stress fracture in his rib. Ronald Acuna Jr. is out again with a hamstring strain, an injury that cost him two weeks earlier this year. Plus, Oneil Cruz is sidelined with a fractured hand, though his non-displaced fractures hopefully put him on the shorter end of a 4-to-6-week timetable. Add to that aces like Spencer Strider and Cole Ragans, who were recently shifted to the 60-day IL. The IL is absolutely overflowing with star power, maybe more than it's been all year. So yeah, having Raleigh back? That's not just good news, it's a blessing for the M's faithful. This early season form is crucial, and having Raleigh's bat and leadership back behind the plate is exactly what we need as things start to heat up. We’ve seen the rough patches, like that recent 5-3 loss to the Orioles. But with Cal back in the lineup, things feel a little brighter for the M's. Keep your eyes peeled, Seattle, because this team is ready to fight, and getting key guys healthy is how we do it.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.