New York Yankees at Seattle Mariners

It was never going to be a full off-day for Cal Raleigh. Mired in a mini-slump to begin the regular season, the Mariners’ all-world catcher was out of Seattle’s starting lineup on Monday night against the Yankees -- but wound up being the hero in a 2-1 walk-off win. Raleigh ripped a one-out single down the line off Paul Blackburn and past the outstretched glove of diving first baseman Ben Rice, which allowed Leo Rivas to score easily. Rivas led off with a single then went first-to-third on a single from Brendan Donovan. It’s still preposterously early to say that this could be an inflection point to springboard Raleigh in 2026. But given the topsy-turvy month that the AL MVP runner-up has gone through -- from not playing much in the World Baseball Classic, then falling behind in Spring Training reps before Opening Day -- it could steer him in a better direction. “It'll be OK,” Raleigh said. “I know a lot of guys in that locker room, a lot of people across the league, are fighting the same thing. Guys are trying to find timing. And it's under a microscope more so now than it is in the middle of the season.” Raleigh’s late breakthrough came after a 2-for-16 start to the season that included 11 strikeouts -- the most recent of which came when he pinch-hit in the designated hitter spot for Dominic Canzone in the seventh inning.