Cal Raleigh takes blame for Seattle Mariners' losing streak

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has taken personal responsibility for the team’s recent struggles following a 4-1 loss to the New York Yankees, which marked the team's fifth consecutive defeat. Raleigh, who had a historic 2025 season featuring 60 home runs and an MVP runner-up finish, described his current performance as “awful” and noted that the team is playing “very, very, very bad baseball in every facet of the game.”

Currently sitting at a 56-64 record, the Mariners are eight games below .500 and face the possibility of missing the postseason. Raleigh’s statistical decline has been significant; his batting average has dropped to .159, and his OPS has plummeted compared to his record-breaking previous campaign. Analysts have noted his difficulty in timing fastballs and a high strikeout rate.

While Raleigh has shouldered much of the blame, the team's broader offensive struggles are evident, as the Mariners have scored the fewest runs in Major League Baseball this season. Manager Dan Wilson has also acknowledged the need for greater offensive consistency as the team attempts to remain in contention for a wild-card spot.