The Seattle Mariners are in the midst of one of their most difficult stretches of the 2026 season, and catcher Cal Raleigh is refusing to hide from his own struggles. Seattle has dropped five consecutive games, with Tuesday night’s 4-1 loss to the New York Yankees pushing the club further away from the top of the American League West and deeper into a disappointing stretch.
The Mariners entered the Yankees series hoping to stop their slide, but another lackluster offensive performance left them searching for answers. The latest defeat dropped Seattle to 56-64, a season-worst eight games below .500, while the team sits third in the AL West and 4.5 games behind the division-leading Texas Rangers.
Raleigh, who has been one of the Mariners’ most important offensive players in recent seasons, openly acknowledged that he has not been performing at the level expected of him. Rather than point fingers at teammates or circumstances, the veteran catcher placed much of the responsibility on himself.
“It’s not good. We’re not playing well. That starts with me. I’m awful,” Raleigh said after the loss.
He added that the Mariners need to improve in virtually every area of the game, describing their recent performance as extremely poor.
Raleigh’s individual numbers help explain why his comments have attracted attention. He is batting just .159 for the season, with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs. His struggles have become even more pronounced in August, when he is hitting only .107 with a .194 on-base percentage.
The contrast with last season is particularly striking. Raleigh finished second in AL MVP voting in 2025, and at this stage of that season he was hitting .271 with 35 home runs and 74 RBIs. His dramatic decline has therefore become one of the more significant concerns surrounding Seattle’s offense.
Despite his struggles, Raleigh emphasized the importance of maintaining the right mindset. He acknowledged that prolonged slumps can affect a player’s confidence and energy but said he must continue bringing intensity and preparation to the ballpark every day.
He also suggested that feeling sorry for oneself can lead to a lack of urgency, something he believes the Mariners cannot afford with the postseason race tightening.
For Seattle, the problem extends well beyond Raleigh. The club’s five-game losing streak has erased valuable ground in the playoff race, leaving the Mariners four games behind the Rangers for the American League’s final wild-card position.
The Mariners now face an increasingly important stretch of games against the Yankees. With their season reaching a critical point, Raleigh’s willingness to accept responsibility could be viewed as a leadership moment—but his bat will ultimately need to follow his words if Seattle hopes to turn its season around.
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