Seattle Mariners Make Big Lineup Shift For Series Finale vs. Orioles
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After losing 4-3 in walk-off fashion on Wednesday night, the Seattle Mariners are switching things up for Thursday's series finale against the Baltimore Orioles.
Morning baseball coming your way ⚾️ #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/mg22vdy5LW
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 14, 2025
A day off for Cal
After starting the first two games of the series behind the plate, Cal Raleigh is getting a day off. Though Raleigh is still a favorite for the American League MVP Award, he's really struggled of late. He's hitting just .175 over his last 30 games, though he does have 10 home runs in that time.
He's hitless in this series, and Mitch Garver will start behind the plate in his place.
Naylor moves up
With Raleigh out of the lineup, the Mariners are doing their best to keep a R-L-R-L structure to the lineup. As a result, Josh Naylor will move up from third to second. He's hitting .409 over his last seven games and has RBIs in each of the first two games of this series.
Naylz makes it a one-run game! #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/yHzs7rc6bp
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 14, 2025
Polanco too
Jorge Polanco has generally found himself hitting sixth or seventh in the new-look M's lineup, but today he hits cleanup as a way to keep a lefty bat sandwiched between Julio Rodriguez and Eugenio Suarez.
The 32-year-old Polanco is hitting just .125 over his last seven games, and he's hitting .229 over this last 15. The Mariners could use another hot streak from him if they are going to catch the Houston Astros in the American League West. Seattle enters play at one game back of Houston.
Other notes
--Cole Young is back in the lineup after an off day on Wednesday
--Dominic Canzone is also back, though he did pinch-hit in the ninth inning on Wednesday and record a sacrifice fly.
After this game is over, the Mariners will fly to New York for a series with the New York Mets.
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