Seattle Mariners outfielder Luke Raley entered this season as one of the team’s biggest bounce-back candidates. So far, he’s on his way to quite the rebound year.

Seattle Mariners’ slow start has featured some bad luck

The 31-year-old Raley has been one of the best Mariners hitters early on, as he was during his first year with the team in 2024. In his first 18 games, Raley is batting .328 (20 for 61) with a 1.002 OPS, four homers, four doubles and one triple.

Raley’s strong early performance featured a candidate for his best game at the plate as a big leaguer on Wednesday against the Padres. He turned in his first career four-hit game, which included a homer and a double. It was the third time in a four-game span Raley had at least three hits.

Just about all of the damage Raley has done has come against right-handed pitching since he’s used as the left-handed side of a platoon in right field. So far this season, he has just two at-bats against lefties.

During Thursday’s edition of Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob, co-host Bob Stelton made the case that the Mainers should ride the hot hand and give Raley more opportunities in left-on-left matchups.

“When somebody’s hot – you got very few hitters in this lineup that are hot, Donovan is another guy – I don’t care if there’s a lefty on the hill. Let Luke hit. Let Donovan hit. Let whoever’s hot (hit),” Stelton said. “… This guy is seeing the ball really well right now, let him keep going.”

What the right-handed options to replace Raley have done thus far is another reason Stelton would like to see the outfielder get more same-handed matchup opportunities. Veteran Rob Refsnyder, who is currently on paternity leave, has yet to get a hit in his first 19 plate appearances. And outfielder Victor Robles is on the injured list, leaving Connor Joe as the other right-handed option in right field. Joe has only five at-bat this season, but he hit just .221 in 157 combined games over the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

The issue of Raley hitting against lefties came up Thursday night when he was pinch hit for by Joe with the bases loaded and out in the sixth inning down 4-2 against Padres left-hander Adrian Morejon. Joe ended up striking out on three pitches.

However, Raley’s track record against left-handers hasn’t been good. He has a career .182 average and .533 OPS against southpaws in 194 plate appearances.

“It’s comfort for a lot of these guys… Maybe it’s just a matter of seeing lefties enough,” Stelton said. “… You’re going to get better by getting used to it and facing those guys… I would think if they’re feeling good at the time, if they’re on a roll, then show them, you know what, I’ve got that much confidence in you. They’re running the lefty out there today and you’re in the lineup, so get ready.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player below. Listen to Wyman and Bob weekdays or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app. 

More on the Seattle Mariners

• It may be time for Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh to make some tradeoffs
• Trevor May: Mariners’ Brendan Donovan ‘has been as advertised’
• Changes helping Seattle Mariners’ Luke Raley look like his old self
• Former Seattle Mariners clubhouse favorite continuing career in Mexico
• How will Bryce Miller’s return impact Seattle Mariners rotation?

Follow @ZacHereth

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jackson Merrill hit a walkoff, two-run double to cap San Diego’s five-run ninth inning and the Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 7-6 on Wednesday night for their seventh win in a row.

San Diego Padres 7, Seattle Mariners 6: Box Score

The Padres won a game after entering the ninth inning trailing by four-plus runs for the first time since June 14, 2019.

Andrés Muñoz (2-2) came on to start the ninth and loaded the bases before Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a pinch-hit sacrifice fly. Luis Campusano and Ramón Laureano followed with two-out RBI singles that made it 6-5.

Jose A. Ferrer replaced Muñoz and five pitches later Merrill hit a line drive to left field that ended it.

Alek Jacob (1-0) came on to start the eighth and pitched two scoreless innings for his second career win. Starter Randy Vásquez gave up four runs and five hits in four innings. He walked four and had six strikeouts.

Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run homer in the sixth. The 33-year-old shortstop has 200 career home runs, 45 in his three-plus seasons with the Padres.

Bogaerts, Laureano, Merrill and Gavin Sheets had two hits apiece.

Luke Raley hit a two-run home run, doubled and finished with a career-high four hits for the Mariners.

Seattle starter Emerson Hancock allowed two runs and had six strikeouts in six innings.

Dominic Canzone and Brendan Donovan each drove in two runs for the Mariners.

Randy Arozarena singled and stole second base before Raley’s two-run shot made it 6-0 in the fifth.

Arozarena, who also doubled, scored three times.

Before the game, Padres manager Craig Stammen said opening day starter Nick Pivetta, who was put on the 15-day IL on Tuesday, will be out maybe months.

Up next

Seattle’s Luis Castillo (0-0, 6.92 ERA) takes the mound on Thursday against Walker Buehler (0-1, 4.97) to conclude a three-game set.

More on the Seattle Mariners

• Changes helping Mariners’ Luke Raley look like his old self
• Trevor May: Mariners’ Brendan Donovan ‘has been as advertised’
• Former Mariners clubhouse favorite continuing career in Mexico
• How will Bryce Miller’s return impact Seattle Mariners rotation?
• Keith Law’s under-the-radar Seattle Mariners prospect to watch