Luke

Raley

The 31-year-old slugger missed the previous three games due to a left forearm strain. He’ll start in right field and bat seventh against Angels’ rookie right-hander Walbert Urena on Thursday evening in Seattle.

Raley is presumably available off the bench, if needed, as he continues to battle a left forearm strain that has caused him to miss three straight games. It’ll be Weston Wilson drawing into the lineup in right field.

It’s pretty remarkable that Raley has managed to avoid a trip to the injured list since he’s dealt with forearm and back issues, while also missing time due to illness, since mid-June. The 31-year-old will attempt to play through a left forearm strain that cropped up on a swing over the weekend. It’ll be Victor Robles in right field on Monday night in his place.

It’s an issue that Raley has battled at times throughout the season, and he tweaked it once again on a swing during Saturday’s ballgame. He’s considered day-to-day. Victor Robles will start in his place in right field and bat ninth for the M’s against Gavin Williams and the Guardians.

It’ll be the first start for Raley in a week, although the 31-year-old has been able to pinch hit off the bench. The left-handed hitting slugger is back, but Dom Canzone (hamstring) is out of the lineup for the series opener against PIttsburgh.

Raley remains stapled to Seattle’s bench for the sixth straight contest, but figures to be available to pinch-hit at some point. He struck out as a pinch-hitter during Saturday’s contest. The 31-year-old masher has been dealing with an illness in addition to a lingering back issue for the better part of the last week. It’ll be Dominic Canzone heading out to right field with lefty-masher Rob Refsnyder at DH to face his former club.

Raley has remained out of Seattle’s lineup for five consecutive contests due to a combination of illness and back tightness. It’s undoubtedly a positive sign that the 31-year-old slugging corner outfielder was available off the bench during Saturday’s contest. There’s a chance he’s feeling well enough to return for Sunday’s series finale.

It’s the fourth straight game that Raley has missed while feeling under the weather, though with left-hander Ranger Suarez on the mound for the Red Sox he was unlikely to start on Friday night anyways. He’s still considered day-to-day.

Per the Seattle Times’ Ryan Divish, Raley’s back feels better but he’s now dealing with a flu. Dominic Canzone bumps up a spot in the lineup and Victor Robles will get his fifth-straight start. It doesn’t sound like Raley is in much danger of missing more time once the bug clears up.

Raley will sit out his second straight contest with back tightness. It’ll be Connor Joe taking over in left field with Victor Robles in the opposite corner on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park.