Mitch

Garver

Garver’s two-run shot off Royals’ reliever Nick Mears drove home the only two runs scored in this game. This was only his second total hit in the eight days since taking over for the injured Cal Raleigh behind the plate, but both were home runs.

Garver was scratched from the M’s lineup on Saturday due to tightness in his back, but it appears to have been only a minor issue. Expect him to see the bulk of the action behind the dish while Cal Raleigh (oblique) is shelved.

Garver was a late scratch from Saturday’s game. It’s worth noting that the 35-year-old is expected to handle catching duties while Cal Raleigh (oblique) is unable to play, so if Garver needs to miss time, it’ll be Jhonny Pereda starting behind the plate until their return.

Donovan wasn’t the only player scratched, as the Mariners also removed Mitch Garver from Saturday’s lineup. No reason has been given as to why either player was removed, but it’s very likely injury-related. Leo Rivas is now the third baseman, and Jonny Pereda will handle catching duties. There should be an update on both shortly.

Raleigh was removed from Wednesday’s game with “right-side discomfort,” but Mariners manager Dan Wilson said the move was precautionary. However, Raleigh also missed three games with right-side tightness last week, so this is clearly an ongoing issue. There’s a chance that the Mariners will place their All-Star on the injured list until this issue subsides fully. Mitch Garver will catch and bat eighth on Thursday.

Wilson downplayed concern after Raleigh appeared to be in some right-side discomfort during the eighth inning before being replaced by Mitch Garver behind the plate in the ninth. The 29-year-old backstop dealt with some right side tightness last week that caused him to miss three games. He was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts prior to exiting. There should be some additional clarity on his status prior to Thursday’s series finale.

Raleigh will get a chance to reset mentally, instead of facing Yankees southpaw Ryan Weathers, after going an ice-cold 2-for-15 with one RBI and 10 strikeouts during a four-game series against the Guardians to open the regular season. There are obviously zero concerns fantasy-wise when it comes to the 29-year-old slugging backstop on the heels of a 60-homer campaign where he rewrote the offensive record book for catchers. It’s only a matter of time before he heats up. It’ll be Mitch Garver handling the catching duties on Monday night in his place.

Even though he was a late returnee last month, Garver was able to beat out Andrew Knizner and retain his job as Cal Raleigh’s backup. He isn’t currently in line to see much time as a DH against left-handers, but that could change if more injuries strike.

Garver, 35, smashed a solo homer off Sean Burke, and then drove in another run off Burke courtesy of a sac fly. The 35-year-old has reportedly made the roster, and while he’s a shell of the hitter he was earlier in the decade, he’ll get a chance to give Cal Raleigh a spell and likely DH on occasion against southpaws.

Garver was signed to a minor league contract in February, and while the team gave Andrew Knizner an MLB deal, it appears that Garver will beat out Knizner for the right to back up Big Dumper aka Cal Raleigh. Garver likely will see most of his playing time against left-handed pitching behind the plate and ocassionally at DH.