Mariners’ Cal Raleigh Sidelined with Side Soreness; Bullpen Depleted as Gabe Speier Hits IL

Key facts

• Cal Raleigh missed his third straight game on May 4 due to right side soreness, with MRI results pending.
• The Mariners placed Gabe Speier on the 15-day IL retroactive to May 3 with left shoulder inflammation.
• Seattle called up catcher Jhonny Pereda from Triple-A on May 2 after Will Wilson went on the IL with a thumb fracture.
• Infielder Ryan Bliss joined the taxi squad as infield depth in case Raleigh is placed on the IL.
• José Suarez, claimed off waivers from Atlanta, and Josh Simpson were added to the bullpen; Cole Wilcox was optioned to Triple-A.
• Speier posted a 2.31 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 76 appearances last season but has struggled in 2026 with a 1.54 WHIP.
• The Mariners are now without three key relievers from 2025: Speier, Matt Brash (right lat inflammation), and Carlos Vargas (right lat strain).

Raleigh’s Injury Clouds Mariners’ Immediate Future

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has not played since Friday, May 1, after experiencing soreness in his right side following that day’s game. The team and the 29-year-old backstop are awaiting MRI results to determine the severity of the injury. Speaking to reporters on May 3, Raleigh described his condition as “very positive, very encouraging” compared to the initial discomfort, but the club has proceeded cautiously. As a precaution, the Mariners recalled catcher Jhonny Pereda from Triple-A on Saturday, May 2, after placing infielder Will Wilson on the 10-day injured list with a thumb fracture. Infielder Ryan Bliss was added to the taxi squad to provide further infield depth should the decision be made to place Raleigh on the IL. The team faces a deadline of May 4 to backdate any IL stint for Raleigh within the three-day window, ensuring he could return as soon as possible.

Bullpen Hit Again as Speier Lands on IL

The Mariners’ bullpen, already thinned by injuries, took another blow on Monday, May 4, when left-handed reliever Gabe Speier was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Sunday, May 3, with left shoulder inflammation. Speier, 31, had been the club’s top left-handed option out of the bullpen last season, appearing in 76 regular-season games with a 2.31 ERA and 0.87 WHIP over 62 innings. He struck out 33.7% of batters faced while walking just 4.5%, earning a spot on Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. This season, however, Speier’s performance had slipped. Despite a 2.92 ERA over 12 1/3 innings in 15 outings, his WHIP had risen to 1.54, his walk rate nearly doubled to 8.9%, and his strikeout rate dropped to 21.4%. The lefty joins Matt Brash (right lat inflammation) and Carlos Vargas (right lat strain) on the IL, leaving Seattle without three key members of last year’s bullpen.

New Arms Arrive: Suarez and Simpson Called Up

To fill Speier’s roster spot, the Mariners added two left-handed pitchers: José Suarez, claimed off waivers from the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, and Josh Simpson, recalled from Triple-A. Suarez, 28, joins the team as they face his former club. In eight games (one start) for Atlanta this season, he posted a 6.61 ERA, allowing 12 runs over 16 1/3 innings. Over eight MLB seasons with the Braves and Los Angeles Angels, Suarez has a career 5.35 ERA in 412 1/3 innings across 114 appearances. Simpson, 28, is being recalled for the second time in four days. He was originally called up when Brash went on the IL on Friday, May 1, but was sent back down the following day without appearing in a game. In nine outings for Triple-A this season, Simpson has a 0.96 ERA, allowing one run over 9 1/3 innings. He appeared in 33 games as a rookie for the Miami Marlins last season, compiling a 7.34 ERA in 30 2/3 innings. Right-hander Cole Wilcox was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move.

Injury Woes Extend Beyond Seattle: Suarez, Jenkins, and Smith Sidelined

The Mariners are not alone in their injury struggles. Boston Red Sox left-hander Ranger Suarez exited his start on May 3 after four innings with a hamstring strain. Suarez told reporters he is hopeful the injury is not serious enough to cost him his next start. He will remain in Boston to rest while the Red Sox travel to Detroit for a three-game series. No MRI is planned, but the situation bears watching: Boston already has six starters on the injured list, including Garrett Crochet and Sonny Gray. Manager Chad Tracy indicated the team may use an opener ahead of Brayan Bello on Tuesday to shield him from left-handed hitters atop Detroit’s lineup. In the minor leagues, top Minnesota Twins prospect Walker Jenkins left a Triple-A game on May 3 with a left shoulder injury after colliding with the outfield wall while making a catch. Jenkins, the fifth overall pick in the 2023 draft, was in obvious discomfort and will undergo testing. He had been hitting.250/.389/.386 over 108 Triple-A plate appearances this season and was expected to make his MLB debut in 2026. Meanwhile, Chicago White Sox right-hander Shane Smith will miss at least two weeks on the Triple-A injured list with a right rotator cuff strain. Smith posted a 10.80 ERA in his first two big league starts this season and a 5.27 ERA in 13 2/3 innings after being optioned to Charlotte.

What’s Next for the Mariners?

The Mariners face immediate decisions regarding Raleigh’s roster status. If the MRI reveals no significant damage, he could return within days; if not, an IL stint would be backdated to May 1, potentially sidelining him until mid-May. The team’s bullpen, now reliant on Suarez and Simpson, must absorb the loss of Speier’s high-leverage innings. Suarez’s recent struggles with Atlanta raise questions about his effectiveness, while Simpson’s strong Triple-A numbers offer hope but limited MLB track record. Seattle’s depth will be tested as they navigate a stretch without three of last year’s most reliable relievers. The club’s ability to compensate for these absences could determine whether they remain competitive in the early season. For now, the Mariners wait on test results and hope that their star catcher’s encouraging words translate into a quick return.

The bottom line

• Cal Raleigh’s MRI results will determine whether he avoids the IL; a backdated stint could keep him out until mid-May.
• Gabe Speier’s shoulder inflammation adds to a bullpen already missing Matt Brash and Carlos Vargas.
• José Suarez and Josh Simpson join the Mariners’ bullpen, with Suarez facing his former team, the Braves.
• Ranger Suarez’s hamstring strain threatens Boston’s already depleted rotation, which has six starters on the IL.
• Top prospect Walker Jenkins’ shoulder injury could delay his anticipated MLB debut with the Twins.
• Shane Smith’s rotator cuff strain is the latest setback for the White Sox right-hander after a rough start to the season.