The Seattle Mariners dropped their series opener against the New York Yankees on Tuesday night in the Bronx, falling 4-1 after surrendering a decisive four-run seventh inning.
Despite having plenty of talent on the roster, Seattle has been one of the biggest disappointments in MLB this season. With the team searching for consistency, manager Dan Wilson continues to experiment with different lineup combinations in hopes of finding a spark.
Mariners Make Major Julio Rodriguez Lineup Change
After keeping Julio Rodriguez in his usual No. 3 spot on Tuesday, Wilson has decided to make a significant adjustment by moving the star outfielder down to fifth in the batting order for Wednesday’s matchup.
The move pushes Randy Arozarena into the cleanup conversation by shifting him into the third spot, while rookie infielder Cole Young moves up to the No. 2 position behind leadoff hitter Taylor Ward.
Seattle is also continuing to adjust the placement of struggling catcher Cal Raleigh. After batting sixth in the series opener, Raleigh will slide even further down the order and hit.
The Mariners’ full lineup:
Mariners 8/12
T. Ward DH
C. Young 2B
R. Arozarena LF
D. Canzone RF
J. Rodríguez CF
J. Naylor 1B
B. Donovan 3B
C. Raleigh C
C. Emerson SSB. Miller SP
Julio Rodriguez’s 2026 Numbers
Rodriguez entered the 2026 season looking to build on another All-Star campaign, but his production has dipped slightly compared to previous years.
The three-time All-Star has appeared in 109 games, collecting 109 hits with 18 home runs, 51 RBIs and 15 stolen bases over 425 at-bats.
He currently owns a .421 slugging percentage and a .742 OPS, solid numbers but below the expectations placed on Seattle’s franchise cornerstone.
Mariners Still Alive in Playoff Race
Seattle enters Wednesday’s game with a 56-64 record but remains surprisingly close to postseason contention in the American League.
The Mariners sit 4.5 games behind in the AL West race and are only four games out of a Wild Card position. However, with the team struggling to find offensive consistency, Wilson’s lineup changes could become a key factor in determining whether Seattle can make a late-season push.