Donovan Back in Seattle's Leadoff Spot, Raleigh Returns Behind the Plate — Mariners Offense Finally Getting Healthy

Brendan Donovan is back. The Mariners reinstated the third baseman from the 10-day IL Friday ahead of their series opener against the White Sox in Chicago, slotting him directly into the leadoff spot — the same slot where he was hitting .304 with three homers and eight RBIs across 18 games before a left groin strain ended his April on April 17. Catcher Jhonny Pereda was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma to clear the roster spot.

The injury context here matters more than a standard IL stint. Donovan's groin issue traces back to sports hernia surgery he had last October, still with the Cardinals. He returned to baseball activity on the six-week timeline he was given, but as he explained it, the surgery altered the tilt of his pelvis — affecting the pelvic-driven swing mechanics he relies on — and the compensation patterns that crept in were starting to show up in his performance. One tune-up game at Double-A Arkansas was all the team needed to see before bringing him back to the big league roster. He's DH-ing for now, keeping the fielding stress low while his body re-learns the positioning.

Equally important: Cal Raleigh is back behind the plate for the first time in a meaningful, sustained way since missing three games with right-side soreness last weekend. Manager Dan Wilson confirmed the soreness has been absent since Tuesday and that Raleigh is swinging without restriction. For an offense that entered Friday tied with the White Sox for last in AL batting average at .229 — and scoring fewer runs than everyone in the American League except Texas and Toronto — getting both Donovan and Raleigh into the lineup simultaneously isn't a minor development.

From a team total standpoint, the Mariners have been one of the safer unders in baseball over the past month precisely because this lineup has been depleted and anemic. That calculus is starting to shift. Donovan is a high-contact, on-base threat at the top of the order who changes the character of a lineup — he doesn't beat you with power, he beats you with plate appearances that extend innings and generate run-scoring opportunities for the middle of the order. With Raleigh healthy and Donovan setting the table, Seattle's team total number deserves a second look. Sportsbooks have been pricing the Mariners conservatively; as health returns, the value may be flipping toward the over on nights when George Kirby or Logan Gilbert keeps the game competitive and the offense has a chance to contribute.

The bet here isn't dramatic — the Mariners aren't suddenly an elite offense — but the floor is rising. Donovan's hit-rate and OBP profile make his hits props worth tracking as he ramps up, particularly the altprop hits line once he's back in the field and getting full at-bats in his normal rhythm. For now, the cleaner play is monitoring Seattle's team total as the sportsbook market adjusts to a roster that no longer looks like it's running out AAA bodies.