Mariners Reveal Major Julio Rodríguez Change Before Series vs Rays

Ahead of the Seattle Mariners’ opening series game with the Tampa Bay Rays, there has been a big change to the lineup structure.

Julio Rodríguez Dropped in Lineup

Star outfielder Julio Rodríguez has been dropped a spot in the lineup. Rodríguez will be hitting in the fifth spot for Seattle in this game after he was hitting in the fourth spot on Thursday.

The Mariners are likely trying to spark some offense in this game after they were shut out 11-0 by the Detroit Tigers in the last contest. Seattle will look to get back on track in this game with right-hander Logan Gilbert on the bump.

Mariners 8/7

T. Ward RF
C. Young 2B
R. Arozarena LF
D. Canzone DH
J. Rodríguez CF
J. Naylor 1B
B. Donovan 3B
C. Raleigh C
C. Emerson SS

L. Gilbert SP

— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) August 7, 2026

Rodríguez has put together an up-and-down season for the Mariners this year. The slugger has hit .258 with 17 home runs and 50 RBIs, while posting an OPS of .743 on the year.

The Mariners need more from their All-Star if this team is going to get back to real playoff contention. Seattle has battled back following a poor start to the season, but they still find themselves trailing in the standings.

Mariners Playoff Outlook 2026

Currently, the Mariners hold a record of 56-60 heading into this series with the Rays, sitting in third place within the American League West. But Seattle is only three games behind the first-place Houston Astros, offering this team a chance to go on a late-season run.

The entire AL is down this season, with the exception of a few teams at the top. The Mariners are battling for a wild-card spot right now, with Seattle mixed up in a crowded field of teams.

Entering the season, Seattle was one of the favorites to win the World Series following an exciting playoff run last year. The Mariners came within one game of the Fall Classic, and the front office was able to retain the majority of the players on the roster.

But offense has been a problem this season for Seattle, making the struggles of Rodríguez even more apparent. The team landed outfielder Taylor Ward at the trade deadline, with the hope that he can help spark soemthing.

Rodríguez is the leader of this group, so the rest of the players will be looking to him to lead the charge for a second-half run.

Cal Raleigh Problem

Another issue for the Mariners has been the drastic decline from star catcher Cal Raleigh. Raleigh finished as the AL MVP runner-up last season, with him belting 60 home runs and driving in 125 runs a year ago.

But this season, Raleigh has regressed to a point that it’s a real problem for the Mariners. The slugger is hitting just .162 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs, while posting an OPS of .574.

If he can’t turn things around down the stretch, the Mariners could be in real trouble of making the playoffs. Raleigh is one of the more important players on this roster, and Seattle is counting on him to figure it out at the plate.

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