Even with a left-hander on the mound Monday night, the Seattle Mariners are sticking with Brendan Donovan as their leadoff hitter.
Seattle Sports This Week: What’s on TV and radio (March 30-April 5)
Donovan, who got off to a red-hot start with his new team in the season-opening series split with Cleveland, is atop the lineup for the fourth time in five games Monday night. Designated hitter Rob Refsnyder, who is known for his success against lefty pitching, will hit second against Yankees southpaw Ryan Weathers.
The positioning of Donovan and Refsnyder for Monday night may have more to do with who’s not playing than anything, though. All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh is set to have the night off after being behind the plate for all four games of the Cleveland series.
Raleigh typically is either the DH or gets the day off in Mariners series finales, but those are also usually day games coming after night games. The Mariners’ series with Cleveland didn’t have a day game, as it was three evening starts followed by a 4:20 p.m. game Sunday.
With Raleigh sitting, backup catcher Mitch Garver gets his first action of the season Monday.
Here’s the full lineup for the 2-2 Mariners on Monday night:
Welcoming the Yankees to town. #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/OTkFFr3KU1
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 30, 2026
Raleigh went just 2 for 15 (.133) with a double, three walks and 10 strikeouts in the opening series. Donovan, on the other hand, was 6 for 14 (.429) with two home runs and a double.
Refsnyder, an offseason signing in free agency, played just one game in the Cleveland series, going 0 for 2.
The lefty-swinging Donovan was sixth in the order for the Mariners on Saturday when Cleveland started left-hander Joey Cantillo on the mound, while Refsnyder hit leadoff.
On the mound, Luis Castillo will make his first start of the year Monday for Seattle. He’s generally had success in his career when facing the Yankees, with a 2.74 ERA and 1.266 WHIP in seven starts all-time against the Bronx Bombers.
The Yankees come into the game with a 3-0 record after sweeping the Giants in San Francisco.
Mariners Radio Network coverage on Seattle Sports begins with the pregame show at 5:30 p.m. Monday, with the first pitch from Castillo set to be delivered at 6:40. For details on how to hear the game on the free Seattle Sports app with legendary voice of the Mariners Rick Rizzs in his final season on the call, click here.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• Brendan Donovan shows why he’s a perfect fit for Mariners
• Mariners’ top two pitching prospects to open 2026 in Double-A
• Emerson Hancock’s season debut goes much better than a year ago
• Six standouts from Seattle Mariners’ season-opening series
• KING 5 to broadcast 10 Seattle Mariners games this season
