Mariners' Cal Raleigh is due for a huge boost in quest for 60 home runs

The main objective for the Mariners is qualifying for the playoffs, which was boosted over the weekend with a first road series win since in Detroit prior to the All-Star break. However, this is very closely followed by the hope that Cal Raleigh can overcome Aaron Judge and win this year's AL MVP award.

Fueling Raleigh's quest is a home run campaign which has seen him take aim at a whole plethora of records in this category. This includes surpassing Salvador Perez for the most ever homers in a season by a catcher, equalling Javy Lopez mark of 42 for the most as a catcher, and even becoming the first ever catcher to win the Home Run Derby.

However, there's still more home run records for Raleigh to shoot for after hitting his 52nd and 53rd blasts during the weekend in the two successive routs of the Braves in Atlanta. He's now just one away from equalling Mickey Mantle's record of 54 homers in a season by a switch-hitter and three away from Ken Griffey Jr.'s franchise mark of 56, which he achieved in both 1997 and 1998 for the Mariners.

Raleigh's exploits over the weekend has his projection back up to 60 home runs on the season, which really would be something special. Now the one stipulation in this projection is that it includes him playing in each of the M's remaining 19 games, but heck, he's only missed three so far in 2025 so it's not exactly a stretch to expect this.

Still, just because the 2025 All-Star is projected to reach the magic 60 home run mark, it's going to take more to make it become a reality. Fortunately for him, the Mariners and their fanbase, the path ahead is a favorable one.

Cal Raleigh's path to 60 home runs with the Mariners

FanGraphs gives the Mariners odds of 79.5 percent to make the playoffs, which are the sixth-best odds in the American League. A significant part of the reason for this is their remaining strength of schedule, which is third-easiest in the AL at .490.

As if this isn't encouraging enough in helping the Mariners in general and Raleigh specifically, there's also the second-half ERA ranks for each of their six remaining opponents. The Cardinals are 23rd, the Angels are 26th, the Royals are eighth, the Astros are 19th, the Rockies are 30th and the Dodgers are second.

While it doesn't necessarily guarantee success for Raleigh, this means four potential punching bags and just two tough customers. And there's the hope that the second tough customer (the Dodgers) will have their playoff fate determined prior to the final series of the season in Seattle meaning — at least theoretically — the visitors will take their foot off the pedal.

First things first, let's see if Raleigh can equal and surpass the aforementioned records currently held by Mantle and Griffey. Assuming he does achieve these goals within a reasonable time period, then everyone can really get behind the push for 60. Even though it is now more feasible then ever, still seems like a surreal experience on some levels.