Prolonged slump by Mariners' Cal Raleigh threatens Chris Davis' all-time hitless mark

Examining the previous 40 plate appearances for slumping Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh breaks down like this:

• 16 strikeouts,
• 10 flyouts, 
• five groundouts, 
• three walks,
• three popouts, 
• one double play,
• one sacrifice fly,
• one line out.

Of note, the 0-for-36 skid featured just one line drive out. Over the previous four MLB campaigns, Raleigh connected on a combined 151 home runs, including 60 in 2025.

This season has been a different story.

The first player in history to go 10 games without a hit and strike out at least 15 times, Raleigh is not only slumping; his All-Star bat has not been competitive.

On a historical level.

Former Baltimore Orioles infielder/outfielder Chris Davis possesses the longest non-pitcher hitless streak, going 0-for-54 during parts of 2018 and '19.

Will Raleigh challenge Davis' mark?

Mariners' Cal Raleigh struggling offensively

When Davis produced a single off Boston Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello at Fenway Park in April 2019, ending his prolonged slump, he sarcastically called for the ball. Clapping his hands together, he celebrated the moment.

Then a 12-year veteran, Davis finished 2018 with a .168 batting average and '19 at .179. He appeared in his final 16 games in '20, bowing out hitting .115.

MLB conspiracy theorists point to the moment Raleigh refused to shake hands with Mariners teammate Randy Arozarena during the World Baseball Classic as the seed of his slump. Entering Tuesday's game against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park, Raleigh had seven homers, 18 RBI and 54 strikeouts in 153 at-bats.

Baseball purists point to Raleigh's declining quality of contact. Last season, his average exit velocity was 91.3 mph. This season, it's 86.9. His hard-hit rate was 49.6 percent in 2025, but just 28.7 percent in '26.

Whatever is to blame for the two-week skid, Raleigh's "Chris Davis Countdown" continues.