Solano is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
Solano had started four of the last five games, all against right-handers, but he'll head to the bench against Jack Leiter. Though the Mariners have mostly used Solano on the short side of a platoon at first base this season, he's been getting more opportunities lately while slashing a robust .419/.457/.651 over his last 13 contests. Once his bat inevitably cools down, Solano's playing time will taper off, but he could poach starts from a slumping Jorge Polanco (.503 OPS since the beginning of May).
Solano is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Twins.
Solano had started at first base in each of the last four games -- two against right-handed pitchers, two against left-handers -- and went 10-for-17 with two home runs, one double, one walk and eight RBI, but the Mariners aren't yet ready to commit to him as an everyday player. Even after that productive four-game stretch, Solano is still slashing just .257/.295/.371 in 112 plate appearances on the season. Solano should continue to play regularly against left-handed pitching, but his playing time against righties could be more sporadic while the Mariners have the left-handed-hitting Luke Raley available to play first base.
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Mariners' Donovan Solano: Homers twice, drives in five
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Solano went 3-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI in Sunday's win against the Cubs.
Solano ripped a solo shot in the fourth inning and a two-run homer in the seventh. He capped off his day with a two-run single during Seattle's five-run eighth inning. Solano posted three consecutive three-hit games during the weekend series against the Cubs, boosting his season OPS from .490 to .666 in the process. Solano did not homer in any of his first 38 games this season but has gone deep three times in the last six contests.
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Mariners' Donovan Solano: Three-hit performance in loss
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Solano went 3-for-5 with two RBI in Saturday's 10-7 loss to the Cubs.
Solano notched his second consecutive three-hit game Saturday, continuing a scorching run in June. The veteran had struggled mightily before the month, slashing just .173/.212/.200 with two extra-base hits and two RBI over 34 games. Since the start of June, however, he's turned things around dramatically, posting a .440/.481/.600 slash line with two extra-base hits and six RBI in nine games. Though he's been deployed largely as a short-side platoon player at first base this season, Solano started against a right-hander (Cade Horton) on Saturday, and his recent success could allow him to stay in the lineup more frequently versus same-handed pitchers.
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Mariners' Donovan Solano: Finally blasts first homer
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Solano went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Diamondbacks.
The 37-year-old infielder finally got into the homer column, snapping a 38-game stretch without a long ball to start the season. With southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez toeing the slab for Arizona, Solano drew the start at first base in favor of the lefty-hitting Rowdy Tellez and has served the Mariners well in his short-side platoon the past few weeks. Over his last 29 plate appearances (12 games), Solano is slashing .346/.414/.500 with two extra-base hits, four RBI and three runs scored.
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Mariners' Donovan Solano: Struggling for playing time
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Solano went 2-for-3 with a walk in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Houston.
Solano made his fifth start at first base among 12 appearances in the month of May, but he remains without an RBI since April 17. Over his last 15 outings (30 at-bats), the veteran infielder is batting an empty .267 with just two extra-base hits. The absence of Luke Raley (oblique) hasn't translated to a boost in playing time for Solano, who should continue to function on the short side of a platoon with the lefty-hitting Rowdy Tellez at first base.
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Mariners' Donovan Solano: First extra-base hit this season
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Solano went 1-for-4 with a double in Sunday's win over Miami.
Solano, who stepped in at first base for the injured Rowdy Tellez (hand), recorded his first extra-base hit of the campaign Sunday. After batting a strong .286 over 283 regular-season at-bats last year with the Padres, Solano hasn't been able to carve out a steady role for his new team in 2025. The journeyman infielder should handle the bulk of the reps at the cold corner until Tellez is ready to rejoin Seattle's lineup, but Solano is hitting a dreadful .114 (5-for-44) with one RBI and one run scored across 18 outings so far.
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Mariners' Donovan Solano: Handling short-side platoon role
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Solano will start at first base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
Solano will pick up his third start of the season, all of which have come at first base and when the Mariners have gone up against left-handed pitching. The 37-year-old looks like he'll be limited to a short-side platoon role while Rowdy Tellez and Luke Raley are healthy and available to serve as the primary options at first base and designated hitter, respectively.
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Mariners' Donovan Solano: Could see regular at-bats at DH
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Solano could see regular at-bats at designated hitter this season, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.
Mitch Haniger and Mitch Garver (hand) appear to be the most likely candidates to occupy Seattle's DH spot on a daily basis this season, but Jude believes Solano could also get his fair share of action there in addition to the corner infield spots. Of the three players, it's worth noting Garver has stood out the most this spring with three home runs and six RBI in 18 at-bats. The Mariners have plenty of reps to fill in the infield following the offseason exits of both Josh Rojas and Justin Turner on top of moving Ty France at least year's trade deadline, so the versatile Solano could see playing time on the diamond elsewhere even if he doesn't carve out a consistent role at DH.
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Mariners' Donovan Solano: Joining team in camp
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Solano is expected to be present at Seattle's camp Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Solano missed the early part of camp due to visa issues, but the matter appears to have been resolved. Given that there is over a month left until the Mariners' first regular-season game, the infielder's initial absence shouldn't affect his readiness for the start of the campaign. Solano joined Seattle on a one-year contract in January and will likely be used at the corner infield spots during the upcoming season, though he's not slated for an everyday role.
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Mariners' Donovan Solano: Not yet at camp
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Solano has yet to report to spring camp due to visa issues, though the team hopes he will arrive by Friday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
The Mariners' Cactus League schedule begins Friday, so Solano should still be available for Seattle's entire slate of exhibition games as long as he arrives by then. The 37-year-old slashed .286/.343/.417 with eight homers and 35 RBI across 309 regular-season plate appearances with the Padres last year, and he's expected to begin 2025 in the short side of a platoon at first base with Luke Raley.
Mariners' Donovan Solano: Expected to be used mostly at 1B
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The Mariners plan to deploy Solano mostly at first base, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Solano could also be used some at third base, but he appears likely to see most of his action at first base as the short side of a platoon with Luke Raley. Seattle does not intend to use Solano at second base, per Kramer. The 37-year-old Solano slashed .286/.343/.417 with a career-high eight home runs over 96 regular-season contests for the Padres in 2024.
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Mariners' Donovan Solano: One-year pact with Seattle
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The Mariners signed Solano to a one-year, $3.5 million contract Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
He can earn an additional $1 million in incentives. Solano turned 37 last month but had a productive 2024 campaign with the Padres, slashing .286/.343/.417 with a career-high eight home runs over 96 contests. J.P. Crawford at shortstop looks to be the only infielder currently guaranteed a starting spot with the Mariners, so Solano should play plenty, particularly against left-handed pitching. He started games at third and first base in 2024 in addition to designated hitter and also has plenty of past experience at second base.
Solano isn't in the Padres' lineup Wednesday for Game 4 of the NLDS against the Dodgers.
Wednesday marks the third straight game San Diego has decided to keep Solano on the bench after a 1-for-13 start to the postseason. Luis Arraez will get the starting nod at first base instead while David Peralta serves as the DH.
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Padres' Donovan Solano: Out of Game 3 lineup
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Solano is absent from the lineup Tuesday in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Dodgers.
The Padres used Luis Arraez at first base and David Peralta in the designated-hitter slot in Game 2 and will go with that setup again after Peralta went deep in the contest. Solano did get two plate appearances off the bench in Game 2 and is a good bet to enter mid-game again when/if the Dodgers turn to a lefty reliever.
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Padres' Donovan Solano: Sitting in Game 2
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Solano is not in the lineup Sunday for Game 2 of the NLDS against the Dodgers.
He had started the last three games dating back to the regular season, but Solano heads to the bench in this one against righty Yu Darvish. David Peralta enters the lineup in his place, starting at designated hitter and batting eighth.
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