Seattle Mariners go .500 before All-Star Break – 3 Stars of Week 15
Star #1 – Logan Gilbert
7 innings, 2 base runners allowed, 0 runs, 8 strikeouts
Logan Gilbert owned the Yankees in one of the most dominant outings by a Seattle Mariners starter this season. The numbers back it up no walks, two baserunners allowed, both in the first inning, 19 consecutive hitters retired, and 8 strikeouts. His fastball featured plenty of late-life, and he located his pitches excellently around the zone. Gilbert was never in trouble besides a double by Aaron Judge and a hit batsman in the first inning.
The performance dropped the rookie’s ERA to 3.51, the same as Flexen, and only a few points behind Kikuchi (3.48). He managed no walks for the third time in his last four starts. Gilbert also exceeded 100 pitches for the fourth time this season. Seattle won for the eighth consecutive time when Gilbert starts and is 8-2 in his 10 starts of 2021.
His numbers on the season are very impressive. His WHIP dropped to 0.97, which, if he qualified, would be good enough for third in the American League, just behind Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon. Gilbert is also putting up some impressive rookie numbers. Without a dominant rookie hitter or pitcher this season from the American League, the former Stetson hatter will be in the conversation to be the A.L. Rookie of the Year award.
In Closing
The Seattle Mariners went 3-3 on the week, losing two to the Yankees before Gilbert’s dominant effort to finish the series off with a win. Then Haniger hit a grand slam to send the Mariners over the Angels in the first game of that series. Flexen earned the M’s other win with a dominant showing against the Angels on Saturday. These are your three stars of the week. We’ll see everyone on the other side of the All-Star break!
Joe Swenson is a lifelong Seattle sports fan and contributes to many different writing and artistic genres.