The Mariners 2024 All-Star will have a chance to help lead his team to a 2-0 lead in the American League Championship Series
The Seattle Mariners earned a crucial win in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday at Rogers Centre in Toronto.
The Mariners prevailed 3-1 after a quality start from starting pitcher Bryce Miller. The third-year hurler allowed just two hits in his outing and the high-leverage bullpen arms of Gabe Speier, Matt Brash and Andres Munoz didn't allow a hitter to reach base in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, respectively.
Game 2 of the ALCS is set for 2:03 p.m. PT on Monday, and Seattle will have a prime opportunity to take a 2-0 lead in the championship series before heading back to T-Mobile Park in the Pacific Northwest for Games 3, 4 and (if-necessary) 5.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson announced that Opening Day starter and 2024 All-Star Logan Gilbert would start for the team in Game 2 of the ALCS.
Gilbert last started in Game 3 of the ALDS between Seattle and the Detroit Tigers on Oct. 7. He struck out seven, hit a batter and allowed one earned run on four hits in six innings pitched. The Mariners won the game 8-4.
In Game 5 of Seattle's 3-2, 15-inning win against Detroit on Oct. 10, Gilbert pitched two innings out of the bullpen. He fanned two, intentionally walked one and allowed three hits.
Instead of considering Gilbert on short rest, Wilson and the rest of the Mariners opted to view Oct. 10 as a side day, albeit a much more high-pressure one.
"Just seeing how he feels," Wilson said in a postgame news conference Sunday. "I think the outing the other night in the 15-inning game was a good side day for him. The way we're looking at it is he took a side session in the game with 40,000+ people there. He's ready to go, he's excited, he wants the ball. So, it'll be Logan (Monday)."
Gilbert was made aware of the potential of starting before Game 1 of the ALCS Sunday, and felt good in pregame warmups, which led to the decision.
"We talked about it today," Gilbert said in a postgame news conference Sunday. "They basically just asked me if I was good to go. Of course I said 'yeah' right away. They wanted me to see how I felt in catch-play, if my arm felt normal and it did. It was kind of unusual circumstances a few days ago, but treat it as a (high-intensity) bullpen. Hopefully, be feeling good ready to go."
This year is Gilbert's second postseason. Across his start and appearance out of the bullpen, he's struck out nine batters, intentionally walked one, hit a batter and allowed one earned run on seven hits in eight innings pitched. He has a 1.13 ERA.
To counter Gilbert, the Blue Jays will throw out rookie starting pitcher Trey Yesavage. The former East Carolina hurler made one start against the New York Yankees on Oct. 5. He struck out 11, walked one and didn't allow a hit in 5.1 innings pitched.
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