It is desperation time for the Seattle Mariners.They need to get it into gear and find a way to take the American League West, because the hole they’ve dug themselves into seems like it has eliminated the Wild Card as any possibility.
The good news for them is that despite being almost 10 games under .500, the team is just four games back of the American League West division leaders.If they are going to get there, it won’t be up to just pitching or hitting individually; it will need to be a combination.Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert (36) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis., on Aug.
19, 2026.(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)On Sunday, the Mariners should have a good shot at getting a win as they send out Logan Gilbert to the hill.
Gilbert has been one of the better pitchers for Seattle this season.Not every start has been fantastic, but he is 11-7 for the season with a 3.36 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP.
He also has 162 strikeouts, putting all of those numbers at 21st or better in the Majors.One reason to be encouraged in today’s game is Gilbert’s outstanding road numbers.
He has allowed just two homers and has a 2.49 ERA in 11 road starts.The Blue Jays hitters are batting just .259 against him over 116 at-bats.The Blue Jays knocked out the Mariners in the American League Championship Series last year.
Both have had struggles and frustrations this year.The Blue Jays turned into sellers at the trade deadline, but they have somehow turned it around since then.Maybe that’s an overstatement, as the team is just about four games over .500 since the deadline, but they are back in the Wild Card race, just a game and a half behind Cleveland for the last spot.
So are the Rangers and Orioles, though.Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer looks to his dugout during the sixth inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners in Seattle, Washing...