Mariners sending only one player to All-Star Game despite AL West lead

The 2024 Seattle Mariners had high expectations. Coming off a disappointing 2023 season that saw the Texas Rangers run through the playoffs and win a World Series, Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander were aggressive in making this team a serious contender.

Seattle got off to a slow start, but kicked things in gear, thanks in part to one of the most dominant stretches of pitching in recent memory. The pitching staff is completely responsible for where this Mariners team is currently sitting; the offense has been far from average like we all thought they could accomplish this year.

Though the Mariners are in the division lead, they are tied with the Kansas City Royals for the sixth best record in the American League, which says more about how bad the American League West has been this year. With the All-Star break looming and the Mariners currently sitting just two games ahead for the AL West division lead, the pitching continues to dominate headlines.

Logan Gilbert is named to his 1st All-Star Game

Logan Gilbert came into 2024 slated as the number three starter in the rotation, and he was one of the best (if not the best) number three in the game. But just like he did from 2022 to 2023, Gilbert took some big steps forward into 2024 and proved that he is more than just a mid-rotation arm on a good staff. Gilbert is legitimately in the conversation as the team's best pitcher and he was rewarded with his first trip to an All-Star game, heading to Texas next week.

Gilbert was solid in 2023 over 190.2 innings. He had solid walk numbers (1.7 BB/9) and nice strikeout numbers (8.9 K/9) and those numbers have remained consistent in 2024 (1.8 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9) Where he has improved upon, is how hitters are doing against him. His 8 H/9 in 2023 has improved to just 6.4 H/9 in 2024 and his home run rate has decreased from 1.4 to 1 HR/9. Gilbert has taken more steps forward and is very deserving of an All-Star game appearance.

After adding a splitter in 2023 that became one of Gilbert's best pitchers, he proceeded to add another pitch, the cutter, that has helped him even more against left-handed hitters. Gilbert continues to show just how dominant he can be and that he is very adaptive to the game, leaving tons of room for growth for the first time All-Star. Hopefully this is the first of many for Gilbert, and hopefully in the future, he will have some teammates join him.