The Seattle Mariners were a couple of games away from what would have been a surprising playoff berth last season.
That’s why they spent some money and resources to improve their team in 2022: they brought in reigning AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray, infielder Adam Frazier, and other pieces.
However, much of their chances to make some noise this year will likely depend on homegrown talent.
If outfielders Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez are as advertised, and if fellow prospect Logan Gilbert can keep pitching like a breakout candidate, they will probably make it into October.
So far, Gilbert has been so good that he leads the AL in ERA, with a microscopic 0.54.
“2022 AL ERA Leaders: Logan Gilbert (0.54), Justin Verlander (0.69), Daulton Jefferies (1.17), Brad Keller (1.38),” Baseball Reference tweeted on Thursday.
2022 AL ERA Leaders
Logan Gilbert (0.54)
Justin Verlander (0.69)
Daulton Jefferies (1.17)
Brad Keller (1.38)All Leaders: https://t.co/jnboHRUaHR
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) April 21, 2022
Gilbert Is Showing His Improved Version
The Mariners’ budding ace wasn’t so sharp last year, with a 4.68 ERA in 119.1 innings.
However, he was a rookie, and even then, there were some signs pointing towards a future breakthrough performance.
For starters, he missed a lot of bats, striking out 128 foes.
His Fielding Independent Pitching, or FIP, was a much more decent 3.73.
Right now, he is much more consistent, and he is mercilessly attacking the strike zone.
He has a 0.54 ERA and a 0.54 BB/9: he has given up one walk per each nine frames.
In his 16.2 innings pitched, he has 15 strikeouts.
He won’t finish the season with a 0.54 ERA: he is not Jacob deGrom, and even that would be ambitious for deGrom himself.
But he can certainly pitch with an ERA around the low-3.00s: that would be amazing for a Mariners’ squad in desperate need for an ace.
In a best-case scenario, they could get two aces, as long as Ray pitches like his Cy Young self.
NEXT: Mariners Rookie Julio Rodriguez Is Making Himself A Fan Favorite