The Seattle Mariners were one of the surprise teams of the 2021 MLB season and one of the more active ones in the following offseason.

Seattle Mariners’ notable offseason transactions:

  • Signed Robbie Ray (five-year, $115 million deal)
  • Acquired Adam Frazier from the San Diego Padres for Ray Kerr and Corey Rosier
  • Acquired Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez from the Cincinnati Reds for Justin Dunn, Jake Fraley, Brandon Williamson and a player to be named later

Manager Scott Servais’ team is off to a plausible 11-8 start, which is good for second place in the American League West. Looking to build on their auspicious 2021 campaign, the Mariners are in prime position to break their historic 20-year MLB playoff drought.

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Seattle Mariners’ starting rotation looks even better than 2021

Starting pitching was the Mariners’ strong suit last season, and that part of their club looks even better in the raw stages of the 2022 season.

Ray’s arrival adds credibility to a rotation that made strides across the previous two seasons. The veteran southpaw, who won the 2021 AL Cy Young Award, has found success by primarily leaning on his four seamer and slider. He’s posting strikeouts at a high rate and providing length.

Chris Flexen, who was arguably Seattle’s best pitcher in 2021, has picked up where he left off. The recently reliever-turned-starter owns a combined 3.58 ERA across his last 35 MLB starts. Marco Gonzales continues to be a sturdy veteran starter for the Mariners. He’s keeping them in games and finding success with his consistent, four-pitch arsenal: changeup, sinker, cutter and curveball.

  • Logan Gilbert stats (2022): 0.40 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 22 strikeouts across 22.1 innings (four starts)

The early development for the Mariners is 24-year-old right-hander Logan Gilbert. After an encouraging 2021 showing, Gilbert has been as good as any starting pitcher in the sport this season. He’s surrendering minimal baserunners, stranding runners and giving the Mariners an optimum chance to win.

All the while, Matt Brash is holding his own in his first licks as an MLB starter. A once respectable rotation looks like one of the better units in the sport.