Seattle Mariners Starters' Adjustment in Mentality Yielding Great Results

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby speaks to the media following his outing against the Houston Astros on Monday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. SEATTLE — Last year, the Seattle Mariners starting rotation was unable to be the best version of itself. To no fault of the five of Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo, Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller.

Kirby, Gilbert, Miller and Woo all missed varying amounts of time with respective injuries. With those varying ailments, results were mixed for the rotation. Woo made his first career All-Star game; Miller and Kirby ended up posting the highest single-season ERAs of their respective careers.

Gilbert also took a step back with a slight uptick in his ERA and decrease in games and innings pitched. That would have been a hard season for any rotation to get through. For a group of pitchers that entered the year considered one of, if not the best rotation in baseball — the fact that a lot of the struggles were out of the hurlers' control due to injuries made it more frustrating.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert walks off the mound during a game against the Miami Marlins on April 25, 2025, at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. | Steven Bisig/Imagn Images<br> This year, the rotation entered the season mostly healthy (with the exception of Miller, who's out with an oblique strain) and with a newfound focus. Multiple members of the rotation declined to compete for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic to get a full spring's worth of preparation for 2026.