Logan Gilbert Returns to Mariners’ Rotation, Set to Start vs. Red Sox on Monday

Logan Gilbert rejoins Mariners’ rotation after elbow injury, set to start Monday against Red Sox following Triple-A rehab assignment.

In baseball, hope often arrives without fanfare — not with fireworks, but with a quiet name penciled back into the starting lineup. For the Seattle Mariners, that hope has a name: Logan Gilbert.

After a stint on the injured list with a right elbow flexor strain, the 28-year-old right-hander is set to return Monday night against the Boston Red Sox. It’s a reentry that doesn’t just fill a rotation spot; it restores a rhythm, a presence, a belief.

For a team whose identity has long been shaped by its starting pitching, Gilbert’s return is more than just a transaction. It’s a reminder of the foundation this club was built upon — a calm, methodical ace who brings both consistency and quiet fire to the mound. In a season where the Mariners’ rotation has been tested, Gilbert’s comeback is the moment they’ve been waiting for.

The Numbers Behind the Calm

Gilbert doesn’t dominate with flair. He dismantles with precision. In six starts before his injury, he struck out 44 batters while walking just six. A 2.37 ERA over 30.1 innings tells a story of control and confidence, of a pitcher who works with the efficiency of a surgeon.

Logan Gilbert will be activated tomorrow and start against the Red Sox in the series opener, per Dan Wilson pic.twitter.com/yBwo9V8W3r

— SleeperMLB (@SleeperMLB) June 15, 2025

He’s made three rehab starts at Triple-A Tacoma, slowly building strength, finding command, logging 9 2/3 innings with a 2.79 ERA. It’s the kind of steady, unhurried return that mirrors Gilbert’s demeanor — patient, composed, effective.

And he’s not just another arm. Gilbert finished sixth in AL Cy Young voting last season, a year in which he shouldered the load through 32 starts. This is not a reclamation story. This is the return of a cornerstone, one that could tilt the season’s course for a Mariners team trying to rediscover its identity.

A Rotation in Need of Rhythm

Last season, Seattle’s rotation was the envy of baseball. This year, it’s been a revolving door. Injuries have worn down the depth, and the team’s ERA has crept toward the middle of the pack. What once felt automatic now feels uncertain.

But Gilbert brings stability. More than that, he brings familiarity — a pitcher who has taken the ball every fifth day for three straight seasons, who doesn’t just set the tone, but often carries it. He’s 42-31 in his career, and that record tells only part of the story. It’s the innings logged, the jams escaped, the innings eaten when the bullpen needed a break.

With Gilbert back, the Mariners regain more than a starter. They regain their balance. He is the fulcrum, and the rotation feels a little less wobbly with him in place.

A Measured Comeback, a Moment That Matters

Dan Wilson’s announcement was as straightforward as Gilbert’s delivery: the right-hander is back. And though it may not make headlines outside of Seattle, inside that clubhouse it matters deeply. Because Gilbert isn’t just a pitcher. He’s a presence.

Final line for Logan Gilbert in his 3rd rehab start: 5IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 6K, 6 groundouts, 72 pitches, 43 strikes. pic.twitter.com/FQK2d6lQup

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) June 11, 2025

He doesn’t roar. He doesn’t need to. His performance — meticulous, resilient, and composed — speaks loudest when the lights are brightest. And on Monday, he’ll speak again. One pitch at a time. One inning at a time. Against Boston, in front of a crowd that knows just how valuable his return truly is.

Baseball can be cruel in its timing. But on this night, the Mariners finally get one back. A reminder of what they were. And what, with Gilbert healthy again, they still might become.