TODAY: Evans has officially been selected to the roster ahead of his start today. Saucedo was optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding move.
April 26: The Mariners placed right-hander Logan Gilbert on the 15-day injured list today with a flexor strain in his pitching elbow. Additionally, Seattle designated right-hander Casey Lawrence for assignment and recalled right-hander Troy Taylor and left-hander Tayler Saucedo from Triple-A.
Losing Gilbert for any period of time is a tough blow for the Mariners. Thankfully, however, he seems to have avoided the worst. He exited his most recent start with the always ominous-sounding “forearm tightness,” and the M’s anxiously awaited the results of his MRI. Yet, his injury has been diagnosed as a Grade 1 (a.k.a. mild) strain. According to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, the righty will be shut down for two weeks before being re-evaluated. While there is no timeline for his return, Gilbert seems optimistic. He told reporters (including Kramer) that the injury wasn’t “really bad” and said he feels “better today already than I did yesterday.”
Gilbert has been one of the most durable and productive starters in the American League since his debut in May 2021. In that time, he has a 3.55 ERA, a 3.56 SIERA, a 4.84 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and he is tied for first among AL pitchers in starts. After making his first All-Star appearance and earning some Cy Young votes last season, he has looked better than ever in 2025, with a 2.37 ERA through six starts. His 1.87 SIERA and 37.6% strikeout rate both rank first among qualified pitchers.
Taylor and Saucedo are relievers, so neither is a replacement for Gilbert. Having the two of them on the active roster will simply offer manager Dan Wilson some additional bullpen depth tonight against the Marlins. Instead, the Mariners will replace one Logan with another, as Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports that pitching prospect Logan Evans will make his major league debut tomorrow. Gilbert’s turn in the rotation wouldn’t have come again until Friday against the Rangers, and thanks to off days coming up on Monday and Thursday, Seattle theoretically could have survived with a four-man rotation until May 6. Instead, however, they will give the ball to Evans tomorrow afternoon.
The Mariners selected Evans late in the 2023 draft, but the young righty put up strong numbers as he pitched his way through the minor league system. Entering the season, Baseball America ranked him as Seattle’s eighth-best prospect, describing him as a “safe No. 3 or 4 starter who should be able to post strong innings totals every season.” Keith Law of The Athletic had a similar evaluation, ranking Evans tenth in the organization and writing, “He’s at least a No. 4, though, and I’ll bet on any pitcher who’s already shown this kind of capacity to make adjustments.” His stuff isn’t overpowering, but his arsenal is deep, and his above-average abilities to throw strikes and induce grounders should help him pitch deep into games. Through five starts at Triple-A in 2025, he has a 3.86 ERA and 2.90 FIP in 25 2/3 innings of work.
Lawrence has already been DFA’d by the Mariners twice this year. After first pitching for the Mariners from 2017-18, he returned in 2024 and spent the season at Triple-A Tacoma. He re-upped with the club on another minor league pact this offseason and has so far pitched 10 innings over two separate stints in the majors, giving up 11 runs, but only four earned runs, in that time. He took over for Gilbert on Friday after he exited early and ate five innings for the Mariners in an 8-4 loss. That surely explains why he was DFA’d; he won’t be able to pitch for several days, and the Mariners’ bullpen would have been thin had they kept him around. Considering he has already cleared waivers, elected free agency, and re-signed with Seattle twice this season, there’s a good chance that’s exactly what will happen again.
Best case scenario
Maybe!
Not if they are delaying the inevitable.
Just like what they did with brash
Article comes out saying he avoided serious injury and then weeks later it’s elbow surgery
Gilbert has a grade-1 flexor strain. Brash was originally shut-down with elbow inflammation.
The Mariners told us that Luis Torrens was not a catching option, but the Mets have chosen to disagree.
He was a pitching option though
Luis Torrens is a backup catcher and still has no business taking those limited ABs from (severely underperforming) Garver nor from Murphy when he left.
It’s not the worst news we could have received, but we’re not out of the woods yet. Rest up, Walter. No half measures
Oh well. Don’t think this will go well.
Remember Logan Gilbert?
“Remember Logan Gilbert”..Let’s all hope that Gilbert’s initial diagnosis was not viewed thru a set of rose colored glasses.
This injury is 100% exactly like the Logan Gilbert injury.
Casey lawrence and the ever revolving DFA Door
Another day, another Casey Lawrence transaction.
We just need Miles Logan and all 3 Logan’s can argue over whose gonna lose their federally hood first
This is definitely best case scenario if it’s true. At least we get to see Logan Evans debut?
I do believe Logan Evans can be our next Bryce miller or Bryan woo and become an above average starter here, but god our rotation is a shade of its former self
No Kirby on top of no Gilbert early in the season
It’s April. Kirby and Gilbert both have reasonable time tables to be back before summer. The bullpen will get better (especially by the deadline). And Hancock/Evans have the ability to develop as major league pitchers providing 7 options for 5 rotation spots. These aren’t bad things early in the season as long as it isn’t a sign all it more injuries to come.
Mariners respond to this news by scoring 14 runs and shutting out the Florida Marlins!
I shouldn’t feel bad. Other teams have lost pitchers too. It’s all part of the game. Take some deep breaths.
2 weeks, 4 weeks, 96 weeks, Ricky Weeks. And so it begins. See yas in 26
As a Mariners fan, their conservative approach with the starting pitchers can be maddening in a vacuum.
However, you can’t help to respect and appreciate the overall health results of their starters.
To have 5 very good to elite starters not have TJ or major shoulder issues in 3+ years-in this day in age-is incredible.
Check the board for Logan arrivals and departures
That’s what she said
Pitchers years back would throw 140-160 pitches, not touch a ball until their next start 4 or 5 days later. The arm gets built up from throwing that amount of pitches. Rubber tubing isn’t necessary between starts. Rubber tubing is great after surgery. Not during the season. Tubing is great to build up the arm but not when it already is. Nothing is better for a pitcher than throwing a baseball.
Rubber tubing isn’t like throwing a baseball it affects other muscles and ligaments that don’t need to be strengthened. Rest is essential for a pitcher between starts. Baseball is filled with unnecessary people pumping BS that isn’t needed.
… and the Casey Lawrence Revolving Door at T-Mobile just keeps on spinning…