The All-Star break is officially wrapping up and the "second half" of the baseball season is about to fire off, which means new pitcher rankings just dropped. Alright, Mariners faithful, listen up because Eric Samulski's latest list has some serious takeaways for the Emerald City, putting our very own Logan Gilbert right where he needs to be.
These Young Guns Are Dominating, But It's All About Command Now
This isn't your daddy's pitcher list, folks. While you'll still see some familiar faces, a new wave of young guns is absolutely dominating the top tiers. Guys like Jacob Misiorowski from the Brewers, Chase Burns for the Reds, and Cam Schlittler with the Yankees have vaulted themselves straight into the league's elite arms. Samulski made it clear, he's looking beyond just raw stuff now, focusing more on effectiveness and command. It's all about those deep-dive stats: K-BB%, swinging strike rate, Ideal Contact Rate, and individual pitch efficiency. This isn't just about ERA anymore, it's about what really tells you how a pitcher will finish the season strong.Our Guy Logan Gilbert Is An Ace, Plain And Simple
So, who's at the very top of the "Top of the Line Aces" tier? Misiorowski leads the pack, with Tarik Skubal, Cristopher Sanchez, and Paul Skenes rounding out that cream of the crop. Even though Skubal and Skenes haven't had the dream season you might've hoped for, they're still considered top-tier. Skenes actually saw his fastball velocity and spin rate tick up in his last start, which is huge! Sanchez got knocked around a bit in the All-Star Game and the start before, but you can't ignore his last two years or what Misiorowski is doing right now. But here's where it gets real for us: our dude, Logan Gilbert, is sitting pretty at #13 in the next tier, the "Aces"! He's right there with established studs like Chris Sale, Jacob DeGrom, Zack Wheeler, and Dylan Cease. And yeah, Cam Schlittler and Chase Burns are in this tier too, showing that youth movement is for real. The article says you'd be "pretty happy with any of these guys as the ace of your fantasy team." And can we just give a shoutout to Zack Wheeler being in this tier after his surgery? Incredible. For Gilbert to be in this company, after everything, it's a massive stamp of approval. What this means for the Mariners? It means Logan Gilbert isn't just a good starter; he's recognized as an elite-level ace in the league. As we head into this crucial second half, knowing our guy is considered among the best, safest, and potentially most dominant pitchers out there, should fire up every single one of us. This is the kind of individual performance that can anchor a rotation and carry a team. Let's see our ace dominate the rest of the way, Emerald City!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.