Gilbert gets Opening Day nod
Logan Gilbert was named the Seattle Mariners’ Opening Day starter for 2026 — a clear vote of confidence in the homegrown righty as MLB’s Opening Day window opens March 25–26 (official first games begin March 26). ( )
Gilbert is lined up to face the Cleveland Guardians at T‑Mobile Park on March 26 at 7:10 p.m. PT. (espn.com) This assignment will be his second straight season‑opening turn; Gilbert called the nod “a big deal, a huge honor” and said he doesn’t take it for granted. (mlb.com) Manager Dan Wilson said the choice reflected how Seattle slotted its rotation during Cactus League play and that the decision ultimately came down to Gilbert or Bryan Woo. (mlb.com) Wilson pointed to Woo’s 2025 season — an All‑Star nod, a fifth‑place finish in AL Cy Young voting, and a team‑leading 186 2/3 innings with a 2.94 ERA — as evidence of the staff’s depth that made the decision difficult. (mlb.com) Gilbert entered his sixth big‑league season and ranks eighth in innings pitched since his 2021 debut, despite a seven‑week injured‑list stint during the 2025 campaign. (mlb.com) His 2025 line: 25 starts, a 3.44 ERA, a 6–6 record, 131.0 innings pitched and 173 strikeouts. (milb.com) MLB’s recent Opening Day roster projection groups Gilbert with Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Luis Castillo and Emerson Hancock as the club’s expected five‑man staff to open the season. (mlb.com)
