Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson is considering Logan Gilbert and Bryan Woo as primary options for the team's Opening Day starter on March 26 against the Cleveland Guardians. Wilson stated that evaluations are ongoing with two weeks remaining in Spring Training. The decision involves factors such as performance, health history, and tenure.
In Peoria, Arizona, during Spring Training, Mariners manager Dan Wilson addressed the competition for the Opening Day pitching assignment ahead of the March 26 sellout game against the Guardians. Speaking before a 6-3 Cactus League loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, Wilson noted, “We’re still evaluating in some ways. But I think we’re always open to see what happens as we go. We still have two-plus weeks left, and so we’ll just, again, assess as we go.”
The choice narrows to two pitchers: Logan Gilbert, the incumbent and a more seasoned homegrown ace entering his sixth Major League season, and Bryan Woo, the rotation's lone All-Star from last year who led the team with 186 2/3 innings pitched and a 2.94 ERA, finishing fifth in American League Cy Young Award voting. Woo would have been the de-facto Game 1 playoff starter but for a pectoral strain suffered on September 19 that sidelined him for nearly a month.
Wilson's decision-making draws from multiple angles. On merit, Woo's 2025 performance stands out, similar to how Gilbert was selected last year over Luis Castillo despite the latter's experience. For long-term health, Woo's history of injuries across his first five professional seasons influenced his decision to decline a Team USA invitation for the World Baseball Classic. Last year, the Mariners delayed Woo's standard four-day rest starts until May 7 to manage his workload; he currently slots two spots behind Gilbert in Cactus League rotations.
Gilbert, 28, debuted on May 13, 2021, making him the second-longest-tenured player behind J.P. Crawford, who debuted May 10, 2019. Despite a Grade 2 right elbow flexor strain that sidelined him for seven weeks—his first injured list stint—Gilbert has emerged as a rotation leader and organizational ambassador.
Wilson emphasized, “Every year has a different nuance to it. And you look at all the different things, and we’ll continue to do that.” He added, “We consider all those things, and we’ll figure out who the best candidate is.” The symbolic importance of the role underscores the respect given to both pitchers in the ongoing deliberations.
