Today’s matchup was billed as “Logan Gilbert’s fastball against the Blue Jays’ lineup of fastball hitters” and for the first inning, it looked like Gilbert might come out on top, as he sliced through Toronto’s 1-2-3 hitters in a 14-pitch inning where he threw 12 fastballs, all at 97-98 MPH, and struck out Bo Bichette. Unfortunately, that would be the only easy inning Gilbert would have all day.
The trouble started for Gilbert right away in the second, facing leadoff batter Teoscar Hernández. The Mariners pitching staff kept has been able to keep the slugger mostly under wraps this series, but he had a big day today, starting with this at-bat, when he took a 95 MPH fastball in the middle of the plate over the fence for a home run.