The Mariners' recent performance in Birdland has been a rollercoaster, to say the least. It's a place where they've struggled, and their recent game against the Orioles was no exception. The team's decision to ditch the ham sandwich for a six-man rotation has left them short-handed in the bullpen, and it seems to have taken its toll on their performance.
One player who has been consistently underperforming is Logan Gilbert. His FIP still begins with a 4, and his outings this year have been a mix of early dominance and late struggles. It's a mystery as to why, given his sharp, hard, diverse, and deceptive arsenal. But every game, there are a handful of batters he can't quite sit down, throwing full-count pitch after pitch after pitch. It's just weird.
Despite this, Gilbert managed to snap out of his funk and pitch a gem against the Orioles. He set down the side in order in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, and even though he was pulled after six innings, he had already pitched 96 pitches. It was a performance that raised questions about his ability to dominate consistently.
The Mariners' lineup, meanwhile, was not the plan from Spring Training. They're dealing with a rash of injuries, and so it's been the 'we need some guys to step up' time of the season. And step up they did, ultimately. Randy Arozarena and Rob Refsnyder led off the third inning with back-to-back singles, and Mitch Garver followed with a homer, giving the Mariners a 3-1 lead.
The Mariners' bullpen, however, was not up to the task. After Gilbert's exit, the team struggled to hold onto their lead. The Orioles tied the game in the ninth inning, and it looked like the Mariners were going to lose. But then, in extras, Arozarena hit a walk-off homer, giving the Mariners a 6-4 lead.
The Mariners' win in Birdland was a relief, but it also raised questions about their ability to perform consistently. It's a place where they've struggled, and their recent performance has been a mix of dominance and underperformance. It's a mystery as to why, but one thing is for sure: the Mariners need to find a way to perform consistently if they want to have any chance of winning the division.
