Gilbert on the mound: Mariners one step away from the World Series

Sailors One Step Away from the World Series: Gilbert Ready for the Challenge

The Seattle Mariners are one step away from the World Series, a feat they have never achieved before. However, pitcher Logan Gilbert remains calm, aware that there is still a long way to go.

We are nine long innings away from where we want to be, and I think everyone understands that.

Logan Gilbert

After a Game 5 victory that left them one win away from the American League championship, Gilbert and the Mariners prepare for Game 6. The series winner will face the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gilbert, who pitched two scoreless innings in the 15-inning victory in the American League Division Series, is set to take on the challenge with five days of rest.

It’s huge. It’s been such a long year. Getting to this point is incredible. But being the one with the ball, you grow up dreaming of moments like this, and you don’t know how many you’ll have in the course of your career. Some guys never get to this. So it’s something very important.

Logan Gilbert

Mariners manager Dan Wilson highlights Gilbert’s mentality as key to his success.

Logan is a guy who loves to have the ball. He’s that type who has that focus, that desire to win, and wants the ball in these situations. He’s definitely ready for tomorrow.

Dan Wilson

Facing elimination, Toronto is betting on rookie Trey Yesavage, who has made a significant impact this postseason. Yesavage set a postseason record for the Blue Jays by striking out 11 batters in 5⅓ hitless innings against the New York Yankees in the divisional series. The young pitcher acknowledges the uniqueness of this opportunity, as evidenced by a conversation with his rotation partner Kevin Gausman.

This opportunity doesn’t come around very often. I was talking to Gausman the other day and I said, ‘How far have you gotten in the playoffs?’ He said, ‘This is the furthest I’ve gotten.’ And he’s been playing this game for a long time. So I feel very blessed to be in this situation.

Trey Yesavage

Blue Jays manager John Schneider is confident that Yesavage will rise to the challenge.

He’s pitched in many important games. He’s pitched in big regular season games, he’s pitched in big postseason games, and he’s performed well. We have all the confidence in the world that he’ll have the right mindset. He has to go out there and do what he does.

John Schneider

Schneider expects to have designated hitter George Springer for Sunday. Springer was hit on the right kneecap by a 95.6 mph pitch from Bryan Woo in the seventh inning on Friday and had to leave the game. Springer, a four-time All-Star, is batting .256 with three home runs and five doubles this postseason. His 22 career playoff home runs tie him with Bernie Williams for fourth in baseball history. Wilson reported that Woo experienced some minor discomfort after pitching two innings on Friday, his first appearance in almost a month. Woo had been out with pectoral inflammation. “Getting him in the game was important, getting him out there and feeling comfortable,” Wilson said. “He feels good today. Obviously, a little bit of soreness where you’d expect. But again, this is an exciting time of year, and I expect him to be ready to go out of the bullpen.”