Gilbert set for one more rehab start Tuesday, could return next homestand

ANAHEIM -- Logan Gilbert will indeed make at least one more start for Triple-A Tacoma, which will come on Tuesday at Cheney Stadium, the Mariners’ ace said on Friday before Seattle’s series opener against the Angels.

The decision will allow him to get further stretched out, into the 75-pitch range, and allow him to iron out a few more command kinks before returning from the 15-day injured list. And, given the way that Emerson Hancock has pitched, that spot in the rotation has carried some stability.

“The main goal here is Logan's health and making sure he's ready to go and in a good position,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “So that's really what's on our mind. Obviously, Emerson has done a fantastic job as he's gotten his opportunities here to pitch.”

The Mariners haven’t announced their probable pitchers beyond this weekend in Anaheim, but if they remain on turn, they’d roll with Hancock, Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller (in that order) for their three-game set to follow in Arizona.

They then have an off-day on Thursday, their second-to-last before the All-Star break, where they could potentially re-slot and allow for Gilbert to return the following Monday, June 16, vs. the Red Sox, since he’ll be on a six-day routine.

“Just making sure he's at a good spot and with a good pitch count and ready to roll,” Wilson said. “I think wanting to again, to be in a position where we're comfortable with where he's going.

Wilson also reiterated that Hancock’s status within the rotation is independent of Gilbert’s, even as he and the club have reiterated that it will remain with a five-man rotation.

“That's separate from how we're approaching Logan,” Wilson said.

While Gilbert’s velocity took a slight dip in his second rehab start for Tacoma on Wednesday night, he said the morning after that he was unaware of it, downplaying any correlation to him potentially experiencing fatigue as the outing progressed.

“Was it down?” Gilbert said, adding that he indeed only threw two four-seam fastballs in the fourth inning, which were clocked at 93.7 mph. He was above 96 mph on the heater throughout the first inning, and he averaged 95.4 mph on it for the outing, which was in line with his overall numbers for the season before being placed on the injured list.

Gilbert noted that in between innings he usually throws weighted balls in the dugout tunnel at T-Mobile Park or on the road, but the infrastructure at Cheney Stadium didn’t have enough space for him to do so.

“So there could be something there, too,” Gilbert said, “but I wasn't concerned.”

Hancock was again sharp in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the Orioles, surrendering just one run via a homer to Adley Rutschman on his 89th and final pitch, which continued an upward trend for the right-hander who has long been No. 6 on the depth chart.

Since returning from Tacoma on April 17, Hancock has a 4.17 ERA in nine starts, but over his past four starts, it’s a 2.91 ERA. The only other starter that the Mariners could consider optioning is Miller, who entered Friday’s outing vs. the Angels -- his second since returning from the IL with right elbow inflammation -- with a 5.36 ERA in nine outings.

If either starter is optioned, they must remain in the Minors for 15 days unless there’s another injury. Rookie Logan Evans, who made a strong first impression, could also be a reinforcement if needed.

It’s certainly a good problem to have but one that will necessitate some potentially difficult decisions -- but not any for at least another week or so.