The Seattle Mariners figure to have one of the best starting pitching rotations for several years to come.

The combination of Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Luis Castillo, Bryce MIller and Bryan Woo are all under team control for multiple seasons. Kirby, Gilbert and Castillo have made All-Star games and Woo and Miller just finished their second major league seasons.

Seattle is also well-positioned to have pitchers step up in case of injury or trade; Pitchers like Brandyn Garcia, Logan Evans and Emerson Hancock are now in the upper minors.

The rotation was the only one in the majors to have four pitchers start 30 or more games in 2024. It also led the league in total quality starts. Every member of the rotation finished with ERAs below 3.70.

Despite these accomplishments, popular baseball website FanGraphs has the rotation slightly regressing in 2025, per its ZiPS projections model.

The model has Gilbert putting up similar numbers in 2025 that he had in 2024. Inversely, the model has Woo and Miller taking steps back in 2025.

Seattle still projects to have the second-best rotation in the MLB behind the Philadelphia Phillies, and the best in the American League. Gilbert maintaining his status as the ace of the staff plays a part in that. But so does a predicted return to All-Star form for Kirby.

Kirby made the first All-Star game of his career in 2023. He had a 3.35 ERA with 172 strikeouts in 190.2 innings pitched across 31 starts that season.

Kirby was still a great starter in 2024, but his numbers did inflate slightly. In 2024, he had a career-high 3.53 ERA and fanned 179 hitters in 191 innings pitched and 33 starts.

FanGraphs predicts Kirby’s numbers in 2025 will compare well with his statistics in 2023.

Per the model, Kirby will finish with a 3.32 ERA and 162 strikeouts in 173 innings pitched across 30 starts. The model also has him finishing with a 3.5 fWAR (FanGraphs WAR). That number is the second-highest on the staff behind Gilbert’s 4.0 fWAR.

Kirby is one of the better command-pitchers in the majors. Out of his six-pitch arsenal, the only pitches that hitters averaged better than .253 against were his sinker and knuckle curve, according to Baseball Savant. He had a 21.7% put-away rate with his fastball and a 22.6% put-away rate with his slider.

Kirby had a streak of nine consecutive quality starts from June 9-July 26, but the last two months of the year exacerbated his numbers. He had a 3.80 ERA over his last seven starts of the season and a 4.02 ERA over his last 15.

If Kirby can sustain his June/July form over the whole year, a return to the All-Star game will definitely be on the table for the former Elon College hurler.

FANGRAPHS PREDICTS DROP-OFF IN 2025 FROM YOUNG PITCHER: Former Texas A&M pitcher Bryce Miller could take a step back in 2025, per the website FanGraphs’ ZiPS Projections model. CLICK HERE

VETERAN MARINERS PITCHER INVOLVED IN INTERESTING MOCK TRADE: Luis Castillo continued to be at the forefront of mock trades, with the latest hypothetical deal taking place between the Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox. CLICK HERE

RECENT MARINERS DRAFT PICK COULD DEBUT IN 2025: Former Kansas Jayhawk, and 2024 third-round draft pick Hunter Cranton could factor into the Seattle Mariners bullpen in 2025, per a recent story. CLICK HERE

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobrady. You can subscribe to the “Refuse to Lose” podcast by clicking HERE.

Today is Saturday, Nov. 30, the 335th day of 2024. There are 31 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Nov. 30, 1999, an estimated 40,000 demonstrators clashed with police as they protested against the World Trade Organization as the WTO convened in Seattle.

Also on this date:

In 1782, the United States and Britain signed preliminary peace articles in Paris for ending the Revolutionary War; the Treaty of Paris was signed in September 1783.

In 1936, London’s Crystal Palace exhibition hall was destroyed by a massive fire.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill, which required a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases and background checks of prospective buyers.

In 2004, “Jeopardy!” fans saw Ken Jennings end his 74-game winning streak as he lost to real estate agent Nancy Zerg.

In 2012, Israel approved the construction of 3,000 homes in Jewish settlements on occupied lands, drawing swift condemnation from Palestinians a day after their successful bid for recognition by the United Nations.

In 2013, actor Paul Walker, star of the “Fast & Furious” movie series, was killed in a single-car accident north of Los Angeles; Walker’s friend Roger Rodas, who was driving the car, also died. Walker was 40 years old.

In 2018, former President George H.W. Bush, a World War II hero who rose through the political ranks to the nation’s highest office, died at his Houston home at the age of 94; his wife of more than 70 years, Barbara Bush, had died in April.

In 2021, Ethan Crumbley, a 15-year-old sophomore, opened fire at a Michigan high school, killing four students and wounding seven other people.

In 2022, House Democrats elected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to be the first Black American to head a major political party in Congress as long-serving Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her team stepped aside.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Filmmaker Woody Allen is 89.
• Filmmaker Ridley Scott is 87.
• Historian and screenwriter Geoffrey C. Ward is 84.
• Filmmaker Terrence Malick is 81.
• Playwright David Mamet (MA’-meht) is 77.
• Actor Mandy Patinkin is 72.
• Singer Billy Idol is 69.
• Historian Michael Beschloss is 69.
• Comedian Colin Mochrie is 67.
• Actor-filmmaker Ben Stiller is 59.
• South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is 53.
• Singer Clay Aiken is 46.
• Actor-filmmaker Gael García Bernal is 46.
• Actor Elisha Cuthbert is 42.
• Actor Kaley Cuoco (KWOH’-koh) is 39.
• Model Chrissy Teigen is 39.
• Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen is 34.

The New York Jets offense needs a jolt. Well, it’s actually needed it for a while.

While New York (3-8) has some good numbers on paper, it hasn’t translated in the win column this season as the Jets have lost seven of their last eight games since a 2-1 start. Now, they prepare to face Seattle on Sunday.

Yeah, little has worked out. That’s why the Jets are looking for a new head coach and general manager after the season. Well, the offense isn’t the ONLY reason.

Seattle (6-5) enters the game with a playoff berth on the line, as the Seahawks are tied for the lead in the NFC West and hold a tiebreaker over Arizona. But, the division’s other two rivals are one game back. So, every win matters to Seattle right now.

Here are the offensive players to watch for both teams entering Sunday’s game.

QB Aaron Rodgers

So now Rodgers isn’t sure if he’ll play in 2025, but he says his first choice is to play for the Jets. Whether the Jets want him back will be up to new leadership.  

Right now, Rodgers has 2,442 yards passing with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Those are solid numbers, but not the numbers he would post in his prime. In other words, the Jets paid for more.

He’s taken 26 sacks and he’s not a threat to throw downfield. Scheming for Rodgers is easier defensively, which means play-caller Todd Downing needs to get more creative to put the soon-to-be 41-year-old in position to make plays.

WR Garrett Wilson

Wilson’s goal is to cross 1,000 yards receiving for the third time in his career. There’s no reason to think it won’t happen. He has 69 receptions for 722 yards and five touchdowns, and he’s been targeted more than 100 times this season.

He’s not racking up many yards per catch, but he’s in line for the best year of his career as long as he continues to play to his season averages. New leadership will decide if he gets his fifth-year contract option. The answer, obviously, should be yes.

RB Braelon Allen

Breece Hall’s status is unclear as he’s dealing with an injury he suffered against Indianapolis. That could allow the Jets to hand more carries to their rookie.

Allen has rushed 62 times for 229 yards and two touchdowns and in stretches he’s shown real potential.

Hall is the clear No. 1, but as a non-first round pick, next season is his last under contract. A new general manager and head coach will decide Hall’s future, but the coaching staff would be smart to get Allen some additional reps down the stretch.

Hall was getting reps as of Thursday, so it’s encouraging that he’ll be available in some way.

QB Geno Smith

The Jets know Smith well. Or, one should say the Jets know the old version of Smith. The new version is one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL.

He’s resurrected his career with the Seahawks, earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors and two Pro Bowl nods. He leads the NFL in completions and yards passing per game (275.9).

While he’s completing nearly 70% of his passes, one thing to note is that he’s thrown 12 interceptions. That’s in your area for the Jets to scheme for on Sunday.

RB Kenneth Walker III

Watching Walker play, one can’t be helped but be reminded of Hall. The pair are similar in that they’re as capable running the football as helping in the passing game.

Much of what Seattle wants to do offensively flows through the 24-year-old. He’s rushed for 493 yards and seven touchdowns, while also catching 36 passes for 274 yards and a touchdown. He’s been targeted 42 times, so he’s not likely to drop the football when it’s thrown his way.

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Seattle has a talented group of wide receivers, many of which are NFL veterans. But the young pup from Ohio State, the same alma mater as Wilson, is having a terrific season.

Smith-Njigba leads the Seahawks with 66 catches for 755 yards and four touchdowns. Like Wilson, he’s been targeted frequently, a team high 93 times.

D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are more adept at stretching the field. So Smith-Njigba has emerged as a terrific possession target for Smith.  Like Wilson, he will need to be monitored closely on Sunday.