Logan Gilbert's upside makes him a worthy roster add

NBC Sports EDGE's Chris Crawford details why Seattle Mariners SP Logan Gilbert is a worthy addition for fantasy managers looking to capitalize on his recent stretch.

Video Transcript

CHRIS CRAWFORD: It took a little while longer than expected, but we are finally seeing the version of Logan Gilbert that had so many evaluators, including yours truly, excited about the right-hander's future. Gilbert was excellent on Sunday against Cleveland, going 6 and 2/3 innings, while allowing just a run, and striking out 6, and picking up his second MLB victory.

A product of Stetson, the same school that produced Jacob deGrom, Corey Kluber, Gilbert struggled mightily in his first four outings in the bigs. But he's allowed just four runs in his next three starts, and that's helped lower an ERA of 7.59 to 4.13.

The metrics here are still pretty ugly. There are only a handful of starters who have a worse hard hit percentage or average exit velocity. But this is a case where the metrics are a matter of result rather than process. Gilbert has elite stuff. And he's clearly becoming more confident in challenging hitters with his mid- to high 90s fastball. There are going to be rough patches with Gilbert, because that's how this sport works. And the Mariners may not provide a ton of chances for wins down the stretch.

Still, if someone in your fantasy league dropped him and you're in need of pitching help, there are not many options out there that have as much upside as he does.