AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: MARINERS VS BLUE JAYS

October 19, 2025

Dan Wilson

Rogers Centre

Seattle Mariners

Pregame 6 Press Conference

Q. What do you think of the uptick in splitter usage in the league over the last few years, especially with -- Logan's had a lot of success with it, it's one of Yesavage's big pitches?

DAN WILSON: I think we talked about this a little bit the last time, but it's obviously a pitch that is -- it's an unknown in terms of the break. It's a pitch that can act like a knuckleball. We talked about that.

So with that in mind, it's a pitch that can be really difficult to hit, and certainly the guys that have mastered the split, you look at Gausman and his ability to throw it, and if you could throw it at the bottom of the zone, really a tough pitch to get into the air. It's a lot of ground balls. You get the double plays when you need it from the split. If you can throw it strike to ball, it's a swing-and-miss as well.

So I think just the unpredictability of it, what it does for you in terms of keeping the ball on the ground, keeping it out of the air, and it's just been effective pitch and as guys see that around the league, then that's what they start to do themselves. So, yeah, it's a tough pitch.

Q. What do you like about Canzone over Robles in right field? And would we see Victor as a defensive replacement late?

DAN WILSON: Yeah, I mean, you know, we have a luxury of being able to match up a little bit. When Yesavage has the split, he can be tough on lefties. We think the way Dom has swung the bat that he's got a good opportunity against Yesavage.

But, yes, obviously, late in the game, you don't know what's going to happen. Vic with his speed, his ability on the bases can also be a guy that can come in and run for you, but also can play out in right field on defense late in the game as well.

So that's what we're seeing at the moment and that's how we've got the lineup set today.

Q. Wondering if you're keeping any tabs on your players' emotions going into a game that can be historical for your organization?

DAN WILSON: Yeah, I mean, of course. I think the feeling in the clubhouse is good. I think we have said all along that there's a lot of work to be done and there's more work to be done. And that's the message. And these guys are well aware of that. And obviously, a big win coming out of Seattle there earlier, the feeling just continues to be, whether it was at the workout yesterday, just work to be done, more work to be done. So I think they're in a great frame of mind, they're focused, and they're ready to go, and that's what you want.

It's easy this time of year to get distracted by a lot of the outside noise, but these guys have done a really good job on the whole of staying focused on the task at hand and that's where they're continuing to keep their focus.

Q. Given all that's happened in this postseason, how much stock, if any, do you put in the idea of one team holding momentum over the other or is every game just a discrete event?

DAN WILSON: I think each game is a discrete event. I think emotion, momentum, you call it what you want, does play a big role in the postseason, for sure. But each game presents its own challenges, its own differences. I think in terms of that, you treat each game differently. I think it's kind of played out that way in this series, but obviously, emotion and momentum is definitely a factor.

Q. Leo didn't get back with you guys until the start of September, and he's had some big moments for you, the defensive play the other day, the hit in Game 5, obviously. What is it about him after so long in the minors that's allowed him to jump into this moment, not be shy of it, and be able to contribute for you guys on this stage?

DAN WILSON: I think the thing for Leo is that he's very secure with his identity as a player. We talk a lot about identity. Leo is so comfortable with who he is and a great defensive player. We have seen that from him. But a guy who just puts up a really difficult at-bat and a tough at-bat. He's a tough out. I think we have seen that play out over the playoffs as well.

When he came back, I think that's what he continued to show us in his opportunities to play, and as he's gotten opportunities here in the postseason, I think the story has been the same. That's what you want from all our guys, tough at-bats, grind 'em out, you know, be a guy that can find your way on base, and then when you're in the field, be defensive and make the plays, and we have seen Leo do all of that. So it's been nice to have him in the lineup.

Q. How did Bryan come out of the relief outing the other day? And what do you kind of envision his role will be over the rest of this series?

DAN WILSON: I think he came out pretty well. Yesterday, I think, as you mentioned, just kind of general soreness, which is good, and today will get a chance to get out there again and play some catch and see how he feels. I think as you look at Game 6 and Game 7, if there is a Game 7, Game 6 certainly tonight is -- you know, we're going to find out who is available and who is ready to go and who might be in the bullpen at times. So we'll be finding that out here as we get guys in on the field and get loose for tonight.

Q. What did you see from Logan in his last time out, and what do you need to see early in this outing to kind of know he's feeling good?

DAN WILSON: Yeah, I think last time out was a little bit of uncharted waters for him, just because of the relief outing for us in the Detroit series. So tonight, you kind of look for him to be a little bit more settled and back into his regular routine of sorts. They were able to put a lot of pitches on him early. He got into some early trouble in that first inning, and they were able to get to him a little bit.

So I think just kind of getting off the blocks in a good way, I think, is going to be key for Logan tonight, and that's kind of what we'll be watching.

Q. When Logan is at his best, what makes him so hard to hit?

DAN WILSON: We talk about it, ironically, it's the split. It's his secondaries and how they work with his fastball. And when he can locate that fastball where he wants to put that, and then you throw in the sweeper or slider and the split, he is a tough matchup. When he is on and he's able to locate those secondaries, it makes his fastball better and when he can locate that fastball, it makes his secondaries better, and they kind of play off each other.

So that's what makes Logan so difficult. A lot of swing-and-miss there. I think the split is a big reason why. He can throw that thing at the bottom and break it out of the zone where there's just not a lot of contact to be made. So if that split is on, that's when he's at his best.

Q. In that ball game, the biggest outs of that game was Cal Raleigh's 2-3 double play. Number one, how do he make that play and did you have a flashback? The only other time it's been done in postseason play was you and John Olerud back in 2000.

DAN WILSON: Yeah, I had no recollection of that, honestly, which is crazy. But, yeah, I think that's just a heads-up play, and I think what we have seen from Cal behind the plate all season long has been that.

But when you get that play out in front of the plate, you really want to pounce on it. You don't want that thing to roll foul because you know it's an easy out to step on the plate and be able to get the double play at first base.

So I thought that was just a great heads-up play by Cal, made a nice play and he it got us out of a pretty big jam.

Q. You spent a lot of your career prior to managing working with catchers throughout the organization. I was wondering your thoughts on the passing of Jesús Montero.

DAN WILSON: Yeah, you know, obviously, thoughts and prayers are with the family and it's obviously a sad moment. You always hate to hear that, and especially someone so young. So just thoughts and prayers are with he and his family.

Q. We were talking about momentum. Are you seeing any parallels to when you guys came in here from Game 1 off of the other biggest game in postseason history for your team, after the 15-inning game, then coming in here after the game you guys just had? Are you feeling any parallels to like the way you guys are feeling?

DAN WILSON: I think, as we've talked about a little bit earlier, each game is so different. I think, yes, we are coming off of an emotional game the other night, but again, with the attitude that we have that there's more work to be done, I think we come in here a little bit differently as well. So again, each game presents its own challenges, and I think our guys are focused and ready to go on what's in front of us tonight.

Q. Mariners fans traveled well last weekend. They were here cheering on the team. What's your message to them on the cusp of history, maybe?

DAN WILSON: Yeah, I mean, the fans have been the faithful. They've supported us all along. I think the idea, again, that we just have to keep our minds focused on what we have in front of us. But we're grateful for the support that they have given us all season long and you can't do it without 'em. We're hoping to bring this home.

Q. Regular season success doesn't always correlate to the postseason. What is it about Cal, beyond the skill set, that you think really has enabled him to just kind of keep going, in a sense, from what he's done over this last season?

DAN WILSON: Yeah, I think he has -- you know, I think you can watch a player grow up in the game and see them gain their confidence as they go. I think he's gained a ton of confidence. You see that in a lot of different ways. You see it in his play on the field, you see it in his leadership in the clubhouse, his leadership with the pitching staff and how he handles pitchers during the game. All parts of his game have really grown.

You can't say enough about the job that he has done both from a physical standpoint just with his skill, his tools, what he's done on the field for us, but even the intangibles and the things off the field. Again, he's done it with a lot of humility, and he's done it because he wants to win and help this team win, and that's been a definitely a momentum builder for us throughout the team, is just that quest and that push and desire to win games.

Q. How is Gabe Speier as a 6 precious asset for your team as a lefty in the bullpen since the start of the playoffs.

DAN WILSON: Yeah, Gabe's had just an outstanding season from beginning to end. For a big chunk of the season he was really our only left-hander in the bullpen, so he had to carry a lot. At the trade deadline able to pick up Caleb Ferguson who kind of shouldered some of the load.

But he, obviously, looms large in a series like this. They've got a lot of left-hand hitters who are difficult and being able to match 'em up at times with Gabe is important. He has seemingly delivered every time and has been a huge part of our bullpen coming out of there.

Q. Geno, obviously, had massive swings in the last game and he had been scuffling for a while prior to that, but someone who when he gets hot, he gets really hot, and he can sustain that. How much can something like that matter for a guy specifically like Geno?

DAN WILSON: I mean, I think that we talk about how emotion plays a big part in the postseason. Confidence is a big part of the postseason as well. You hope with all our guys that with success comes more confidence. And you hope that continues to carry over as we go. Geno with just an absolutely huge game there, and to see that, I mean, he's a veteran guy. He understands how that can play into this next, these next, this next game tonight, and just really hoping that he continues to do what he has done. Those swings were huge and I think again it comes back to focus and where he's at and knowing what went into those swings and just continuing to take that same approach as he goes to the plate tonight.

Q. What have you observed with the relationship between Cal and Logan, not just since you've been manager, but even being around the organization before then?

DAN WILSON: Yeah, you know, I think it's as close to brothers as you can come. They kind of, when you look at two guys who have come up together in the organization and competed a lot together in the minor leagues. And then getting a chance now to compete together in the big leagues and experience the playoffs together in the big leagues. I mean, they have done it all together. It's pretty cool to see.

I think they know each other pretty well, they know how to press each other's buttons, which is kind of funny at times. But I think that both of them respect one another tremendously. I think that the relationship that they have is, it goes deep, and you love to see that from your battery, especially in a big game like this.

Q. You've been asked about parallels between games but you were in a similar situation in Game 4 in Detroit. What do you think your team learned from that experience, obviously having a lead early in that game also, in a game that you have a chance to close it out, but weren't able to get it done?

DAN WILSON: Yeah, I mean, you know, begin, these games take on a mind of their own. But certainly you can learn from 'em. And tonight I think our focus, I don't think it changes from what it's been. And that has been we're going to play hard from 1 to 9, and 1 through 9, and that's what it's all about. And that's really what these guys have done all season long. We talk about the fight that they have, the resiliency that they have. Sometimes that resiliency has to happen within the game and not just from game to game. So we'll just see how tonight plays out, but I know these guys will be focused, I know these guys will be prepared and they will be ready to fight.