Frankie Montas is accepting of his new reduction position, even when it’s not superb.
The veteran right-hander mentioned as a lot when supervisor Carlos Mendoza knowledgeable him this week that he was being faraway from the Mets’ rotation.
“I told him I consider myself a starter,” Montas mentioned earlier than Thursday’s collection finale in opposition to the Atlanta Braves at Citi Subject. “In the meantime, if that’s the way that can help this team and I can contribute to get a win, I’m definitely willing to do it.”
Thursday’s recreation was the primary by which Montas, 32, was accessible out of the bullpen since his dialog with Mendoza two days earlier.
Montas entered Thursday with a 3-2 document and a 6.38 ERA over eight appearances, together with seven begins. His lone reduction look got here final Saturday in Milwaukee when the Mets used an opener in entrance of Montas, who then surrendered three runs (one earned) in three innings.
“As a starter, that’s where he wants to be, but he also understands this is where we’re at in the regular season,” Mendoza mentioned Thursday. “Every game counts, and right now, his spot is in the bullpen. Whenever we call his name, we’re counting on him.”
The Mets signed Montas within the offseason to a two-year, $34 million contract, envisioning him as a part of a rotation that misplaced Luis Severino and Jose Quintana from final yr’s employees.
However Montas suffered a lat pressure throughout spring coaching, costing him the primary three months of the season, and upon returning, he struggled to search out consistency.
“I haven’t been able to hit my spots the way I wanted in important counts and important moments in the game,” Montas mentioned. “So, just trying to get better at that. Trying to get better at hitting my spots and executing pitches.”
Montas has been a full-time starter for many of his 10-year MLB profession. Within the six seasons earlier than this one, Montas made just one reduction look, which got here in 2023 with the Yankees after he returned from shoulder surgical procedure.
Final yr, the hard-throwing Montas totaled 30 begins with the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers, going 7-11 with a 4.84 ERA.
“It’s pretty much new for him,” Mendoza mentioned, including, “We’ll try our best to give him more time to get loose, but life in the bullpen, things happen fast.”
Mendoza mentioned he considered Montas as “probably a multi-inning guy, long man out of the bullpen.”
“But you never know,” Mendoza added. “Things happen, and who knows if we play extra innings, and there he is pitching because of where you’re at [with the bullpen].”
Mendoza made the transfer amid the Mets’ extended hunch. They entered Thursday with a 19-32 document since June 13, with their starters pitching to a 5.35 ERA and averaging 4.5 innings per begin throughout that stretch.
The Mets are set to fill Montas’ rotation spot with prized prospect Nolan McLean, who went 5-4 with a 2.78 ERA in 16 appearances, together with 13 begins, with Triple-A Syracuse. The precise-hander, 24, is scheduled to make his MLB debut on Saturday in opposition to the Seattle Mariners at Citi Subject.
“I’m a great competitor,” Montas mentioned. “I take a lot of pride in the way I prepare myself for games. Like I said, if they think [pitching in relief is] the way for me to help, I’ll definitely be happy to do it.”
ON THE MARK
Thursday marked the fourth recreation in a row that Mark Vientos was not within the Mets’ beginning lineup.
Lefty-swinging Brett Baty bought the beginning at third base, whereas switch-hitting Ronny Mauricio was the DH in opposition to Braves right-hander Bryce Elder.
The Mets face a nightly lineup crunch with Vientos, Baty and Mauricio all competing for enjoying time at third base. The DH spot is often open solely on the times Starling Marte sits.
“There’s healthy competition,” Mendoza mentioned, including, “The messaging is, ‘You’ve got to stay ready, because it happens fast.’”
After hitting 27 house runs with an .837 OPS final yr, the righty-swinging Vientos, 25, entered Thursday with seven homers and a .641 OPS. He was 4-for-22 (.182) with no house run in August.
Baty, 25, was 7-for-20 (.350) with two homers in August, whereas Mauricio was 2-for-15 (.133) with out an extra-base hit for the month.
Thursday’s recreation was the 24-year-old Mauricio’s first since Sunday.
HOLMES STRETCH
As a reliever with the Yankees, Clay Holmes threw 63 innings in 2023, and 63 innings once more final yr.
He’s precisely doubled that complete this season with the Mets.
These 126 innings are a profession excessive for Holmes, who’s in his first season as a full-time starter.
For the reason that begin of July, Holmes owns a 5.45 ERA over eight begins, elevating questions on whether or not he’s hit a wall. He issued 5 walks and allowed 5 runs Tuesday in opposition to the Braves.
However Mendoza reiterated Thursday that the sinker-balling proper hander will “keep getting opportunities” as a starter.
“He keeps saying he’s fine,” Mendoza mentioned. “The numbers and everything keep telling us he’s in a good place, so we will continue to monitor it, but [we are doing] nothing differently.”
Total, Holmes is 9-6 with a 3.71 ERA in 24 begins.
Initially Printed: August 14, 2025 at 5:57 PM EDT
