{"id":86133,"date":"2025-08-05T08:24:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T08:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=86133"},"modified":"2025-08-05T08:24:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T08:24:10","slug":"mets-manager-gives-struggling-starter-a-vote-of-confidence-but-is-considering-1-specific-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=86133","title":{"rendered":"Mets manager gives struggling starter a vote of confidence but is considering 1 specific strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"
When Frankie Montas takes the mound, Mets fans can\u2019t help but hold their breath\u2014and not in a good way lately.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, the New York Mets watched their starter unravel again, as Montas allowed seven earned runs in just four innings.<\/p>\n
The loss to the San Francisco Giants wasn\u2019t just another rough outing\u2014it was a flashing red warning sign.<\/p>\n
Montas now owns a 6.68 ERA over 33.2 innings, and his performances have felt like playing with fire every fifth day.<\/p>\n
With the Mets locked in a fierce division battle with the Philadelphia Phillies, each start carries postseason weight.<\/p>\nCredit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Rotation Reinforcements Still Waiting in the Wings<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Surprisingly, the Mets didn\u2019t add rotation help before the trade deadline despite Montas\u2019 ongoing struggles.<\/p>\n
Instead, they\u2019re looking inward, with top prospects Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean looming in Triple-A.<\/p>\n
Sproat, in particular, has generated buzz with a mix of power stuff and maturity beyond his years.<\/p>\n
Yet Mets manager Carlos Mendoza made it clear on Monday: Montas isn\u2019t going anywhere\u2014at least not yet.<\/p>\n
He confirmed Montas will pitch Saturday in a crucial series against the Milwaukee Brewers.<\/p>\n
Why an Opener Could Be Montas\u2019 Lifeline<\/strong><\/h2>\n
There is a twist to this decision, though, and it might just save Montas\u2019 spot in the rotation.<\/p>\n
Team insider Anthony DiComo reported the Mets are discussing using an opener ahead of Montas on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n
\n
Frankie Montas will make his next scheduled outing Saturday in Milwaukee, Carlos Mendoza said. But Mets officials are discussing the idea of using an opener ahead of him.<\/p>\n
That strategy could shield Montas from his worst inning\u2014statistically and emotionally: the first.<\/p>\n
This season, Montas has posted a ghastly 6.43 ERA in the first inning, surrendering two homers in just seven frames.<\/p>\n
Once he gets past that opening hurdle, the numbers suggest he settles down\u2014at least for a while.<\/p>\n
He owns a 3.86 ERA in both the second and fourth innings, showing he can find rhythm after the early chaos.<\/p>\nCredit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
But there\u2019s more: Montas\u2019 performance nosedives the deeper he goes through a lineup.<\/p>\n
The third time through the order? A brutal 22.50 ERA, which explains why a short stint may suit him best.<\/p>\n
Using an opener could limit exposure to early damage and buy time for Montas to find his footing.<\/p>\n
Is It a Band-Aid or a Breakthrough?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Mendoza and the Mets aren\u2019t na\u00efve\u2014they know this isn\u2019t a long-term fix. It\u2019s baseball\u2019s version of putting duct tape on a leaky faucet.<\/p>\n
Still, the opener approach could stabilize Montas long enough to keep the rotation afloat through August.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s worked for others. Look at how the Rays have turned openers into a way of life and thrived.<\/p>\n
Montas doesn\u2019t need to be an ace right now\u2014he just needs to stop being a liability.<\/p>\n
Saturday\u2019s start in Milwaukee may be his best shot at redemption, especially if the opener plan is implemented.<\/p>\n
Patience Is Wearing Thin in Queens<\/strong><\/h2>\n
With each poor outing, Montas is burning through the goodwill that came with his arrival.<\/p>\n
And while the Mets remain publicly supportive, fans are already imagining a rotation with Sproat or McLean instead.<\/p>\n
That pressure is real\u2014and so is the sense that the clock is ticking on Montas\u2019 leash.<\/p>\n
Like a chess player one move from checkmate, Montas must adjust quickly or risk being pulled off the board entirely.<\/p>\n
The Mets don\u2019t need dominance; they just need dependability. Whether Montas can give them that is the looming question.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Mets bring up former third-rounder to make MLB debut<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The New York Mets may use an opener for struggling starter Frankie Montas, hoping to salvage his season and keep pace in the NL East<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":86135,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-86133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n
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![\"Mets](\"https:\/\/empiresportsmedia.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1250,height=833,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/MLB-San-Francisco-Giants-at-New-York-Mets-26768984.jpg\")
![\"Mets](\"https:\/\/empiresportsmedia.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1250,height=833,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/MLB-San-Francisco-Giants-at-New-York-Mets-26768775.jpg\")