Mets to send Frankie Montas to mound vs. Brewers, but might use an opener
Frankie Montas of the Mets reacts during a game against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field on Sunday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
A day after manager Carlos Mendoza was noncommittal about Frankie Montas’ future in the Mets’ rotation, he provided some clarity.
Montas, who allowed seven runs and seven hits in four innings-plus in Sunday’s 12-4 loss to the Giants, will pitch in Milwaukee on Saturday night.
Whether that will be as a starter or following an opener is undecided.
“We're having those discussions here,” Mendoza said before Monday night’s game against the Guardians at Citi Field. “He is going to pitch against the Brewers. So [Kodai] Senga is going to go Friday after the off day. But because we have an off day in between that series, we could get creative.
“So maybe an opener in front of him. But as of right [now] on Saturday, he's going to play a part of that game. So depending on how we get through on Friday, we'll see.”
Montas (3-2, 6.68 ERA), who is in the first season of a two-year, $34 million contract he signed with the Mets, would be quite the expensive reliever. Beyond Saturday, the plan seems to be up in the air.
“I don't want to get too far ahead,” Mendoza said. “Right now, we're talking about next start, and that's what we got. I spoke with him earlier today. He's going to prepare as [if] he's a starter, but there's a scenario where we could go [with] an opener here.”
Length has been a major problem for the Mets’ rotation, which has thrown an MLB-low 148 1/3 innings since Montas returned from a right lat strain on June 24.
Mets fans have been lobbying for the call-ups of No. 3 prospect Nolan McLean and No. 5 prospect Brandon Sproat, both 24-year-old righthanders for Triple-A Syracuse.
Amid this stretch for the rotation, the chatter has only grown louder.
“I think it's always a combination of when developmentally those guys are ready, and also when there's the need and how to fit it on the roster,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said Monday. “And so we may get to the point where we decide that it's the best thing to do to bring one or both of them here, but we're not at that point quite yet.”
Sproat has allowed only two earned runs over his last six starts (33 innings). McLean has a 3.01 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings with Syracuse.
“I think they're getting close,” Stearns said. “I think they both had really good months and are making progress.”
On Monday, the Mets called up a different Syracuse pitcher: 26-year-old righthander Dom Hamel. Mendoza said he will be available in the bullpen as someone who could provide length in either a blowout or if a starter goes down.
Hamel, currently the Mets’ No. 27 prospect, was their minor-league pitcher of the year in 2022 and their No. 9 prospect in both 2022 and 2023.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Hamel said.
Hamel has a 4.73 ERA, a 1.256 WHIP and 59 strikeouts across 53 1/3 innings in 22 games (eight starts) with Syracuse this year. What has he seen in his up-close look at McLean and Sproat?
“Those guys just bust their butts every day,” Hamel said. “Really smart players, really good. Just mature for those young kind of starters, especially McLean that first year. Sproat had some time up in Triple-A last year, and just really cool watching them develop and just compete their butts off.
“And they're getting to the fifth or sixth inning and making it easy for the bullpen to kind of have an idea of who's coming out and what's the situation. But really all around, we've been really fun to watch this second half and fun to be a part of. So yeah, I hope to see some of them up here.”
Notes & quotes: Edwin Diaz was named the NL Reliever of the Month for July, it was announced Monday. He recorded seven saves, did not allow an earned run and struck out 18 in 11 innings . . . The Mets demoted righthander Austin Warren, who threw four scoreless innings Sunday and has allowed only one earned run in 9 1/3 innings, to Syracuse . . . Mark Vientos made his second start of the season at first base Monday as Pete Alonso was the designated hitter. “Just trying to find a way to kind of give Pete a half off day,” Mendoza said . . . Paul Blackburn (right shoulder impingement) will make another rehab start with Syracuse on Friday. He is being built up as a starter.
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
