Montas’ Continued Struggles Plays Key Role In Mets’ Sixth Straight Loss

The New York Mets have had a season-long Frankie Montas problem, and that continued on Saturday. The 32-year-old veteran entered Saturday night’s game with a 6.68 ERA across seven starts. As a result, the Mets made the decision to pitch an opener in front of the right-handed starter, bring him in the game’s second inning. Despite this, not only was Montas’ performance uneven once again, but the Mets had to burn one of their high-leverage relievers in the game’s first inning when he could have played a key part in helping the Mets avoid a catastrophic, game-defining seventh inning.

The aforementioned opener the Mets went to was right-handed reliever Reed Garrett. Even with the additions of Trevor Rogers, Gregory Soto, and Ryan Helsley, Garrett had still been serving as one of the Mets’ key high-leverage relievers. By using Garrett in the first inning, despite him pitching a clean frame, it took one of New York’s better relievers out of the equation for later on, when the Mets desperately could have used him.

Montas, whose struggles sprung the need to waste away Garrett in the game’s opening frame, furthered the issue by only lasting three innings. Over these three frames, the former Milwaukee Brewer allowed three runs (one earned), while walking two, and giving up a solo home run. The 72 pitches he threw led to manager Carlos Mendoza having to yank him prior the game’s fifth inning, leaving the Mets’ manger now needing to navigate four more frames, without one of their key relievers.

Unfortunately, despite New York taking the lead in the fifth inning, the bullpen would falter in the seventh, as Milwaukee struck for four runs. With one of New York’s key high-leverage, late-inning relievers being used to supplemental the struggling Montas in the game’s first inning, manager Carlos Mendoza was forced to use right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek in the seventh instead.

Stanek, who entered the game with a 4.95 ERA and had allowed six runs over his last three appearances, was once again comprised, and was credited with a blown save after Milwaukee retook the lead and punctuated the inning with a two-run home run off Ryan Helsley. Helsley was forced to come in early and replace the struggling Stanek.

In summary, not only did the Mets have to burn one of their key relievers as an opener due to Frankie Montas’ struggles, but Montas continued his struggles leading to the Mets having to rely on their overworked bullpen for a majority of the game. In a spot where the already used Reed Garrett would have been key, the Brewers jumped on one of the Mets’ weakest relievers, culminating in New York losing their sixth-straight game.

President of baseball operations, David Stearns, who has done a terrific job overall since taking the reigns, has his work cut out for him. There isn’t any type of compelling argument that can be made for Montas, who signed a two-year, $34 million deal in the offseason, to be relied upon to given the Mets both length or solid play based off his 6.38 ERA through eight appearances. Will the Mets finally make the call for one of their young, top prospect arms in Brandon Sproat or Nolan McLean? One thing is for sure, the season hangs in the balance and Frankie Montas, who has been an extreme disappointment since the signing in the offseason, cannot be relied upon any further.

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