Mets starting pitcher Frankie Montas struggled for the second straight outing on Sunday, allowing seven runs over four-plus innings to the San Francisco Giants in what became a 12-4 loss.
The veteran right-hander gave up four runs in the third inning, three coming on a HR from Rafael Devers, and then let up another three runs in the fourth inning. Carlos Mendoza kept Montas in to pitch the fifth, but he walked the leadoff man and that would end his day. Montas has now allowed 12 runs over his last two starts (8.1 IP combined) and his spot in the rotation moving forward is a bit up in the air.
"I mean we just got done with the game here. He's got to be better and he knows that," Mendoza told reporters when asked if Montas' role is up for discussion.
The manager's response doesn't indicate a change is coming immediately, but it's possible the Mets could mix up the rotation if Montas' poor performance continues.
Montas threw 92 pitches over the four-plus innings Sunday, as he was already at 60 pitches through the third inning. He only walked two Giants, but continued to leave balls over the plate and struggled to get anything by them. His ERA is now up to 6.68 on the season and he's allowed four earned runs or more in four of his seven starts.
"He just couldn't get swing-and-misses," Mendoza said. "Pitch selection, location. I mean that pitch to Devers was right down the middle… When you do that to good hitters, they're going to make you pay… Overall, just not getting swing-and-misses, location, and he got hit."
Mendoza added: "Comes down to execution, pitch selection, using his pitches effectively. Whether it's the cutter up and in vs. lefties, the slider, the sinker against righties. The sequencing is got to be better. He's got to be able to execute and he's not doing that right now."
Montas acknowledged it was "a tough day" for him on the mound, but showed confidence in his ability and desire to turn it around.
"Just keep on working to be honest with you," Montas said. "Season's not over. There's a lot of room to improve, definitely working to get better. Something that I was going to say is, they're going to have to kill me out there. I'm a kid trying, I'm a kid trying to make pitches. Just try to keep making people out."
Mendoza went on to say the Mets will "continue to help him with his pitching ability and being able to get through a lineup a few times." Although, it's not clear how much longer the leash will be for Montas, especially after the team opted to improve the bullpen at the trade deadline instead of acquiring a new starting pitcher. If they do decide to move on from Montas, New York could call up top prospects Brandon Sproat or Nolan McLean to take his spot, as both have been having strong seasons in Triple-A.
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