Athletics right-hander Frankie Montas will return from suspension during the club’s series against the Angels, which begins Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Montas will be eligible to pitch Wednesday, but it’s not yet clear whether the 26-year-old will start or relieve during his late-season comeback.
With a 2.70 ERA/2.90 FIP and 9.7 K/9 against 2.1 BB/9 in 90 innings, Montas has unquestionably been the A’s most effective starter this year. However, a shocking 80-game performance-enhancing drug ban on June 21 cut off his breakout campaign and will stop him from participating in the playoffs. The A’s aren’t locks to reach the postseason, but at 92-61 and two games up on the AL’s No. 1 wild-card spot, they look to be on their way. Whether from their rotation or their bullpen, Montas could further bolster the A’s chances of a second straight playoff trip over the last week of the season.
Thanks in part to Montas’ absence, this is the second consecutive season the A’s rotation’s trying to battle through adversity and reach the top of the mountain in baseball. Multiple injuries have also added to the difficulty for Oakland, but its starting staff has found some late-season stability. Trade deadline pickups Homer Bailey and Tanner Roark have provided solid results since coming over in July; Sean Manaea has been nearly unhittable since he made a long-awaited return from injury Sept. 1; and Mike Fiers and Brett Anderson have defied unspectacular peripherals en route to ERAs in the low-4.00s this year.
WS in the horizon…
He can’t play on the payoffs
A’s win the series regardless
LMAO!
Isn’t that the same guy that played Malcolm in the Middle?
Yea he’s a pitcher now, throws heat
Dang! He went from world famous actor to MLB pitcher? That’s some serious accomplishments. I heard that when he was 15 he already had the largest car collection of Porsche’s of anyone in world history that was too young to legally drive. This MLB thing is even more icing on the cake. I would love to see what Frankie’s car collection looks like now.
Dude, not the same person. Muniz buddy, Muniz. Google is your friend.
It’s a very cool story that he went from actor to mlb pitcher. I don’t know why this isn’t promoted more. I would think he could gets lots of Wheatley’s and Brylcream commercials and such since he acted professionally for like 20 or 30 years already. A great story. It inspired my friends sister inlaw’s third cousin once removed to try acting and then Olympic curling. So far it’s working, but her team, Ivory Coast didn’t qualify for the curling World Cup yet which is in Antarctica this year.
Is the WC game considered the playoffs? Technically you have to win it to get into the playoffs, but it’s also not regular season. Curious as to the roster rules for that,
It is a postseason game
Right, and play-in game is not considered playoffs.
Yes it is. it’s the playoffs
What’s with the “A’s rotation…trying to…reach the top of the mountain in baseball”?
Do any other rotations even have climbing gear?
The A’s are a fun team to watch.. I like watching cartoons also!! Sorry guys.. but Billy Beane is gonna be a bridesmaid again. And the A’s will be watching the World Series
“They aren’t locks”.. yet they keep on winning and winning. sad that mlbtr are on the same sad, lame narrative as the mainstream sports press. If any team in the AL looks more locked in – would love to know who.
You’re overthinking it. it’s not a knock on them. locked in is when you’ve clinched. Yankees and Astros are locks. the others aren’t yet
Best record in baseball last 3 months, they shoild petition for astros to move back to nl central or even al central lol. Selig putting two texas teams in al west never made sense. Did rockies, padres or even dbacks not want to switch leagurs at the time? At least theyd be closer location wise to other al west teams