Mets’ Rotation Could Get Lift With Return of Key Pitcher

The New York Mets’ rotation is about to get reinforcements.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday there’s a “good chance” that right-hander Frankie Montas returns during the team’s upcoming homestand against the Atlanta Braves. According to the Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets are tentatively planning his first start to be on Tuesday.

Montas, 32, who signed a two-year, $34 million deal this offseason, has yet to pitch for New York after sustaining a high-grade lat strain during spring training.

Montas resumed throwing in April and struggled mightily throughout his minor-league rehab assignment, posting a 12.05 ERA in six appearances.

Montas joins a rotation that has been compromised due to recent injuries to Kodai Senga and Tylor Megill.

Mets Pitching Hit Hard by Injuries

New York is trending in the wrong direction. Its pitching staff, which still leads the majors with a 3.05 ERA, has allowed 41 runs during its current six-game losing streak.

After getting swept three games by Atlanta, the Mets (45-30) are now back to tied atop the National League East with the Phillies. They were slated to open a three-game series in Philadelphia on Friday, with Blade Tidwell making a spot start opposite Zack Wheeler.

Senga landed on the injured list on June 13 with a hamstring strain. Subsequent tests revealed a Grade 1 strain, the least severe classification. Still, Senga, who is 7-3 with a 1.47 ERA, is expected to be out until July at the earliest.

Megill’s absence could be longer. On Tuesday, he joined Senga on the IL with a right elbow strain. Megill, who is 5-5 with a 3.89 ERA, was expected to be shut down for seven to 10 days and then be reevaluated after tests on his pitching elbow revealed inflammation but no structural damage.

New York’s current rotation consists of Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Griffin Canning, and Paul Blackburn.

Frankie Montas Could Address Mets Need

In his most recent start, Wednesday with Triple-A Syracuse, Montas allowed five runs on seven hits over five innings. That brought more concerns about his readiness and ability to help the suddenly reeling Mets. But with his rehab clock running out and a need for healthy arms in the rotation, the club doesn’t have much of a choice.

“I’m not going to lie, he got hit. He got hit around,” Mendoza said via MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. “But we’ve seen it before where guys in spring training struggle, and they get hit around, and once you put them in a big league game under the lights and you game plan and you make adjustments, they flip the switch.

“He’s had success before at this level. So hopefully that’s the case here.”

Montas was 7-11 with a 4.84 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 150.2 innings with the Reds and Brewers last season but peaked the Mets’ interest with how he performed in the second half and into the postseason with Milwaukee.

New York could also soon get back left-hander Sean Manaea (oblique strain), who allowed one run over 5.1 innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.

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