Oakland Athletics right-hander Frankie Montas exited Sunday’s road game against the Seattle Mariners after one inning due to inflammation and tightness in the back of his pitching shoulder.
Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said after the contest that Montas’ velocity was down. Kotsay said Montas “didn’t feel like he could get fully extended.”
The Athletics examined Montas in Seattle during the contest and will have him undergo further testing Monday after the team is back in Oakland.
“In that situation, we’re gonna err on the side of caution,” Kotsay said of pulling Montas. “… If he can’t get extended and he doesn’t have his velocity, there’s no reason to leave him in a game.”
Montas (3-9) has a poor record, but he is the Athletics’ top hurler and is expected to be highly sought by teams leading into the trading deadline. He has a 3.26 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 96 2/3 innings over 17 starts this season.
Montas, 29, placed sixth in American League Cy Young Award voting last season when he went 13-9 with a 3.37 ERA in 32 starts. He struck out a career-high 207. The victories were also a career best.
Oakland lost 2-1 on Sunday. Montas was tagged with the loss as he allowed a leadoff homer in the first to Seattle rookie Julio Rodriguez.
–Field Level Media