Mets Move Frankie Montas to Bullpen, Prospect Likely Called Up

The New York Mets just made a bold midseason move, hoping to slam the brakes on their recent nosedive in the standings. After more struggles from veteran starter Frankie Montas, the club bumped him to the bullpen and handed the ball to rookie flamethrower Nolan McLean for his major league debut.

The Mets are in a prolonged slump, and their starting rotation has crumbled after a hot start. This decision feels like both a gamble on youth and a pretty loud statement that the team’s desperate for a spark.

Frankie Montas’ Ongoing Struggles

When the Mets signed Frankie Montas to a two-year, $34 million deal last offseason, expectations soared. He was supposed to steady the rotation and bring some calm next to their established arms.

Injuries trashed those plans right away. Montas missed the first three months of the season with a right lat strain, and when he finally returned, he just couldn’t find his groove.

From Injury to Ineffectiveness

He’s made only eight appearances and posted a rough 6.38 ERA. In his latest outing, he recorded just nine outs, part of the Mets’ sixth straight loss—a stretch that’s really highlighted both his struggles and the team’s bigger issues.

The Rise of Nolan McLean

Now, Nolan McLean steps in. He’s a 2023 third-round draft pick and was once a two-way player, but he’s recently gone all-in on pitching.

His quick progress has been one of the few actual bright spots in what’s honestly been a pretty disappointing season for New York.

Dominant in Triple-A

Pitching for Triple-A Syracuse, McLean’s shown scouts a sharp 2.78 ERA and has kept opposing hitters below a .200 average. His electric stuff and calm presence on the mound earned him the call-up over fellow prospect Brandon Sproat.

Sproat did improve a lot over his last seven starts, but scheduling quirks and his earlier inconsistency pushed McLean ahead.

A Rotation in Freefall

For much of the first half, the Mets’ rotation was their backbone. As recently as mid-June, they led the majors in ERA.

Over the past two months, though, that dominance just vanished. Now they rank 25th in ERA over that stretch, and starters almost never pitch past the sixth inning anymore.

Peterson the Lone Workhorse

David Peterson is the only Mets starter to reach the seventh inning in the last two months. The rotation’s lack of length has piled pressure on the bullpen, leaving almost no room for mistakes and adding to the team’s slide.

Searching for a Spark

The Mets have dropped seven straight and lost 31 of their last 49. The pressure on the manager and front office is mounting fast.

McLean’s debut isn’t just a rotation shuffle—it’s almost a plea for momentum, maybe even a little hope, like those midseason call-ups that sometimes jolt a team back to life.

High Hopes for the Rookie

New York hopes McLean can follow the path of those impact rookies who show up in the dog days of summer and make something happen right away. It’s probably unfair to expect too much immediately, but his Triple-A numbers suggest he might actually give the rotation some quality innings and the shot in the arm the Mets badly need.

What’s at Stake Moving Forward

This move could send shockwaves through the rest of the season. If McLean comes out firing, the Mets might finally steady their pitching staff.

Maybe, just maybe, they could claw their way back into the playoff hunt. But if he falters, the team’s thin roster will get exposed all over again.

That would crank up the pressure on the front office to scramble for solutions before the trade deadline. Nobody wants that kind of chaos, right?

• Frankie Montas heads to the bullpen after a rough 6.38 ERA.
• Nolan McLean gets the call after torching Triple-A with a 2.78 ERA.
• The Mets’ rotation has crashed from best in MLB to 25th in just two months.
• New York’s stuck in a seven-game losing streak, dropping 31 of its last 49 games.

Sometimes, one debut can flip a whole season. The Mets are rolling the dice on Nolan McLean to spark something—anything—for a fan base desperate for a reason to believe.

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Here is the source article for this story: Mets move Frankie Montas to the bullpen, likely to call up prospect for Saturday start