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Frankie Montas can help keep the A’s playoff hopes alive

By Matthew Cataruzolo

Aug 28, 2021; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Frankie Montas (47) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2021; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Frankie Montas (47) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Oakland A’s ended the New York Yankees 13 game winning streak last night in a 3-2 victory. Behind a strong pitching performance from starter Frankie Montas, the A’s are looking to scratch and claw their way back into the second American League wild card spot.

Montas has been a consistent part of the A’s rotation all season. Prior to last night, in 25 starts his record was 9-9 with a 3.84 ERA. Montas’ arsenal worked incredibly well and effectively shut down what has been the hottest offense in baseball for the past month.

Frankie Montas dominated when Oakland A’s needed

Utilizing his devastating split-fastball among other pitches, Montas rounded out a seven inning shutout of the Yankees to record his tenth win of the season and reduce his season ERA to a 3.66.

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Montas has bounced back tremendously from just three bad starts, where he allowed 21 earned runs in 12.1 innings pitched. In the other 23 starts, in 137.2 innings pitched, he has posted a 2.62 ERA.

Frankie Montas now has the second lowest ERA among American League pitchers in the second half of the season with a 2.27 ERA, just behind Blue Jays starter Robbie Ray with a 1.92.

Performances like these from Montas are going to need to keep coming in order for Oakland to secure a playoff spot, as the A’s are in the midst of a 3-7 slide in their last ten games.

The importance being placed on the rest of the rotation is crucial, especially in the wake of Chris Bassitt‘s absence due to an injury sustained on August 17th that effectively shut him down for the remainder of the 2021 season.

Next. An ode to the Coliseum. dark

The A’s look to split their four game homestand with the Yankees tonight. All things considered, heading into this series that was the best case scenario for two teams that have been the polar opposites of one another in the month of August.