2019 MLB figures getting coal from Santa
Frankie Montas
How far might the Oakland A’s have gone in 2019 had Frankie Montas been available to pitch the entire season, plus the post-season?
We’ll never know because MLB suspended Montas for 80 games – plus the post-season, Montas was detected in June having tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
At the time of his suspension, Montas was 9-2 with a 2.70 ERA for an A’s team already without its ace, Sean Manaea. Montas tested positive for Ostarine, which is a banned substance.
Montas returned to make one start during the season’s final week. He delivered six strong innings Sept. 25 in a 3-2 Oakland victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
But due to the PED suspension, he was ineligible for the AL wild-card game, which the Athletics lost 5-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays in Oakland.
Manaea, who had returned from shoulder surgery in September, made the start but was cuffed around for four runs in just two innings. The Rays went on to lose a closely played division series to the eventual AL champion Houston Astros.
Montas figures to return to the A’s rotation in 2020, where he should play a big part in the team’s ongoing post-season hopes. He better; he owes A’s fans big-time.