Oakland Athletics starter Frankie Montas had a no-hit bid on Thursday against the Seattle Mariners.
He couldn’t complete the feat, but was incredibly impressive anyway: he departed after eight shutout innings, two hits, and two walks, with eight strikeouts.
Sadly for him, the A’s bullpen crumbled and he didn’t have a shot at the victory: Seattle won 2-1.
However, yesterday’s game was proof of how dominant he can be.
Not only does he throw hard (he can reach 99-100 mph), but he has the stamina and strength to maintain that velocity deep into his outings.
That’s actually what differentiates good pitchers from true workhorses: stamina and the ability to keep the quality of their stuff over the course of six, seven, or eight innings.
“MLB starting pitchers to throw 99 in the 8th inning this year: Sandy Alcántara, Hunter Greene, Frankie Montas. That’s it,” Codify Baseball tweeted.
MLB starting pitchers to throw 99 in the 8th inning this year:
Sandy Alcántara
Hunter Greene
Frankie MontasThat's it. https://t.co/vePaXKPpih
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) June 23, 2022
The A’s Best Trade Piece
Montas remains the A’s premier trade chip to negotiate either before the deadline or after the season.
He is under team control until after the 2023 season, so they have some time: a deal doesn’t have to come now.
But with many pitching-starved teams around the league, the A’s could maximize his value in the upcoming window.
He is currently sporting a strong 3.21 ERA with an equally good 3.15 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching).
Teams know he is a true ace: one that can keep the ball in the ground, throw a lot of innings, and pitch efficiently.
He won’t come cheap, but he would be a worthwhile investment for anyone who decides to bring him and add him to a contending rotation.
For now, the A’s are patiently waiting for the right offer.
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