Oakland A’s call up Frankie Montas

The Oakland A’s called up pitcher Frankie Montas on Tuesday, the team announced. That brings the expanded September roster up to 37 players, out of a possible 40.

We last saw Montas at the end of August, making a start against the Mariners. He got blown up in the 1st inning of that game but held on to eat six innings, taking the loss but at least saving the bullpen along the way as a silver lining. Overall he’s made 11 starts for Oakland this season, and he’s been quality half the time with only a couple true disaster outings.

Montas, 2018: 3.96 ERA, 63⅔ ip, 43 Ks, 21 BB, 5 HR, 73 hits, 3.91 FIP

His numbers aren’t dominant but they’re adequate, especially considering he entered the year looking more like a long-term project than an MLB-ready starter. By any measure this has been a successful year and a big step forward for the 25-year-old, who had battled injuries and struggled with command prior to this summer.

As for when he’ll pitch, that could depend on the weather. It’s currently raining “hard” in Baltimore as the A’s gear up for a three-game series against the Orioles, reports Susan Slusser of the S.F. Chronicle around 11 a.m. PT. Slusser mentions that Montas could be part of a bullpenning effort, like we’ve seen with Daniel Mengden and Chris Bassitt in recent days, but the exact game in which it happens with Montas can’t be known until there’s a better idea of when the teams will actually play.

Here’s the updated roster, with 37 players active, two on the DL, and one prospect who’s not yet ready for primetime. One more addition is still forthcoming, too, as Brett Anderson is expected to return from the DL this week.

10-day DL: LHP Brett Anderson (forearm), LHP Sean Manaea (shoulder)

60-day DL: RHP Paul Blackburn (elbow), RHP Jharel Cotton (TJS), RHP Daniel Gossett (TJS), RHP Kendall Graveman (TJS), RHP Andrew Triggs (triceps/nerve), OF Jake Smolinski (blood clot)