Pirates' Mason Montgomery: Working as opener Sunday
Rotowire
Montgomery is starting Sunday's matchup versus Atlanta, likely as an opener ahead of Bubba Chandler, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
This will be the fourth time this season that Montgomery has been deployed as an opener. He's been effective in that role, tossing a scoreless inning in each of his first three starts. From a fantasy perspective, however, it means that Montgomery won't be eligible to notch a win, hold or save.
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Pirates' Mason Montgomery: Set to open Monday's contest
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Montgomery will operate as the Pirates' opening pitcher in Monday's series opener against the Cardinals, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Montgomery will serve as Pittsburgh's opener for the second time this season, having tossed a scoreless first inning in the team's 2-0 win over Washington on April 15. The southpaw has recorded seven straight scoreless appearances, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out 11 over 6.2 innings during that stretch. Wilber Dotel is expected to follow Montgomery on the mound, handling the bulk role against St. Louis on Monday.
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Pirates' Mason Montgomery: Missing bats, rounding into form
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Montgomery has earned one win and three holds while posting a 7.11 ERA, 2.05 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB over 6.1 innings in seven appearances for the Pirates this season.
The ratios look ugly, but Montgomery has been better lately, allowing just one run with an 8:1 K:BB over his last four appearances. Acquired from Tampa Bay in the Brandon Lowe trade, Montgomery brings the heat from the left side (98.5 mph average fastball) and his breaking pitches all have whiff rates of 42 percent or higher. With manager Don Kelly keeping roles fluid at the back end of the bullpen, the door is open for Montgomery to eventually pick up some saves for Pittsburgh.
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Pirates' Mason Montgomery: Lands with Pirates in trade
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The Pirates acquired Montgomery from the Rays on Friday in a three-team trade, Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report.
Montgomery logged a 5.67 ERA and walked 27 over 46 innings with the Rays in 2025, but he also struck out 63 batters and, at 98.7 mph, has one of the hardest average four-seamer velocities in the game. The lefty has past starting experience, but the Pirates are likely to keep Montgomery in the bullpen, and he could work his way into high-leverage appearances.
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Rays' Mason Montgomery: Optioned after poor relief outing
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The Rays optioned Montgomery to Triple-A Durham on Thursday.
Montgomery was dinged for five runs while recording just two outs in Wednesday's loss to the White Sox, and he finds himself back in the minors a day later. The Rays are adding a couple fresh relief arms after a bullpen game Wednesday.
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Rays' Mason Montgomery: Up with Rays
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The Rays recalled Montgomery from Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Montgomery returns to the 26-man roster for the first time since being sent down to Triple-A on July 7. The 25-year-old has a 5.74 ERA in 31.1 innings with Tampa Bay but posted a 1.80 ERA in five innings at Durham.
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Rays' Mason Montgomery: Sent down to minors
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The Rays optioned Montgomery to Triple-A Durham on Monday.
Montgomery allowed two runs while recording just one out in Sunday's win over the Twins and has posted a disappointing 5.74 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 41:19 K:BB over 31.1 innings this season. The hard-throwing lefty will look to improve his command and control at Durham.
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Rays' Mason Montgomery: Picks up first save
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Montgomery retired the only batter he faced to pick up the save in Tuesday's win over the Blue Jays.
Montgomery entered with two outs in the ninth to face Daulton Varsho and got him to fly out to end the game. Pete Fairbanks began the inning and gave up two runs, which allowed Montgomery to earn the first save of his career. The lefty has now turned in six consecutive scoreless outings and hasn't allowed a hit over that span.
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Rays' Mason Montgomery: Moved to bullpen at Triple-A
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Montgomery has struck out six batters while allowing four hits and no walks over four scoreless innings across four appearances for Triple-A Durham since moving back to the bullpen Aug. 8.
Montgomery opened the season in Durham's rotation, but after going 0-7 as a starter, he shifted to a relief role and has notched two saves so far this season. Overall, Montgomery has covered 82 innings this season, logging a 6.70 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 91:31 K:BB. In spite of his struggles as a starter, Montgomery still ranks among Durham's leaders in generating swings and misses (13.8 SwStr%).
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Rays' Mason Montgomery: Missing bats at Double-A
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Montgomery has a 3.99 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 66:19 K:BB in 47.1 innings over his last 10 starts for Double-A Montgomery.
The 23-year-old lefty has given up one home run in eight of those 10 starts and he has only gone five-plus innings in three of the 10, but Montgomery is excelling at striking batters out and limiting baserunners. He is not on the 40-man roster, so while he could climb to Triple-A this summer, a bump to the majors may have to wait until 2024.
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Rays' Mason Montgomery: Dominant in two Double-A starts
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Montgomery has a 1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10 strikeouts in six innings through two starts with Double-A Montgomery.
The 22-year-old lefty was excellent in 11 starts at Double-A last year, sporting a 2.48 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 53 strikeouts in 54.1 innings. Montgomery is one of the most underrated pitching prospects in the minors, as he has a dominant fastball that plays above its low-90s velocity -- like a left-handed Joe Ryan -- in addition to a plus changeup. He should get a bump to Triple-A Durham sometime this season and could spend most of 2024 in the majors.
