Mets’ Frankie Montas to miss significant chunk of season with lat strain

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Oft-injured righthander Frankie Montas is injured again, and it will cost him a significant swath of the 2025 schedule.

Montas suffered a high-grade strain of his right lat, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza revealed Monday, sidelining the offseason addition indefinitely and creating another opening in the rotation.

Mendoza said Montas will be shut down from throwing for six to eight weeks, then will need a full spring training-style upgrade. Altogether, Montas is in line to miss at least the first quarter of the season and likely longer.

“We know in order for us to get through 162-plus [games], we’re going to need eight to 10 [starting pitchers],” Mendoza said. “Here we are. It’s nothing new for us. Guys will step up, guys will get opportunities. But we feel good. We feel good with the options that we have.”

Montas flew to New York City to receive a platelet-rich plasma injection, according to Mendoza. That is a common treatment for soft-tissue injuries, particularly severe ones.

Without Montas, the trio of Griffin Canning, Paul Blackburn and Tylor Megill are competing for two starting spots instead of one. Blackburn is a tad behind the rest of the starters because of offseason back surgery, but Mendoza reiterated Monday that the Mets expect him to be ready for Opening Day.

The Mets still intend to use a six-man rotation, Mendoza said. Without Montas, four spots are locked up: Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes and David Peterson.

Montas, who turns 32 next month, signed a two-year, $34 million contract in December. He had a 4.84 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with the Reds and Brewers last season. Across about a decade in the majors, he has missed time with rib, oblique, forearm and shoulder issues. The last of those cost him nearly the entire 2023 season with the Yankees.