Rafael Montero is out of the Mets’ starting rotation

Following a blowout loss to the Nationals on Monday night, Mets manager Terry Collins indicated that 25-year-old right-handed pitcher Rafael Montero will not start again when his turn comes up in the team’s rotation. Montero gave up six runs and issued four walks in just one-and-two-thirds innings on Monday night, and through 13.1 major league innings this year, he has an 8.10 ERA and 7.64 FIP.

The Mets’ rotation has been beleaguered by injuries, with four-fifths of the projected second-half rotation currently injured. Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler are out for the rest of the year, but Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz are increasing their workloads as they attempt to return. deGrom is dealing with inflammation in his right elbow, while Matz has missed time with an impingement in his left shoulder.

Despite struggling in his last three starts before the Mets sat him down, deGrom has a 3.04 ERA and 3.32 FIP in 24 starts this season. He had been significantly better than that before those three starts. Matz had a 3.40 ERA and 3.38 FIP in 22 starts. A healthy version of either of those two pitchers would be a massive improvement upon what Montero has given the Mets, but it’s conceivable that there might be a gap between the next time that turn comes up in the rotation and when at least one of the two pitchers is ready to return. The Mets will announce who’s starting in that spot soon.