The New York Mets have reached a pivotal moment with Frankie Montas, removing the veteran right-hander from the starting rotation.

Montas has endured a rocky campaign, posting a 6.38 ERA across 36.2 innings, far from the dependable presence New York envisioned.

After missing most of the season with a lat strain suffered in February, he returned without the sharpness that once defined him.

Given the Mets’ precarious place in the playoff race, patience for prolonged slumps has worn thin, even for high-profile acquisitions.

Montas, who signed a two-year, $34 million deal in the offseason, was expected to anchor the rotation alongside Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea.

However, injuries can rewrite even the best-laid plans, and his early setback left him scrambling to regain rhythm in limited o

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