The Oakland A’s rotation was the team’s top strength this season, the best groups of starters they’ve had in years. Now one of them has a new place in the franchise record books to show for it.
On Friday against the Houston Astros, Frankie Montas earned his 200th strikeout of the summer. That makes him the fifth Oakland pitcher ever to reach that mark in a season.
- 301: Vida Blue, in 1972
- 205: Dave Stewart, in 1987
- 205: Todd Stottlemyre, in 1995
- 205: Barry Zito, in 2001
- 200 (so far): Frankie Montas, in 2021
With one more start to go this week, he still has the chance to pass the three-way tie above him and move up into second place behind Blue.