The Mets were counting on a spark. With the season slipping into frustration and their depth tested by an ever-growing list of injuries, the management looked toward one long-awaited debut as a powerful turning point. The vision was simple: inject some energy, restore some balance, and finally provide a struggling pitching staff the boost the team so badly needed.

However, the timing did not ease the tension—it only raised eyebrows. Just hours before the star’s highly anticipated return, the Mets made it official. “We have made the following roster moves,” they posted, confirming Frankie Montas’ activation from the injured list. To make space, Jesse Winker was transferred to the 60-day IL. This move is identified as procedural; however, it is still frustrating for fans. While some took it as a positive step, some could not ignore Montas’ ugly rehab stat line, and the mood quickly transformed from cautious hope to full-blown issues.

That is where the concern really begins to snowball. After signing a two-year, $34 million deal last winter, Montas had not thrown a single pitch in a Mets uniform before Tuesday. The star’s six rehab starts yielded a 0-3 record and a jarring 12.05 ERA—data that have fans questioning not just his readiness, but also the management’s judgment. Add to that the fact he is coming off a late injury and has not been a steady helper since 2022 and it is no wonder one fan bluntly tweeted, “It’ll get worse”.

Still, the team was not just making a move—the Mets were plugging a leak. With the bullpen overworked and the rotation stretched thin, the star’s return was less related to timing and more related to survival. Jesse Winker’s injury update, while procedural, only highlighted the larger issue: this team’s depth has been pushed to the brink and now, with a shaky Montas re-entering the fire, the team is asking for trust at a time when patience is running out.

However, while the management tried to project confidence, the fans were far less optimistic—providing a brutal reality check in the wake of Montas’ debut.

Fans lose patience as Mets spiral deepens after risky rotation call

The betting markets were not shy about predicting trouble. As humidity crept into the Mets and the Braves loomed large, one MLB bettor flagged a harsh reality: Montas had surrendered 13 earned runs in just 6.2 innings across his last two rehab starts. The wager? The star to allow over 2.5 earned runs. As grim as that looks, the real twist came with the fan’s warning—“Bad news against the Braves.” Turns out, most of the Mets’ Twitter agreed.

From the beginning, the optics were rough. Another fan nailed the mood with a reaction that quickly went viral: “Frankie Montas had like a 15 ERA in AAA and we’re deadass abt to throw him against the BRAVES, a night after throwing Paul Blackburn.” No sugarcoating—Montas’ minor league issues had fans dumbfounded and pursuingPaul Blackburn, who had just been tagged with three runs in 4.2 innings—containing a homer from Acuña—only made the optics worse. Cooperatively, it looked like a masterclass in how not to handle a rotation crisis.

The larger frustration runs deeper. Another fan captured the spiral perfectly: “Have lost 9 of 10. The team seems in freefall… we start Blackburn and Montas.” This is not just a one-off panic—it is months of buildup exploding. The team, which had just dropped six of seven to their bitter NL East opponents, looks stuck in reverse at a time when urgency is sky-high. Add the Braves and Phillies to the calendar and things feel combustible.

The weather also got looped into the cynicism. In the middle of a New York heat wave, one fan provided a scorcher of a tweet: “If your day is going bad because of this insane heat, don’t worry, it’ll get worse! We get to watch Frankie Montas pitch later!” The sarcasm was unmistakable—and for some, oddly comforting. It was not just related to Montas anymore. It was the vibe, the despair and the sheer disbelief that this was the approach.

Finally, as if the pitching was not enough, fans turned their focus toward Jesse Winker’s status. When the team moved the star to the 60-day IL, one tweet cut right to the chase: “Winker ain’t playing for the rest of the year huh.” While technically a procedural approach, the update did little to inspire hope. Winker’s bat is now multiple weeks away—just another star missing in a Mets puzzle, which looks to be coming undone at the seams.

The frustration is not just related to one pitcher and one night—it is a reflection of the fans who watched their team unravel in real time. If the team thinks of transforming this narrative, it will take more than transactions. It will take results.

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