We are now certain that the Mets are running out of excuses. A team that opened the season with lofty expectations and a rotation built to intimidate now finds itself drifting in the shadow of the Phillies. A 5-5 stretch over their last 10 games hasn’t helped their cause in the NL East, leaving the Mets searching for answers as summer grinds on.

Well, at the heart of their struggles is a starting rotation that has gone from strength to weakness. For the unversed, since June 30, the Mets’ starters have combined for a 4.36 ERA. That’s among the worst in the National League. The most glaring example came in the third game against the Giants, a night that unraveled before the crowd’s eyes. So, what started as an opportunity to salvage a series turned into another implosion, with the rotation coughing up runs early and leaving the bullpen in rescue mode.

And manager Carlos Mendoza’s frustration is no longer subtle. In his postgame comments, his words carried the tone of a man who has seen enough of games slipping away from the very arms that were supposed to carry this team. Moreover, his remarks even hinted that the once-hyped $34 million ace may no longer be guaranteed a secure role if the freefall continues.

“I mean, we just got done with the game here,” Mendoza said. “He’s got to be better. He knows that. So, yeah. We just got done with the game.”

Well, before Sunday’s game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters he just wanted Frankie Montas to be sharp with all his pitches and give the team some length. Instead, things went south fast in a 12-4 loss to the Giants at Citi Field. San Francisco took the series, winning two out of three.

Montas actually started strong, retiring the first six batters he faced. But the third inning turned into a disaster when he gave up four runs, and it spiraled from there. Notably, over his last two starts, he’s been hit hard, giving up 12 runs in just 8 1/3 innings. And his ERA has ballooned from 4.62 to 6.68! We still remember when Montas’ return was highly anticipated, and how there was a belief that his return would bolster the Mets’ starting rotation.

So, what does the future hold?

Mendoza wouldn’t say for sure if Frankie Montas’ spot in the rotation is in jeopardy, but he didn’t exactly shut the door on the idea either. And if the team decides to make a change, Paul Blackburn or top prospects Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat could be in the mix. But nothing is set in stone yet, while it’s clear things aren’t looking great for Montas. Or for a Mets rotation that’s still trying to find its footing.

The Mets’ problems go beyond Montas

Just as Mendoza commented about how Montas knows what to do better, the latter acknowledged, saying, “Tough day for me. So, I made some good pitches, but just went to the hall that has a really good hit. And I know I missed a couple spots, Devers, you know, and he’s a great hitter and put a good swing on it.“

So yes, the man himself knows what went wrong for them, and he will work on it. But will it solve the starting rotation struggle for the Mets? No!

Well, the Mets are hoping things start to turn around now that Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga aren’t on strict pitch or innings limits anymore. But Senga didn’t exactly deliver on Saturday. In the second game against the Giants, he lasted just four innings and gave up four runs. However, the Mets still pulled off the win thanks to shutdown work from relievers Reed Garrett, Gregory Soto, Tyler Rogers, and Brooks Raley, plus some late offense.

Still, that kind of bullpen-heavy approach isn’t sustainable. The Mets need their starters to start carrying more of the load.

And then the poor offense against left-handers is still prominent!

For the unversed, last year, the Mets crushed left-handed pitching, finishing with the fifth-best OPS in the majors. And they kept that rolling through the first month of this season, ranking third. But since May, the bats have gone quiet against lefties. Heading into Sunday’s game, they’d posted just a .622 OPS against southpaws over the past three months. That’s fifth-worst in the league, and the struggles have carried into August.

Hence, Montas’ improvement is the need of the hour, but more than that, it’s important for Mendoza to focus on the larger concerns.