What's Happening?
Mason Montgomery, a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, is set to start Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves as an opener, according to Jason Mackey of MLB.com. This marks the fourth time this season that Montgomery has been used in this role. In
his previous three appearances as an opener, Montgomery has successfully pitched a scoreless inning each time. The strategy of using an opener involves a pitcher starting the game but only pitching for a short duration, typically one or two innings, before being replaced by another pitcher. This approach is often used to manage matchups and conserve the bullpen. While Montgomery has been effective in this role, it limits his ability to earn traditional pitching statistics such as wins, holds, or saves, which are often valued in fantasy baseball leagues.
Why It's Important?
The decision to use Mason Montgomery as an opener has implications for both the Pittsburgh Pirates and fantasy baseball players. For the Pirates, employing Montgomery in this role allows them to strategically manage their pitching staff and potentially gain an advantage in matchups against the Braves. However, for fantasy baseball managers, Montgomery's role as an opener means he is unlikely to accumulate significant fantasy points through wins or saves, which could affect his value in fantasy leagues. This highlights the growing trend in Major League Baseball of using openers, which can complicate traditional fantasy baseball strategies that rely on starting pitchers accumulating wins and other statistics.
What's Next?
As the season progresses, the Pirates may continue to use Montgomery as an opener, especially if he remains effective in this role. This could lead to further strategic adjustments by the team in managing their pitching staff. Fantasy baseball managers will need to monitor Montgomery's usage closely and adjust their rosters accordingly, potentially seeking other pitchers who can provide more traditional fantasy value. Additionally, the use of openers may prompt discussions among fantasy league commissioners about how to account for this strategy in scoring systems.
