Frankie Montas’ split-finger fastball isn’t a new trick, but he still prefers to delay the reveal. Two starts into this season, the A’s right-hander said he can improve how he’s deploying the pitch that was such a key for him last year.
“I feel like I’ve been using it too early,” Montas, who will start Monday’s series finale in Seattle, said on a video call Sunday. “I’ll get better at that.”
Montas’ addition of the splitter helped him crack the A’s rotation last year and go 9-2 before being suspended for 80 games because he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. He induced misses on 41.5% of swings at the pitch as opponents batted .155 against it, according to Brooks Baseball.
Montas said he prefers to start mixing in the pitch in the third and fourth innings, around the second time through the order. He has thrown it 14 times in two starts this season, including 11 his first time through the lineup.
That’s likely tied to Montas having shorter outings so far — something he hopes to expand Monday. After throwing 81 pitches in four innings Opening Night against the Angels, Montas said he was encouraged going five innings on 77 pitches in his last start. Manager Bob Melvin said Montas’ slider and splitter appeared to improve in the middle innings of that game.
“I’ve always been that type of pitcher, I get better going farther in the game,” Montas said. “Hopefully next time, I’ll be able to go farther.”
Swing note: Khris Davis, who snapped an 0-for-16 start to the season with a sixth-inning single Saturday night, made a small adjustment to his hand positioning before the game, Melvin said. Melvin did not specify the change but said Sunday it was hitting coach Darren Bush’s idea.
“And KD, to his credit, has been very receptive,” Melvin said. “For a guy that’s established himself and had the type of career that he’s had, to be able to try something means he’s coachable and he’s looking to get better.”
Melvin said he thought Davis on Saturday had “much better swings and got the bat head out a little quicker.” Davis, who’d sat out the previous two games, was not in the lineup Sunday but had two at-bats in the A’s 3-2 win over the Mariners after entering as a pinch-hitter. He struck out twice and is 1-for-21 this season with 10 strikeouts.
Spark plug: Tony Kemp, who entered Sunday’s game hitless in his first seven at-bats with the A’s, reached base three times and keyed the critical rally in the fifth inning. Kemp, hitting ninth, drew a two-out walk against Seattle starter Kendall Graveman. Marcus Semien reached on an infield single and Ramón Laureano followed with a three-run homer off Anthony Misiewicz.
“Kemp had a good day,” Melvin said. “He works the count really well, kind of fits into what we want to do here. ... Looks good at second base, too.”
Kemp singled in the third inning for his first hit with Oakland. He was one of five left-handed hitters in the lineup Sunday against Graveman.
Matt Kawahara covers the A’s for The San Francisco Chronicle.
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