Montas entered Thursday with a 3-2 record and a 6.38 ERA over eight appearances, including seven starts. His lone relief appearance came last Saturday in Milwaukee when the Mets used an opener in front of Montas, who then surrendered three runs (one earned) in three innings.

After surviving his first outing as a long reliever, Frankie Montas would like to think he’s got the hang of his new role.

So on Tuesday, when manager Carlos Mendoza announced Montas was moving to the bullpen, it was far from a surprise (though objectively disappointing, considering the righthander signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the Mets in the offseason).