CLEVELAND -- Jordan Montgomery showed up at Progressive Field on Sunday morning to get his running in, awaiting word on where his next outing would take place. That answer came following the Yankees' 8-1 victory over the Indians, when the rookie left-hander was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Yanks manager Joe Girardi had said that the team would go from six starters to five after Monday's scheduled off-day, aiming to keep their rotation on track after the non-wavier Trade Deadline additions of Sonny Gray and Jaime Garcia. The odd man out was Montgomery, who was 7-6 with a 4.05 ERA in 21 starts.
Despite retiring the final nine hitters he faced, Montgomery was removed from Saturday's 2-1 victory over the Indians after just five innings and 65 pitches.
Girardi said that Montgomery was "brilliant," but he opted to turn the game over to the bullpen because he had relievers Player Page for David Robertson, Dellin Betances and Albertin Chapman rested. Montgomery allowed a run on three hits, walking none and striking out seven.
The Yankees have not said if there is an innings limit on Montgomery, who has worked 115 2/3 big league innings this season, permitting 108 hits while walking 35 and striking out 111.
That follows a campaign in which Montgomery worked 139 1/3 Minor League innings, plus 12 2/3 more in the postseason as his Triple-A team secured an International League championship.
Following his start on Saturday, Montgomery was asked what it has been like to watch the Yankees trade for starting pitching.
"It's awesome," Montgomery said. "They got two great arms. They're really going to help us down the stretch. We got better."