A’s starter Frankie Montas, who appeared headed to his first All-Star Game after enjoying a breakout season, was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball on Friday after testing positive for a banned substance.
Montas has been the A’s best starting pitcher, going 9-2 with a 2.70 ERA to go along with 97 strikeouts in 90 innings for Oakland. Now, the A’s postseason chances have taken a big hit as the right-hander won’t be eligible to return until the final week of the season.
“The A’s were disappointed upon learning of this suspension,” the A’s said in a statement released Friday afternoon.