Montas will return to Athletics’ rotation this weekend: report

Montas, the A's biggest trade chip, missed his last start with shoulder tightness.

Oakland Athletics ace Frankie Montas (shoulder inflammation) is reportedly returning to the rotation to face the Houston Astros this weekend in a pivotal start.

Pivotal? For an A’s team that entered Wednesday’s series finale in Texas 28.5 games back in the American League West, Montas’ outings leading up to the August 2 trade deadline could be some of the most important days of the remaining schedule.

The Athletic first reported Montas will pitch either Saturday or Sunday against the Houston Astros at MinuteMaid Park.

With Oakland in last place and in the beginning stages of a massive rebuild, the A’s are expected to trade their top players in exchange for prospects in a continued sell-off that began when the team traded Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Sean Manaea and Chris Bassitt prior to Opening Day.

Montas, who is under club control through the end of next season, is viewed around the league as one of the top starters expected to be available at the trade deadline. The right-hander is making $5.025 million this season and could slot in at or near the top of an acquiring team’s playoff rotation.

Montas missed his scheduled start last weekend at the Coliseum, but avoided a trip to the 15-day injured list. After playing catch on Monday in Arlington, Montas is apparently healthy enough to face a first-place Astros team this weekend and could make as many as four more starts before the deadline.

If Montas remains healthy and regains the velocity he failed to bring to the first inning of his July 3 start against the Mariners, the 29-year-old could command an exciting haul of prospects in a potential trade with a contending club.

In 17 starts this season, Montas owns a 3.26 ERA and has struck out 100 batters in 96 ⅔ innings. His high-90s fastball and devastating splitter have long been his most effective offerings, but the veteran also mixes in a splitter, slider and cutter to keep batters off balance.

Montas joins a small group of elite starters including Cincinnati Reds right-hander Luis Castillo who could be traded this summer as an expanded playoff field has potentially limited the number of clubs eager to trade proven major league talent.

Montas’ return to the rotation also fills a hole created when the A’s optioned rookie right-hander Adrián Martinez to Triple-A on Monday.