Montgomery's rough second inning—five runs—largely dictated the game's outcome and highlighted Rays bullpen volatility in a bullpen-game setup. His control collapse and the inning pattern underscored why fantasy managers should treat him as a high-variance streamer at best.

Montgomery entered with a 1-0 lead but allowed five runs in 0.2 innings, illustrating the volatility of a high-leverage bullpen role and the disconnect between his minor-league success and big-league results due to inherited runners and situational pressure.

Mason Montgomery has had a challenging rookie season with a 5.74 ERA, resulting in his demotion to Triple-A. The Rays believe he has potential but need a reset to improve his command for high-leverage situations. His struggles were accentuated by a walk rate of 13.2%, limiting his reliability. This move aims to rejuvenate his performance ahead of the playoffs.

Montgomery has transitioned from starter to bullpen, showcasing a mid-90s fastball and effective slider, which could lead to a significant breakout season.

Mason Montgomery pitched in relief for Cleveland, allowing two back-to-back doubles in the eighth inning that finally got the Guardians on the scoreboard. Despite his efforts, he was unable to prevent the Rays from maintaining their lead.