Monty’s task set for home opener

TORONTO — Jordan Montgomery called himself “lucky” to start Monday’s home opener in The Bronx.

But with temperatures in the 30s and snow in the forecast for the game at Yankee Stadium, Montgomery might not end up feeling so fortunate.

Montgomery said he’d be comfortable pitching in chilly weather thanks to his experience at Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and he’s even dealt with worse conditions than the ones anticipated for Monday.

“I’ve thrown in hail before,” Montgomery said before the Yankees’ 7-4 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Sunday, their second consecutive defeat. “I think I’d rather have snow.”

The game was in high school in South Carolina, and Montgomery got through that one OK.

“It was weird,” Montgomery said of the weather that day. “It was freezing. I think I did all right. I had about everything I could on my hand so I could feel the ball.”

The 25-year-old lefty is coming off a solid spring, with a 3.43 ERA in six games and enters the regular season feeling better about his situation than he did a year ago, when he made his MLB debut April 12 against Tampa Bay and gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings at the Stadium.

The biggest difference is the feel Montgomery has for his changeup.

“I got a lot of swing and misses with it,” Montgomery said. “I was seeing guys in between speeds [on swings]. They’re gonna have to guess right. Having that pitch back, being able to feel it and expand it and throw it for a strike is important. I want to keep that feeling.”

Now, he’ll be entrusted not just to take the ball for the cold opener at the Stadium, but Montgomery also will be asked to help prevent a third straight loss.