Anthony Dicomo of MLB.com confirms that Jason Vargas will make his first start of the season on Saturday against the San Diego Padres.
He will rejoin the team today in St. Louis and the team will have to make a corresponding move once they activate him from the 10-day DL.
Original Post- April 24, 8:00 a.m.
New York Mets left-hander Jason Vargas made a rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday, allowing three runs on three hits over four innings. He threw 66 pitches, 42 of which were strikes.
Vargas, 35, was injured during spring training when he was struck on his non-throwing hand with a comebacker which subsequently broke his hamate bone.
He had pitched in simulated games in recent weeks, but this was his first live game action since his injury.
“I felt good,” Vargas said after his rehab start. “I went out there and accomplished what I came here to do and definitely didn’t want to give up three runs, but that’s how it goes sometimes.”
New York inked Vargas to a two-year, $16 million deal this winter to round out their rotation.
The southpaw went 18-11 with a 4.16 ERA, 4.67 FIP and 1.330 WHIP over 179.2 innings in 2017 with the Kansas City Royals. He dazzled in the first half, but struggled quite a bit after the All-Star break.
Vargas is slated to start on Saturday for New York in San Diego versus the Padres.
