Unfazed by the trade rumors surrounding him, Jason Vargas escaped multiple jams to help the Mets win their fourth consecutive game. With poor defense behind him, Vargas surrendered six hits and three runs in 5.2 innings.
He racked up five strikeouts and walked three in what might be his last game in a Mets’ uniform.
“… It’s never really been an issue for me in the middle of the year,” Vargas said about dealing with trade rumors. “So it’s not something I’m aware of, or really have to think about. …” (Anthony DiComo, MLB.com)
While the left-hander is rumored to be on the trading block, there hasn’t been any concrete reports that he will be dealt. Vargas has a $8 Million club option for next season.
In the first inning yesterday, Vargas faced Kevin Newman, who drew a walk to lead off the game. Vargas then got his next three batters out via the pop up, ground out, and line out.
Gifted with a six-run lead thanks to Michael Conforto’s homerun and Chris Archer’s nightmarish first inning, Vargas responded by recording three quick outs on two pop ups and a strikeout.
“I think it changes the way you attack the strike zone,” Vargas said to reporters about the Mets big first inning. “I think it’s definitely key to not get yourself in a position where you’re trying to always minimize damage you always want to try and make them beat you by putting the ball in play.”
To start the third inning, Vargas gave up a lead-off home run to Jacob Stallings which put the Pirates on the board with their first hit of the day. Their second hit came a walk and an out later off the bat of Starling Marte for his 999th hit of his career. The Pirates were unable to produce a hit with two outs and two men on base and the score remained 6-1.
The fourth inning was troublesome for the veteran left-hander giving up a two singles to Adam Frazier and Jacob Stallings. The hit by Stallings scored Frazier after a throwing error by Michael Conforto that sailed past Todd Frazier at third base and towards the Pirates dugout. Vargas didn’t back-up the play.
“I was being lackadaisical,” Vargas said to reporters. “Backing up third would’ve been an ideal situation […] backing up there would’ve controlled things better.”
The Bucs final run scored against Vargas came in the fifth inning. After a lead off walk to rookie outfielder Bryan Reynolds, Marte grounded into a fielders choice and took Reynolds’ place at first base with one out now away. The third batter of the inning, Jose Osuna, struck out to grant Vargas another out. With two away, Melky Cabrera hit a double to center which scored Marte to make it 6-3 Mets. Vargas would go on to get an easy ground out to finish the fifth inning.
The veteran appeared to finish the sixth strong with a strikeout in the dirt, but Wilson Ramos failed to block the pitch, causing Joe Musgrove, to reach first base and ending Vargas’ afternoon.
During the 2019 season, Jason Vargas has exceeded expectations. In 18 out of Vargas’ 19 starts for the season he has given up 4 runs or less which is something not many Mets fans saw coming. After Sunday’s outing, Vargas raised his ERA 4.01, and improved his record to 6-5. Unless Vargas is traded, he should face the Pirates once again in his next outing.
