Things have gotten a bit off course for the New York Mets’ pitching staff over the last week. Aside from the bullpen’s struggles, the starting rotation has seen some turnover as well as some sub-par performances, from the back-end in particular.
With Matt Harvey moving into a bullpen role due to his struggles, any ideas of a six-man rotation, which manager Mickey Callaway alluded to the possibility of upon Vargas’ return, were dashed.
The recent troubles Steven Matz has found himself in (nine earned runs on eleven hits in his last three starts; 12 1/3 innings total), and the inconsistency of Zack Wheeler have presented some issues for the rotation.
In Wheeler’s first start of the season, the 28-year-old threw seven innings, allowing two hits, one earned-run, racked up seven strikeouts, and only allowed one walk on April 11 at Miami. That dominant performance was followed by him allowing seven earned runs over the next ten innings, giving up 13 hits and walking five batters in his next two starts.
Now this team and their fans are wondering, aloud in some cases, if the Mets’ hot start was simply an anomaly with the back-end of the starting rotation, along with a few other concerning areas being the main culprits.
The season debut of Jason Vargas could not come at a better time for this team. When the Mets signed the 35-year-old left-hander in February, they had visions of bringing aboard the same pitcher he was for the Royals in 2017.
In 179.2 innings last season, Vargas pitched to a 4.16 earned-run average with 134 strikeouts (second most in his career; 141 in 2012) and just 58 walks. Efficiency is simply the name of his game, and the Mets apparently were drawn to that aspect of the veteran lefty.
Sandy Alderson handed Vargas a two-year, $16 million deal with an $8 million club option for 2020 (plus $3 million in incentives), which would give his contract a total value of $27 million over three years if the option were to be picked up.
Jason Vargas pitched respectably in Spring Training. He worked some kinks out after a tough start, eventually finishing Grapefruit League play with a 4.15 earned-run average over 8.2 innings with nine strikeouts and four walks.
Then, with about a week to go until Opening Day, Vargas took a comebacker off his non-pitching hand and broke his hamate bone, requiring surgery.
After working his way back to being game ready, he finally made his first, and only, rehab-start for Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday. He went four innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits, striking out four, and walking two.
After being briefed on Vargas’ performance in his rehab outing, Mickey Callaway had this to say to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com regarding the health of the left-hander.
“He said he felt great. He had one little tough inning where he left a few pitches over the middle…but reports were great from the Triple-A staff.”
If Vargas can perform at the level he was at last season up until the time he got hurt in March, it could bode well for the Mets rotation after Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom. He threw six hitless innings, striking out twelve in an intrasquad scrimmage in Port St. Lucie on April 16, albeit from behind a protective screen.
If he’s this locked in and is quite obviously chomping at the bit to get back into real game action, it could do wonders for a New York Mets starting rotation that’s starting to look a little weaker than some had thought them to be.
A swift kick in the pants could be just what this group needs. Healthy competition breeds competitive results. It’s not like anyone is losing their jobs (yet), but no one wants to be the last horse in the race. Jason Vargas could be the proverbial carrot that gets the horses going.
