Last night, with the Mets up 2-0 over the Yankees in the top of the 9th inning, ESPN pointed a camera at the Mets bullpen. On the mound stood Jason Vargas throwing warm-up pitches. It was pretty late, but it was, in fact, not a dream.
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports that the Mets are taking advantage of today’s day off and are skipping Vargas’ turn in the rotation. The Braves will have to deal with Zack Wheeler and Jacob deGrom for the two-game series in Atlanta.
Vargas, 35, has been less than effective this season, going 2-4 with a 7.71 ERA and 5.18 FIP thus far. In 30.1 innings he has allowed 41 hits, six of which are home runs, while walking 12 and striking out 27. His 1.747 WHIP is his worst since 2007… With the Mets.
He has an -0.6 bWAR on the season, but he seems to be trending in the right direction. In three of his last four starts, he’s pitched five innings and allowed two or fewer runs. The problem is, sandwiched in there is a three-innings, five-run start against the Brewers.
Vargas is being paid $6 million this season, $8 million in 2019, and the Mets hold an $8 million club option for 2020.
