Jason Vargas spent most of his disastrous year with the Mets appearing unfit to hold a roster spot. But somehow, the veteran will enter the offseason with an argument to remain in the rotation.
In his final start of the season, Vargas capped his bounce-back second half with his strongest outing of the year, throwing a season-high seven shutout innings in the Mets’ 4-1 win over the Braves on Thursday night at Citi Field.
Vargas (7-9), who signed a two-year deal in the offseason — and went 2-8 with an 8.75 ERA in his first 12 starts of the year — dropped his ERA to a season-low 5.77 after going 5-1 with a 2.62 ERA over his final eight starts.
“He’s righted the ship, and kind of shown us who we thought he really was,” manager Mickey Callaway said before the win. “We signed him for a reason, and those reasons have been showing up the second half. … Once he settled in, we’ve seen that guy he’s been in the past.”
In his longest outing since June 30, 2017, Vargas allowed just three hits and no walks, while striking out six, on 77 pitches. Kevin Plawecki put the Mets in front with a solo homer in the third inning, while pinch-hitter Devin Mesoraco delivered a three-run homer in the seventh inning, securing Vargas’ win.
“I trust the way that I go about my business, and the work I put in,” Vargas said. “Counting on what you’ve done in the past, and some things that have really set you up for success, being able to rely on those, and them showing up later is really nice.”