Jason Vargas
AP Photo

With RHP Noah Syndergaard recently landing on the IL, the New York Mets need the rest of their rotation to stay healthy. Fortunately, the news on LHP Jason Vargas appears to be positive.

When Jason Vargas (calf) was forced to leave Sunday’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth inning, Mets fans thought they were watching a familiar song and dance.

Noah Syndergaard (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day IL on Sunday. It initially appeared as if Vargas might be joining him.

Instead, we can breathe a sigh of relief. The Mets believe Vargas will be ready to toe the slab on Friday vs. the Chicago Cubs.

The veteran left-hander previously missed 20 days this season due to a hamstring injury. Long the target of criticism by Mets fans, he has pieced together his best stretch as a Metropolitan.

Since returning from the IL on May 25, he has only allowed seven earned runs in 31 innings pitched. Prior to his early exit on Sunday, he had turned in three straight quality starts.

Due to the presence of Jacob deGrom and Syndergaard, the front-end of the New York rotation has never been in question. The back-end, however, has been a trouble spot for years. Vargas’ new-found stability has played a large role in this team being able to hover around the .500 mark.

Potential crisis averted.

Mets Roundup

Top prospect Andres Gimenez (hand/wrist) was reinstated from the IL on Saturday. In his return for Double-A Binghamton, he went 1-4 with a run scored.

Suffering the injury after being hit by a pitch, the 20-year-old missed just under two weeks.

In 46 games in 2019, Gimenez is slashing .232/.303/.343. Signed out of Venezuela in 2015, we could see him in the Big Apple as soon as 2020.

For the latest on everything Mets, follow ESNY and Teddy Rydquist on Twitter @EliteSportsNY @TeddyRydquist.

A 2018 graduate of Bowling Green State University, Rydquist has been covering the New York Mets for ESNY since 2019. In addition to his work here, he covers Michigan football recruiting for FanSided and NASCAR for CATCHFENCE. He can be found on Twitter @TeddyRydquist.