Vargas' spot in Mets' rotation safe for now

ATLANTA (AP) — Jason Vargas will keep his spot in the New York Mets' rotation for at least one more start.

Manager Mickey Callaway said he spoke Sunday with the struggling left-hander and told him he would not have a diminished role after lasting just six batters and 36 pitches while getting one out at Atlanta.

Vargas will skip one day before making his next start Friday at St. Louis. Callaway said the Mets did not contemplate skipping or demoting Vargas despite his enduring the shortest start of his career not affected by rain.

"I think we have to get Vargas on a roll," Callaway said. "We've talked about this in the past. Vargas needs to pitch well. We need to try to give him every opportunity to do that."

Reliever Corey Oswalt, who replaced Vargas and took Saturday's loss, was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Paul Sewald was called up to take Oswalt's spot.

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Vargas signed a $16 million, two-year contract in February 2018, but is 8-9 with a 6.32 ERA in his second stint with the club.

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