PITTSBURGH — Jason Vargas was signed to provide insurance and veteran stability to a pitching staff filled with numerous questions.
Thus far, the 35-year-old lefty has made one more appearance with the Mets than Matt Harvey did this season.
Vargas (2-6) will make his highly unanticipated return to the mound Friday night against the Pirates, pitching for the Mets for the first time in more than a month after suffering a strained right calf.
Vargas, who has posted an 8.60 ERA in nine starts this season, is coming off a disastrous June 19 outing in Colorado, in which he allowed seven runs and nine hits (three home runs) over 2 ¹/u2083 innings.