Vargas not concerned about hand
PORT ST. LUCIE — Jason Vargas is not concerned about being ready for Opening Day. The lefthander was sore Saturday after taking a line drive off the bottom of his right hand in a minor league game Friday. There were no broken bones found on the X-ray, however, and he was optimistic after having a CT scan as he waited to see a hand specialist.
“I don’t really have a level of concern as long as I am able to keep doing stuff,” said Vargas, who wore a protective brace on the hand into the clubhouse Saturday. “I have to speak with the specialist (today or) tomorrow to get the for sures, the facts and all the different options,” Vargas said.
The Mets were not concerned Saturday morning about Vargas not being ready for the start of the regular season. Even if Vargas cannot pitch in another Grapefruit League game, they will continue his progress with a simulated game.
“That’s hard to say right now because it would depend is it a full start, is it a full 10
While any wrist injury is a red flag with a power-hitter, Cespedes said this is not a major issue and it did not really concern him because he had dealt with it before.
“In 2016, I had a cortisone shot in my left wrist so I know what’s going on and how I’m supposed to feel,” Cespedes said. “I’ll be fine.
For the Mets, Cespedes’ health is no joking matter. days or is it six days? We have some days to work with him because he was going to pitch on an extra day of rest anyway,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “We just have to get him ready for the fifth place in the rotation but the good thing is we have an off day after Opening Day so we have some wiggle room there.”
With the addition of Vargas, the Mets had planned to move Zack Wheeler into the bullpen at least to start the season. Despite a rough outing earlier this week against the Nationals, Wheeler has made a strong case to remain in the rotation, especially since Steven Matz has not looked sharp.
Monday, Wheeler will make his final spring training appearance in a minor league game while Matz will start for the Mets against the Nationals. intrasquad game, going 0-for-5 with two walks.
“I feel like I’m seeing it well,” Conforto said. “I definitely feel like I’m seeing it and that’s a good thing. I have the plate awareness and that’s something else I’m working on, keeping my zone sharp and making sure that I’m swinging at the right stuff. Continue to work on that as well.”
Conforto is rehabbing from surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his left shoulder. The All-Star outfielder took atbats in a minor league game Friday, the first time he had hit in a game since last August when he was injured. The plan is to progress him slowly with the target of May 1 for his return.
Most who have watched him this spring feel he will be ready before that, but the team is being extra cautious.
Saturday, he pitched 2.2 innings, allowing a run on two hits. He struck out three.
“Really good. A lot better,” Callaway said of the reliever. “He went out there and threw strikes a little better than we’ve seen in the past. Impressive day for him.”
Montero has allowed 11 runs, eight earned, in 8.2 innings pitched this spring.