Jason Vargas’ return to the Mets’ rotation won’t come until after the All-Star break.
The veteran lefty, who is rehabbing from a strained calf, is scheduled to pitch a second rehab game for Single-A Brooklyn on Saturday to build up his pitch count. In his last start, Vargas threw 60 pitches.
“We feel the last couple times out of necessity we probably tried to get him here immediately at the first possible chance he would be available, and we feel we need to get him out to 90 pitches before he comes and makes a start for us here,” manager Mickey Callaway said.