WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Jason Vargas continues to spring ahead.
If nothing else, the veteran left-hander has kept talk from intensifying this exhibition season that the Mets goofed in not adding Gio Gonzalez or another veteran starting pitcher in the offseason.
Vargas surrendered a homer to the first batter he faced in the Grapefruit League, Matt Carpenter on Feb. 28, and hasn’t been touched for a run since. On Monday, he gave the Mets his best performance this spring, throwing four scoreless innings in the team’s 6-3 loss to the Astros.
“I probably put more stock into having good, competitive innings more than anything,” said Vargas, who owns a 1.