Offense fails Vargas in loss: Mariners starting pitcher Jason Vargas again on Thursday against Anaheim, earning his seventh quality start of the season, however he was outdueled by Angels’ starter Dan Haren in a 3-0 loss. Vargas allowed three earned runs in seven innings in the game, two of which came on a first-inning home run from Albert Pujols. He ended up allowing just seven hits, while walking none and striking out six, however Haren tossed a complete game to hand Vargas his fourth loss of the season. His record now stands at 5-4. (Updated 05/25/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/25/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Vargas now has a 3.39 ERA on the season to go with a 1.02 WHIP in 71 2/3 innings. He is doing this on the strength of career best strikeout and walk rates of 6.03 strikeouts and 2.13 walks per nine innings, however he is also being helped by a career-low .226 batting average on balls in play, a rate he is unlikely to sustain. Vargas has emerged as a solid starting pitcher since joining the Mariners in 2009, however he does have to face the fearsome Rangers’ offense in his next start, on Tuesday in Week 9 (May 28-June 3). Vargas allowed four runs in 6 2/3 innings in a loss to the Rangers in his previous start this season, and should be considered just a low-end Fantasy option for the scoring period. (Updated 05/25/2012).
05/25/2012 00:39 Pujols blasts 450th career HR, Haren fans career-high 14 in shutout
Albert Pujols had three hits, including the 450th home run of his career Dan Haren struck out a career-high 14 in tossing his sixth career complete-game shutout, and the Los Angeles Angels won their third straight with a 3-0 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night.
05/19/2012 20:33 Twins 5, Brewers 4 (11)
Trevor Plouffe hit a solo home run in the top of the 11th inning to lift the Minnesota Twins to a 5-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.
05/19/2012 19:10 Vargas, Mariners top slumping Rockies
Jason Vargas threw seven strong innings, Kyle Seager homered and drove in three runs, and the Seattle Mariners beat the free-falling Colorado Rockies 10-3 on Saturday.
05/14/2012 22:03 Red Sox's Lester goes distance for win
Jon Lester pitched his second complete game of the season and Daniel Nava and Kelly Shoppach each homered, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 6-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday.
Jason Vargas had a tale of two halves in 2011. After posting a 3.49 ERA over his first 18 starts, he went 4-7 with a 5.42 ERA after the All-Star break. Still, he continued to progress for the Mariners as he posted career highs in wins (10), strikeouts (131) and innings pitched (201). He also pitched four complete games, including three shutouts. While his ERA slipped from 3.78 in 2010 to 4.25, he walked just 59 batters and posted a WHIP of 1.31. The left-hander enters 2012 as the No. 2 option in the rotation behind Felix Hernandez and should continue to improve at age 28. He still gives up more than a hit per inning and does not post a ton of strikeouts, but Vargas should be productive enough to target in deeper mixed leagues on Draft Day. (Updated 2/21/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
= probable start