Height/Weight: 6-0/215
| Birthdate: 2/2/1983
| Birthplace: Apple Valley, CA
| Bats/Throws: L/L
| Team: Los Angeles
| College: Long Beach State
| MLB Experience: 8
| Salary: $8,500,000
| Owned/Started%: 47/31 | Average Draft Position: 204.49
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/15/2013) Angels starter Jason Vargas pitched well Tuesday and was afforded home runs from Albert Pujols, Howie Kendrick, Josh Hamilton and Mike Trout in support. That translated into a win against the Royals.
Vargas improved to 2-3 with a 4.03 ERA as he allowed just two earned runs on five hits over seven solid innings with seven Ks. He walked one and allowed a solo homer to Billy Butler in the sixth inning. Vargas threw 104 pitches.
Vargas had a rocky start to the year, but may get back on track along with Hamilton, Trout, Pujols and company. He's 2-0 in his last three starts and has a complete-game shutout among those outings. Vargas has also struck out seven in back-to-back starts.
His next outing is scheduled for Sunday against the Chicago White Sox.
Parks factor for Jason Vargas
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (5/10/2013) Throughout his time with the Mariners, Jason Vargas was a much better pitcher at home in spacious Safeco Field than on the road. After some inconsistencies earlier this year, venue once again seems to be having a major impact on his performance.
The free-swinging Astros knocked him around Thursday, but they did so at home in hitter-friendly Minute Maid Park. In his previous three starts, Vargas had the upper hand, allowing five earned runs in 24 innings. But one of those starts came in the familiar Safeco Field, and the other two came in his new home, pitcher-friendly Angels stadium.
Vargas' overall numbers are pretty miserable so far, but in time, he should emerge as predictable streaming option, judging from both his last few starts and historical precedent.
Jason Vargas knocked around in no-decision
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (5/10/2013) Angels starting pitcher Jason Vargas was lit up Thursday for five earned runs on 10 hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven. He escaped with a no-decision after the Angels came back to beat the Astros, 6-5.
Vargas followed up a complete-game shutout in his last outing with his third five-run performance of the year, raising his ERA to 4.26. He'll face the Royals Tuesday in his next start.
Jason Vargas primed for a big week
by Al Melchior | Data Analyst (5/8/2013) After a wild beginning to the season, Angels southpaw Jason Vargas has pitched more like his typical self lately, throwing 64 percent of his pitches for strikes over his last three starts. It also helped that two of those starts came at Angel Stadium, as opponents have slugged just .333 against Vargas over that span.
Fortunately for Vargas' owners, he will make two more starts at his pitcher-friendly home venue in Fantasy Week 7 (May 13-19). The Royals and White Sox have been good matchups for pitchers this season, and with Vargas getting them both at home, he suddenly becomes an attractive option for owners in standard mixed leagues. Vargas is currently owned in only 43 percent of the leagues on CBSSports.com, so he is readily available in many mixed leagues. Though his season stats give Vargas the appearance of being a deep-league-only option, he is worth a pickup in 12-team mixed leagues.
Jason Vargas throws three-hit shutout
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (5/4/2013) Angels starter Jason Vargas was finally able to get himself into the win column Friday night against the Orioles. Vargas, who made his sixth start, went the distance in the 4-0 win.
The left-hander needed 107 pitches to log the ninth complete game of his career and he didn't allow his first hit until the fifth inning. He induced 15 groundball outs and finished with three strikeouts and two walks, while improving to 1-3 with a 3.72 ERA.
Vargas will look to build off his latest outing when he makes his next start Thursday at Houston. He is 0-2 with a 4.24 ERA in three road starts.
Jason Vargas better but still takes loss
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/28/2013) After posting a 5.82 ERA over his first four starts, Angels pitcher Jason Vargas was much improved on Sunday against his former team -- the Mariners. The 30-year-old still came away with the loss, however, as he allowed two runs on six hits over eight innings of work in the 2-1 defeat. It was his first complete game.
Vargas made it through the first six frames scoreless before surrendering a solo home run to Jason Bay in the seventh. In the eighth, Michael Morse victimized the left-hander for another solo homer.
Vargas, who threw 107 pitches, also struck out seven and walked two while taking his third loss.
His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Orioles. In one start against Baltimore last season, Vargas allowed three runs over eight innings in the loss.
Jason Vargas shows improvement
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/24/2013) Angels starter Jason Vargas had a much better performance on Tuesday night at home against the Rangers, but he settled for a no-decision as Alexi Ogando was solid as well.
Vargas, who had given up 10 earned runs over his last two losses spanning nine innings, rebounded to give up just three runs over seven solid innings as the Rangers tied the game up after he left.
The 30-year-old gave up three runs on seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Vargas didn't allow a run in the ballgame until Nelson Cruz smashed a three-run homer off him in the sixth.
His ERA at 5.82 after a big improvement, Vargas will look to earn his first win when he takes the mound next on Sunday at Seattle.
Jason Vargas still worth starting at home
by Al Melchior | Data Analyst (4/17/2013)Jason Vargas has been an enigma in his first three starts with the Angels. He had good home splits when with the Mariners but struggled in hitter-friendly venues, yet his best start this season has come at Texas.
Vargas' recent troubles have come from a lack of strikes, but that's not the norm for him. As I argued in my most recent column, Vargas is still worth using in mixed leagues as long as he's in Anaheim or some other pitcher-friendly venue.
Jason Vargas awful in defeat
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/16/2013) Angels starter Jason Vargas was abysmal against the Twins on Tuesday night in Minnesota. Pitching on a cold night, Vargas couldn't command his pitches and threw 90 in order to get just 10 outs.
Vargas, who took the loss in the outing to fall to 0-2 for the Angels, didn't allow a homer but gave up five earned runs on nine hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings. The Twins got to him and to the Angels' bullpen in the victory as Vargas never had a chance after going down 3-0 after two frames.
The 30-year-old, who went 14-11 for the Mariners last year with a solid 3.85 ERA over 33 starts, has been ugly thus far with his new team. After starting out allowing just one run over 5 2/3 innings against the Rangers, Vargas has given up 10 runs over his last nine innings on 19 hits.
Vargas will look to turn things around when he next takes the hill on Monday against Texas.
Hit parade marches over Jason Vargas
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/12/2013) Angels pitcher Jason Vargas (0-1) gave up five runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings during Los Angeles' 8-1 loss to Oakland on Thursday night. Vargas suffered his first loss of the season as he walked three batters and struck out four while matching his innings total from his first start.
During his two outings this year, which are his first with the Angels after spending the previous four seasons with Seattle, the left-hander has been tagged for 18 hits and is sporting a 4.76 ERA. Vargas' next start is scheduled for Tuesday at Minnesota; he went 0-1 with a 4.58 ERA in three outings against the Twins last year.
Jason Vargas all right in first start with Angels
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (4/5/2013)Jason Vargas gave up one run over 5 2/3 in his Angels' debut.
Vargas allowed eight hits, but managed to keep his runners from scoring. He walked two batters and struck out four during the start.
Jason Vargas roughed up in final start
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/30/2013) Angels pitcher Jason Vargas did not last long in his final start of the spring Friday night against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
Vargas was hit hard as he was charged with eight runs on seven hits, including a grand slam to A.J. Ellis in the opening frame. He was pulled after 1 2/3 innings of work and finished with three strikeouts and two walks.
The left-hander has a 7.54 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP in six starts this spring.
Jason Vargas bounces back with solid outing
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/24/2013) After allowing five runs his last time out, Angels left-hander Jason Vargas bounced back with a solid outing Sunday against the Giants.
Vargas, who made his fifth Cactus League start, cruised through the first six innings before he allowed a run-scoring single to Ricky Oropesa in the seventh for his only damage of the afternoon. He yielded just one run on five hits in six innings of work in a 5-4 defeat. He also struck out five and walked two as his ERA improved from 6.00 to 4.71 this spring.
Vargas is projected to be the team's fourth starter to begin the season.
Jason Vargas beat up by Brewers
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (3/19/2013) Angels pitcher Jason Vargas made his longest start of the Cactus League on Tuesday against the Brewers but was not very sharp. He allowed five runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings. The left-hander was tagged with a two-spot in the first before Milwaukee pushed across two more runs in the third. Vargas surrendered a solo homer to Aramis Ramirez in the fifth for his final damage. He also struck out four and walked one.
Vargas has a 6.00 ERA through four spring starts.
Jason Vargas pleased with secondary stuff
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (3/14/2013) Angels starting pitcher Jason Vargas bounced back Thursday from a poor start last time out, as he tossed a strong four-plus innings against the White Sox. Vargas allowed one earned run in 4 2/3 innings of work, after being tagged for four runs in 3 innings in his previous outing. Vargas struck out five batters and walked one, while allowing a pair of extra-base hits. Vargas earned the win in a 12-4 final, and expressed pleasure with how his off-speed pitches were moving.
"To be able to go out and have that secondary stuff work, and get swings and misses, it's always a good indication of them not being able to stay on your fastball," Vargas told MLB.com. "For me, that's a good sign."
Vargas will round out the back end of the team's rotation, after being traded for Kendrys Morales in the offseason. Vargas is coming off consecutive 200-inning seasons, with a combined 4.04 ERA for the Mariners.
Vargas not as sharp vs .Rockies
(3/9/2013) After pitching two scoreless innings in his spring debut, Angels pitcher Jason Vargas was not as sharp in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Rockies. He allowed four runs on eight hits over three innings of work. The left-hander gave up three in the second before surrendering a solo homer to Troy Tulowitzki in the third. "I think there's a big difference between results and really executing like you want to," Vargas told MLB.com. "There was some good things that came out of today, even though they put some runs on the board. I threw the changeup better."
Vargas has stellar spring debut
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/4/2013) Angels starting pitcher Jason Vargas made his Cactus League debut on Monday against Oakland and went two scoreless innings. Vargas had a solid outing for the Angels as he only put one batter on base via a walk. He didn't give up a hit and struck out one in his first outing of the spring against a lineup of Oakland regulars.
Angels confident in Vargas
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/12/2013) Angels manager Mike Scioscia doesn't seem to be concerned that starting pitcher Jason Vargas, who was acquired from the Mariners in the offseason, gave up 35 home runs last season, tying him for the second-most allowed in the major leagues in 2012. "I think there have been a lot of guys that have been terrific pitchers that maybe have given up more home runs that you might consider to be average and that's not going to be the barometer by how they're measured," Scioscia said Tuesday. "The bottom line is how effective they are and Jason's been very effective. If he's going to miss a spot and they're going to square it up, then so be it. I don't think that's going to be the barometer by how he's going to be evaluated. His numbers are very, very strong."
Vargas, Halos avoid arbitration
(1/18/2013) The Angels and pitcher Jason Vargas avoided arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $8.5 million contract. Vargas was acquired from the Mariners for Kendrys Morales during the offseason.
Vargas packs for Anaheim
by Al Melchior | Data Analyst (12/19/2012) The Mariners traded starting pitcher Jason Vargas to the Angels in exchange for first baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales on Wednesday, as reported by MLB.com. Vargas has spent the last four seasons with the Mariners, and in 2012, he posted a 14-11 record and a 3.85 ERA. Despite tying with Phil Hughes for the second-most home runs allowed in the majors with 35, Vargas set a career high with his 14 wins.
