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LHP Vargas set to make first start for Mets

May 17, 2007 - 1:42 PM Chicago Cubs (18-20) at NY Mets (25-14) 1:10 pm EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Jason Vargas will become the latest New York Mets' pitcher to make a spot start.

Vargas (0-0, NR) makes his first start of the season in place of demoted rookie Mike Pelfrey as the Mets face the Chicago Cubs on Thursday in the finale of a four-game series.

Already this season the Mets have had Chan Ho Park and Jorge Sosa make spot starts for an injured Orlando Hernandez. Sosa has pitched well enough earn a spot in the rotation for now. Sosa allowed one run and one hit over seven innings in an 8-1 win over the Cubs on Wednesday.

New York acquired the 24-year-old Vargas along with Adam Bostick from the Florida Marlins for Matt Lindstrom and Henry Owens in November. The lefthander went 1-2 with a 7.33 ERA in five starts with Florida last year.

Vargas will by opposed by Angel Guzman, who started the season in the Cubs' bullpen and is looking for his first win. He was recalled on May 6, after being sent down on April 17 when outfielder Felix Pie was called up.

A highly-touted prospect in 2003, Guzman (0-0, 3.57) was derailed by arm injuries and made his first appearance in the majors last April. He went 0-6 with a 7.39 ERA in 10 starts.

The Mets may be without their sparkplug Jose Reyes, who left in the eighth inning Wednesday with a hamstring injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Meanwhile the Cubs continue to play without first baseman Derrek Lee, who has missed the last three games with neck spasms.