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Jason Vargas will start Game One of the American League Divisional Series versus the Angels, according to the Star's Andy McCullough.
Vargas was a pleasant surprise this year, after signing a four-year $32 million deal in the off-season. The left-hander was 11-10 with a 3.71 ERA (3.84 FIP) in 30 starts despite missing a few weeks with an emergency appendectomy. Vargas did worry Royals fans with a lackluster September that saw him give up 18 runs in 18 innings over his last four starts. Still, Shaun Newkirk reminds us that Vargas was a BABIP-creation this year, and that he probably wasn't as good as he seemed at the beginning of the year, and not as bad as he seemed at the end.
Jason Vargas, flyball pitcher, in his career at Angel Stadium: 2.86 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 129 IP. It’s one of the reasons #Angels traded for him.
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) October 1, 2014
Vargas faced his former teammates, the Angels, twice this year. On May 25 in Anaheim, he gave up just three hits and one run over six plus innings, but the Royals fell 4-3. He gave up six runs in four innings, including a mammoth Mike Trout home run on June 27 in Kansas City as the Royals rallied to win 8-6.
Vargas will face Angels ace right-hander Jered Weaver.
Jered Weaver and Jason Vargas while at Long Beach State. Game 1 mound opponents in the ALDS (photo @LBSUAthletics) pic.twitter.com/A5ZmSyum7K
— Robert Brender (@robertbrender) October 1, 2014