vlaze.com

Claudio Vargas has an ERA under 4 for the Mets in 3 starts since being called up from the Minor leagues. Teams are batting only .188 against the right-hander. Vargas' spot in the rotation is shaky at best with Pedro Martinez close to returning to the Mets starting staff. So Vargas is most likely trying to pitch his way to a spot on the Mets roster. Brad Penny was LA's starting pitcher on opening day but has looked like a struggling 5th starter in recent starts. The struggling right-hander has given up 24 earned runs in his last 4 starts working 23 2/3rd's innings. Lefty's are batting .346 against Penny. LA bats have cooled down in recent games and have not got clutch hits as the team is 5-46 with runners in scoring position in a 5 game stretch through last Monday's action. James Loney is mired in a hitting slump and came up in a big spot against the Cubs trailing by a run with the bases loaded and less than two outs on Monday. Loney proceeded to strike out in this huge spot in game 1 of this series. LA bats are cold and Penny has gotten torched in recent games so the play here is on the Mets at –120.