Vargas is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Vargas will begin Saturday's contest in the dugout after going 0-for-4 with one strikeout in Friday's 3-2 win over the Halos. Jose Tena will make his Nationals debut at third base while Nasim Nunez returns to the lineup at shortstop.

Vargas will start at second base and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Though he'll be filling in for a resting Luis Garcia on Wednesday, the switch-hitting Vargas may be in store for at least semi-regular playing time at third base against right-handed pitching in place of Trey Lipscomb, who has produced a .393 OPS since rejoining the big club in early July. Vargas had started over Lipscomb in both of the first two contests of the series, but the Nationals will have room for both players in the infield Wednesday while Garcia rests.

Vargas went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran utility player began the game on the bench, but he pinch hit for Trey Lipscomb in the eighth inning and took Adam Ottavino deep -- Vargas' first long ball of the season. After a hot start to the season, Vargas is batting just .135 (5-for-37) over his last 15 appearances, and his playing time has dwindled.

Vargas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

Vargas picked up five straight starts in the infield between last Sunday and Thursday, but he benefited largely from Washington facing three left-handed pitchers over that stretch. He'll now hit the bench for the third game in a row, with right-handers taking the hill for the opposition in each of those contests.

Vargas went 2-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Guardians.

EDGE Analysis

Getting another start at shortstop in place of CJ Abrams (shoulder) and batting ninth, Vargas swiped his fifth bag of the season in a productive afternoon. Abrams could be back in the lineup as soon as Monday against the Mets, bumping Vargas back to the bench, but the veteran utility player has been effective when called upon this season, slashing .288/.368/.385 through 120 plate appearances.

Vargas went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

The 32-year-old utility player began the game on the bench but took over at third base when Nick Senzel fouled a ball off his knee in the second inning. Vargas has posted career-best numbers to begin this season, slashing .298/.383/.404 through 109 plate appearances with four steals, seven RBI and 11 runs. If Senzel misses any time, Vargas would be the next man up at the hot corner.

Vargas went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Wednesday's loss to the White Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Batting third against southpaw Garrett Crochet as Nats manager Dave Martinez desperately tried to spark his struggling offense, Vargas didn't make a big impact but was able to steal his third bag of the year, tying his career high. The 32-year-old utility player has been seeing semi-consistent starts in May, batting .294 (5-for-17) in nine games with three doubles, two runs and an RBI. He's already played 10-plus games at both second base and third base in 2024 while also seeing duty in left field (six games) and at shortstop (three games), giving him some fantasy value in deep NL-only formats.

Vargas went 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

With one out in the sixth inning, Vargas cracked a double off Bruch Smith, advanced to third on a single, then raced home as part of a double steal with Trey Lipscomb. Vargas got the start at second base Sunday with lefty Ryan Weathers on the mound for Miami, and a short-side platoon role at the keystone might be all that's available for the 32-year-old utility player right now with Lipscomb, Nick Senzel and Luis Garcia all producing at the plate. Vargas has been making an impact of his own when he gets the chance though, slashing .304/.396/.413 through 53 plate appearances with two steals, four RBI and five runs.

Vargas went 2-for-3 with an RBI but was caught stealing twice in Friday's loss to the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

Getting the start at third base and batting ninth, Vargas has another good showing at the plate, but it was his misadventures on the basepaths that stood out in a 5-3 loss -- he was picked off at second base by Justin Verlander and caught in a rundown in the third inning, then thrown out trying to steal second base in the eighth. Vargas is batting .323 (10-for-31) with a 5:3 BB:K through 11 games and has been seeing semi-regular playing time around the infield, but Friday's performance won't endear him to manager Dave Martinez.

Vargas went 1-for-2 with three walks, a double, a run scored and two RBI in Monday's win over the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Getting the start at shortstop with CJ Abrams (finger) sidelined, Vargas continued a hot start to the season that has seen him go 7-for-20 (.350) with three doubles, three RBI, three runs, a stolen base and an impressive 5:2 BB:K. The 32-year-old utility player has already seen action at four different positions this season -- four games at second base, three at shortstop, and one each at third base and left field -- and even once Abrams returns to the lineup, Vargas might see more playing time than expected as long as he's contributing at the plate.