Vargas (13-6) allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings during Tuesday's loss to the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

Vargas allowed just one run through the first four innings before unraveling in the fifth. He allowed a leadoff home run to Randal Grichuk and a two-run single to Yadier Molina before being lifted from the game. Mike Minor came on in relief and promptly served up a three-run jack to Jedd Gyorko, adding two more runs to Vargas's ledger. The 34-year-old will carry a 3.40 ERA into his upcoming start against the White Sox on Sunday.

Vargas will not make his next start Monday, as that game will go to Ian Kennedy following Saturday's rainout. The team hasn't announced the rest of the plans, but it's likely the left-hander will square off against St. Louis on Tuesday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran was scheduled to take on the Cardinals either way, but the delay could cause fantasy owners some problems. Vargas was set up nicely for a two-start week beginning Monday, but that may change following the rainout. The Royals have a full slate of games over the next eight days, but if the club chooses to go with a six-man rotation, then Vargas will lose out on what was scheduled to be a two-start week.

Vargas (13-5) pitched five innings, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six Orioles in Wednesday's loss.

EDGE Analysis

Although he wasn't at his best, Vargas still pitched well enough to win Wednesday. He kept the talented O's lineup in check for four of five frames, but a three-run third inning was enough to take down the AL wins leader. With 125 innings now on the southpaw's clock this year, it wouldn't be surprising to see the reins tightened in future starts -- Vargas logged just 55 total innings over the past two campaigns. The veteran will make his next start at home Monday against St. Louis.

Vargas fell off in July, posting a 7.23 ERA -- his worst such mark for any month since June of 2012 as a Mariner -- while owning a season-high .333 BAA over four starts.

EDGE Analysis

It's probably unfair to say, "I told you so," when it comes to Vargas' unexpected early-season success, but July was certainly concerning. After serving up just eight home runs in his first 101.1 innings of the year, Vargas gave up six over 18.2 frames last month. The veteran ended June with an 85.7 percent strand rate, a mark many thought was unsustainable, and that number did in fact regress to 75.2 percent in July. Despite still leading the AL in wins (13) and ranking fourth in ERA (3.00), owners should be cautious of employing a 'set it and forget it' strategy with Vargas as August begins.

Vargas (13-4) allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out two across six innings to earn the win Friday against the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Vargas held the Red Sox scoreless until allowing a run in the fifth inning, but he had already been provided four runs of support, leading to his 13th victory of the season. Despite a pair of consecutive outings in which he allowed six runs to start out the month of July, he's settled down over his last two starts, and he appears to be looking like the pitcher who had a phenomenal first half. He'll make his next start Wednesday against the Orioles.

Vargas pitched five innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out two White Sox in Saturday's no-decision.

EDGE Analysis

Vargas bounced back with a decent effort Friday, but ran into trouble in the sixth, forcing manager Ned Yost to pull the veteran after just 84 pitches. The left-hander dealt 89-plus pitches in each of his first 16 starts, but Vargas has now failed to reach 85 in his last three outings. Furthermore, he's now gone three straight games without notching a win for the first time all season, while watching his ERA balloon to a season-high 3.08. Considering the 34-year-old played in just 12 games over the past two years, it's more than reasonable to question Vargas' stamina moving forward. He'll face a tougher test next time out, as he draws the Red Sox in Fenway Park on Friday.

Vargas (12-4) lasted just 2.2 innings while allowing six runs on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts in Monday's loss to Detroit.

EDGE Analysis

Vargas out-pitched his 3.78 FIP by more than a full run in the first half, making him a strong candidate for regression. That regression came in a big way here, as he failed to last at least five innings for the first time in 18 appearances while tying season worsts in both runs and walks. He gave up a run in the first by walking Victor Martinez with the bases loaded and two outs, then surrendered two-run homers in both the second and third before being lifted from the contest. The southpaw will look to bounce back Saturday against a White Sox lineup that ranks 20th with 4.53 runs scored per game.

Vargas take the hill for his first start of the second half Monday against the Tigers, The Associated Press against Detroit.

EDGE Analysis

Despite being the team's best pitcher to this point in the campaign, manager Ned Yost decided to hold Vargas out of the first series following the All-Star break. The AL's leader in wins (12)owns the league's second-best ERA (2.62), and he'll look to continue his stellar season against a Detroit lineup that's been quite good against southpaws in 2017.

Vargas, who was projected to be a part of this weekend's rotation against Texas, will have his next start pushed back to early next week against Detroit, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Ned Yost said the decision was made in order to prevent any of his starters from going too long without pitching. By the time Vargas toes the rubber against Detroit, he will have not started a game in nearly two weeks, but apparently Yost thinks the veteran's 10-pitch All-Star Game effort on Tuesday counts for something. Not putting your best starter on the hill when possible seems a little shady, although there's been nothing to suggest anything is physically wrong with Vargas.

Vargas' 2015 Tommy John surgery resulted in small mechanical changes that have helped him become a frontline starter this year with the Royals, Rustin Dodd of The Kansas City Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

During the latter half of a grueling 14-month recovery process, pitching coach Dave Eiland noticed Vargas' release point had lowered from where it was prior to surgery. "When you come back from Tommy John," Eiland says, "sometimes your arm goes naturally to where it wants to go." As a result, the veteran left-hander was getting more movement on pitches and captured remarkable command of his arsenal. The first-half outcome in 2017 (a 12-3 record and league-leading 2.62 ERA) illustrates that Vargas' surgically repaired elbow has transformed into a dominate weapon against opposing hitters. It's safe to say that owners can move past the veteran's mid-80s fastball with confidence that Vargas is the real deal.