Jason Vargas is throwing his hat in the Mets’ ace conversation.

The veteran lefty turned in his third straight solid start Tuesday night in the Mets’ 4-3 walk-off win over the Reds. This was his best of the year, delivering a season-high 5 ¹/₃ innings and giving up just one run on three hits and three walks while striking out five.

Over his past three starts, after a disastrous beginning to the season, Vargas has posted a 1.93 ERA. His 4.19 ERA as a starter is currently the second-lowest mark in the Mets’ rotation, trailing only Steven Matz (3.65).

“Getting into the sixth … under 90 pitches is a pretty good night against most big-league teams,” Vargas said. “The progression is good, and the results seem to be consistent.

“It’s a good progression of outings, starting from where we did at the beginning of the year, as far as the schedule getting broken up and the pitch counts not really getting to where you want them to be in order to get to the end of the sixth or past the sixth.”

It was the first time this season Vargas has thrown a pitch in the sixth inning. He carried a shutout through five innings but got burnt the third time through the lineup. He gave up a deep fly out to Joey Votto to start the sixth inning. His next pitch wasn’t as lucky, as Eugenio Suarez tagged it over the wall in left field for a solo home run that tied the game 1-1.

Manager Mickey Callaway had a long conversation with Vargas on the mound before finally making the call to the bullpen for Robert Gsellman. Callaway said he was undecided on taking out Vargas, but ultimately decided to end his night after 86 pitches.

“He threw the ball so good and has been throwing the ball well,” Callaway said. “In the end, I felt like he did his job.”

Before finding his groove over the past three games, Vargas had hit rock bottom April 13 against the Braves. He recorded only one out and gave up four runs on two hits and three walks, which spiked his season ERA to 14.21 through three outings.

But Callaway and general manager Brodie Van Wagenen both offered Vargas a vote of confidence after that start, and the 36-year-old has rewarded them for it.

“I think [I’m] just being consistent and making pitches down in the strike zone,” Vargas said. “Being able to make a pitch with two strikes as opposed to leaving it up. I think that’s just a recipe for success in any stretch of good outings.”