The Blue Jays have placed 30-year old righty starting pitcher Scott Richmond on the 60-day disabled list. Richmond pitched in 27 games (24 starts) for the Blue Jays last season and he was 8-11 with a 5.52 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Richmond has pitched in 32 games (29 starts) in his two years with the Jays and he is 9-14 with a 5.27 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. The Blue Jays will take their time with Richmond as they have a lot of candidates for the starting rotation in spring training.

The Blue Jays have placed 24-year old righty starting pitcher Jesse Litsch on the 60-day disabled list to make room on the roster for Jose Molina. Litsch is still recovering from Tommy John Surgery that ruined his 2009 season. He pitched in 2 games (both starts) last season for the Blue Jays and he was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Litsch has now pitched in 51 games (50 starts) in his major league career and he is 20-19 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. The Blue Jays are going to take their time with Litsch in his recovery as he is a solid pitcher when healthy.

The Blue Jays will be without 28-year old lefty reliever Dirk Hayhurst for the next 4-6 months after having surgery earlier today to repair fraying in the labrum of his right shoulder. Hayhurst pitched in 15 games (0 starts) for the Blue Jays last season and he was 0-0 with a 2.78 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. The Blue Jays are deep in the bullpen so they should survive until Hayhurst is ready to return to action in 2010.

UPDATE: The Blue Jays have placed Hayhurst on the 60-day disabled list to open up a roster spot.

33-year old lefty reliever Scott Downs has done an outstanding job as the closer of the Blue Jays this season. He has pitched in 26 games (0 starts) this season for the Blue Jays and he is 1-0 with 8 saves, a 1.98 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. Downs is currently on the D.L. with a sprained toe that he injured while batting. Jason Frasor will replace Downs as the closer until he’s ready to return and he has 21 career saves heading into this season so he should do a decent job. Downs has been incredible since being a full time reliever with the Blue Jays. In Downs’ three seasons as a reliever in Toronto he has worked in 173 games (0 starts) in which he is 4-6 with 14 saves, a 1.96 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. The Blue Jays need Downs back as soon as possible as he has been nails late in games this season.

The Blue Jays have lost 24-year old righty starting pitcher Jesse Litsch for the season due to Tommy John Surgery. Litsch only started 2 games for the Jays this season and he was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. But, Litsch has had a good career with the Blue Jays to this point and he will be missed. Litsch has now pitched in 51 games (50 starts) in his major league career and he is 20-19 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. It’s amazing that the Blue Jays are playing as well as they are this season as they are now without 27-year old Shaun Marcum, 27-year old Dustin McGowan and Litsch who were their #2-#4 starting pitchers last season. The Jays hope all of the three will have complete recoveries and help them at some point in the 2010 season.