26-year old lefty starting pitcher has graduated to be the new ace of the starting rotation as he has turned in a fine 2011 season for the Jays. Romero has started 31 games for the Blue Jays so far this year and he is 15-10 with a 2.98 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He has only given up 170 hits in 217 1/3 innings this year while whiffing 173 batters. Romero has now pitched in 92 games (all starts) in his first three years with the Blue Jays and he is 42-28 with a 3.63 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. The best is yet to come from Ricky Romero.

21-year old righty Henderson Alvarez and 26-year old lefty Luis Perez have stepped into the Blue Jays’ starting rotation lately and they are both pitching well so far this year. Alvarez has pitched in 6 games (all starts) for the Blue Jays so far this year and he is 1-2 with a 2.95 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He only has given up 32 hits in his first 36 2/3 innings for the Jays and he has whiffed 25 batters while also walking only 6. Perez pitched out of the bullpen for most of this year before just recently moving into the rotation. Perez has started 3 games for the Jays so far this year and he is 1-0 with a 3.94 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP in that role. He has pitched in 32 games (3 starts) overall this year for the Blue Jays and he is 3-2 with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. The Blue Jays hope these guys keep up the good work through September.

29-year old righty reliever Casey Janssen has worked himself into contention for the closer’s job with Jon Rauch on the D.L. and Frank Francisco’s right should barking. He has pitched in 7 games so far in August and he is 1-0 with 1 save, a 0.00 ERA and a 0.43 WHIP. He has only given up 2 hits and walked 2 batters in 9 1/3 innings this August while whiffing 14 batters as he has been outstanding this month. Janssen has now pitched in 40 games (0 starts) so far this year for the Blue Jays and he is 4-0 with 2 saves, a 2.20 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.

21-year old righty swinging 3B Brett Lawrie is on fire with the bat since coming up with the Blue Jays. Lawrie has played in 10 games for the Blue Jays so far this year and he is 12 for 35 (.343 avg, 1.121 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 3 homers, 8 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Lawrie has also shown off a pretty slick glove at 3B defensively. The Blue Jays gave up Shaun Marcum in a deal over the winter to get Lawrie, so he didn’t come cheap. But he is showing off an impressive upside so far in Canada.

24-year old lefty starting pitcher Brett Cecil appears to have gotten himself back on track in July and August. In July and August, Cecil has started 6 games in which he is 3-1 with a 2.51 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Cecil appears to be back in the good graces of Blue Jays’ manager John Farrell. Cecil has pitched in 11 games (all starts) for the Blue Jays so far this year and he is 4-4 with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. The Blue Jays hope that Cecil stays focused and motivated the rest of the season.