After having not received a win from LHP David Purcey in five starts -- he was 0-2 with a 7.01 ERA -- and Brian Burres in two starts -- he was 0-2 with a 14.21 ERA -- the Jays shipped both pitchers down to Class AAA Las Vegas and called up two rookies in RHP Rob Ray and LHP Brett Cecil. General manager J.P. Ricciardi said that neither rookie was being counted on for the long term, that both were called up to "hold the fort" until two of their injured starters -- RHP Casey Janssen and LHP Ricky Romero -- were able to return by the middle of May.
PLAYER NEWS: --2B Aaron Hill had a single and continued his streak of not being held hitless in back-to-back games this season. In the Jays' opening 28 games, Hill has hit safely in 25 of them.
--LHP Brian Tallet, who was moved into the rotation following an oblique injury to LHP Ricky Romero, carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning Monday. He lost it with one out in the seventh on a single up the middle by Ryan Garko. He lost his shutout and 2-0 lead on his next pitch as Matt LaPorta hit a two-run home run for his first big-league hit. Tallet worked a career-high seven innings. In his previous start he was pounded by the Royals for 10 runs in four innings.
--RHP Scott Richmond, the Jays' 29-year-old rookie, is off to a great start, going 4-0 in his opening five starts. Among all rookie starters, Richmond leads in wins (four), ERA (2.70), innings pitched (30 1/3), strikeouts (26) and opposing batting average (.217).
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Casey Janssen (right labrum surgery in March 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He missed all of last season. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Dunedin on April 27, and he could be back with the Blue Jays in mid-May.
LHP Ricky Romero (strained right oblique muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 20. He threw a bullpen session May 2 and will throw another May 4 before beginning a rehab assignment.
LHP B.J. Ryan (left trapezius tightness) went on the 15-day disabled list April 23. He will need a rehab assignment before returning to the Blue Jays.
C Michael Barrett (torn right shoulder muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list April 18.
RHP Jesse Litsch (strained right forearm) went on the 15-day disabled list April 14. He is expected to miss six to eight weeks. Litsch experienced discomfort while throwing on April 25.
RHP Dustin McGowan (right shoulder surgery in July 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. Initially, he was expected to be able to contribute by mid-June 2009 at the latest, but it appears that a late-July date is a best-case scenario.
RHP Shawn Marcum (Tommy John elbow surgery in September 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. Initially, the Blue Jays didn't expect him back until 2010, but more recently he was expected to return by August.
ROTATION:
RHP Roy Halladay
RHP Robert Ray
RHP Scott Richmond
LHP Brian Tallet
LHP Brett Cecil
BULLPEN:
LHP Scott Downs (closer)
RHP Brandon League
LHP Jesse Carlson
LHP Bill Murphy
RHP Jason Frasor
RHP Shawn Camp
RHP Brian Wolfe
CATCHERS:
Rod Barajas
Raul Chavez
INFIELDERS:
1B Lyle Overbay
2B Aaron Hill
SS Marco Scutaro
3B Scott Rolen
INF John McDonald
INF/OF Kevin Millar
INF/OF Jose Bautista
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Travis Snider
CF Vernon Wells
RF Alex Rios
DH Adam Lind
