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Can Jordan Romano’s Return Be a Game-Changer?

On July 29th, the Toronto Blue Jays had to place their ace closer, Jordan Romano, on the injured list due to lower back inflammation. But now, with his return to the lineup, can he be a game-changer for his team and help them remain in the playoff race? The Jays continue to battle with staying in the third wildcard spot as the Seattle Mariners currently reside two games behind them. It’s always tough to lose your top players to injuries, but the Jays have done their best to salvage the lineup with the circumstances. It doesn’t also help that they lost their star hitter Bo Bichette to a knee injury. And they are still awaiting his return to the lineup.

Is Jordan Romano’s Return A Positive?

Romano Vs. Hicks

Before going on the IL, Jordan Romano had a record of 4-5, an ERA of 2.79, pitched 42 innings, and recorded 51 strikeouts as the Jays closer. While he has been injured the Jays picked up closer Jordan Hicks during the trade deadline and while he is known for throwing the ball both hard and fast, he still showcases struggles with the strike zone. If it wasn’t for catcher Danny Jansen blocking three wild pitches that Hicks threw in the dirt back on August 7th, the Jays wouldn’t have won that game against the Cleveland Guardians.

Overall, Hicks has put out some quality starts for the Jays, but with Romano returning to the lineup his ace presence has been missed. Looking at last season, Romano was solid for the Bluebirds as he made 26 converted saves for the Jays in a row, which was a career-high for a Jays pitcher. This season he has recorded 28/31 saves, which represents his presence as the Jays ace closer. Romano and Hicks may have the same first name but in terms of pitching, they are quite diverse. Romano is known for throwing in the high 90s and we know Hicks can throw as fast as 105 mph. But at the end of the day, it isn’t just about speed but rather accuracy and location. Romano is the stronger closer for the Jays but having Hicks in the bullpen will still be significant for the Jays.

Good Rehab Start

Before returning to the Jays lineup, Romano made a rehab start in AAA Buffalo and pitched well. Romano will always encompass showing strong command with the strike zone as a closer. In his last five games, Romano gave up only one run against the Mariners before he was placed on the IL and recorded three strikeouts throughout the five games.

Fans have anxiously been waiting for Romano to return to the Jays lineup as they look for Romano to put up scoreless innings for the Jays as they need consistency. Romano’s strong start in AAA Buffalo showcases his readiness to return to the Jays lineup. The two-time All-Star is known for his strong fastball pitch but also has a good slider.

 

Final Thoughts

If the Blue Jays want to remain in a playoff position, they will need their best players, and Romano’s return couldn’t have come at a better time. Once the Jays also have Bichette back in the lineup, we know their roster will be much stronger. Overall, Romano has been a missing piece to the Jays success, and here’s to hoping that he can continue where he left off and be that vital player that we all know and adore. In the Jays last ten games, they have gone 6-4, which is decent, but we have yet to see the consistency we’ve been hoping for. Baseball-Reference shows the Jays have a 70.3% chance of making the postseason. Could this number improve with Romano returning? The probabilities are high, most definitely.

Main Photo Credits: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

 

Vanessa Serrao

Vanessa Serrao

Vanessa is a freelance baseball writer for Last Word On Baseball. She is also an author and is pursuing a career in sports journalism. She loves the Toronto Blue Jays, but covers MLB breaking news.

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