Dustin

McGowan

McGowan’s ERA jumped from 1.21 to 3.04 during Sunday’s outing.

All four runs scored in the first, three of them coming on Aaron Rowand’s homer. McGowan walked three and struck out two. He’s expected to return to the minors once the rest of the Toronto rotation gets healthy.

McGowan has a 5.49 ERA in four starts since joining the Jays. He’ll be sent back down once either Ted Lilly or Roy Halladay returns.

His opponent, Sean Douglass, allowed six runs over 5 2/3 innings, so McGowan was the better starter tonight. He was hurt by yielding eight hits and reliever Pete Walker allowing two inherited runners to score, but McGowan still pitched well tonight. Only two of the hits went for extra bases, he walked just one, and struck out four. You won’t want him active for his next outing against Baltimore.

The promising Jays rookie has recovered well from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

There’s no plan in Toronto right now. McGowan makes one start and then it’s banished to the pen. His next stop will probably be Triple-A Syracuse.

McGowan was removed from a 0-0 game after 103 pitches. Neither team scored until Toledo’s Josh Phelps delivered a walkoff homer in the bottom of the 16th. McGowan has a 3.83 ERA in seven starts and seven relief appearances for Syracuse.

McGowan has a 2.57 ERA in four starts since being demoted on May 11, though he’s only totaled 14 innings in those outings. The Jays are still trying to stretch him out after he spent the first month as a reliever.

McGowan had given up 16 earned runs and walked 12 in 13 2/3 innings since being called up on July 29. As big of a disappointment as he’s been this year, he could be a candidate for a trade this winter unless he comes back and gives the Jays some solid work out of the pen next month.

McGowan didn’t take advantage of Ty Taubenheim’s poor performance against the Rangers last night. The opportunity is there for him to join Toronto’s rotation if he begins to show consistency, but hhis window might close if the club can acquire a starting pitcher later this month.