The Jays are now 5-9 in September. Yesterday we looked at how the batter have been doing this month. Today it will be the pitchers.

Our pitchers are having as rough a time as the batters, they have a 5.28 ERA. The starters are 3-7 with a 5.37 ERA averaging just 5 innings a start. The relievers are 2-2 with a 5.15 ERA and 4 saves. They have averaged 3.6 innings per game.

Up Arrows:

J.A. Happ: 3.68 ERA in 3 starts. In 14.2 innings batters hit .228/.308/.351 with 2 home runs, 6 walks and 10 strikeouts.

He had 2 ‘Quality Starts’ going 6 innings with 2 earned in one and 6 innings with 1 earned in the other. The other start was just 2.2 innings, when he allowed 3 earned, and Gibby had a pretty quick hook with him. He was 2-0 and the team won all three games he started, scoring 15 runs in his starts. I wasn’t going to give him an up arrow, but that .228/.308/.351 line is pretty terrific. He has a good shot at being our first 20 game winner since Roy Halladay in 2008.

Roberto Osuna: 0.00 ERA in 6 games. Batters hit .100/.182/.100 in 6.1 innings (22 PA), with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts.

He had 4 saves. I do like that he has pitched well in games where there was no save involved. Maybe we can retire the ‘can’t pitch without a save on the line’ thing. Gibby gets grief for using him with games well in hand. I likely would have pulled him for the 9th yesterday, but then, we haven’t been winning enough. If we lost that one with someone else pitching, the frie Gibby folks would be out in force. Leo Durocher said “You don't save a pitcher for tomorrow. Tomorrow it may rain.” And I’ll admit I agree with it. You never know what will happen in the future, win today. But there has to be some balance.

Brett Cecil: 0.00 ERA in 5 games. In 3.2 innings batters hit .214/.214/.214 with 0 walks and 6 strikeouts in 14 PA.

Brett has only pitched in losses so far this month (course we haven’t had many wins). He doesn’t seem to have gained any confidence from Gibby yet. Hard to blame Gibby, but he’s looked very good lately, in a very small sample. He hasn’t allowed more than one base runner in an appearance since August 21st.

Joaquin Benoit: 1.42 ERA in 7 games. In 6.1 innings batters hit .174/.231/.304 with 1 home run, 2 walks and 11 strikeouts in 26 PA.

He had 1 win, 3 holds and 1 blown save. I keep thinking he’s getting lucky. He seems to give up a lot of hard hit balls that find gloves, but 11 strikeouts in 26 PA is pretty great. I guess I’d ride him as long as he keeps getting the job done too.

Down Arrows:

Aaron Sanchez: 7.59 ERA in 2 starts. In 10.2 innings batters hit .238/.333/.500 with 3 home runs, 6 walks and 6 strikeouts.

Two starts, one was good, 7 innings, 3 earned, one was terrible. 3.2 innings 6 earned. The team lost both starts, though he didn’t get the decision in either. They did score 14 runs for him in the two games. The lack of strikeouts worries me some, but then he’s been fighting a blister.

R.A. Dickey: 5.00 ERA in 2 starts. In 9 innings batters hit .350/.381/.500 with 1 home runs 2 walks and 10 strikeouts.

He had one terrible start 4 innings, 7 hits and 5 earned and one good, 5 innings 7 hits and 0 earned. That batting line against is pretty awful and he did give up a lot of hits in yesterday’s game, even if the Angels didn’t score against him. Leaving all those runners on base is either good pitching or a lot of luck.

Marco Estrada: 8.53 ERA in 3 starts. In 12.2 innings batters hit .321/.403/.415 with 1 home run, 8 walks and 15 strikeouts.

3 bad starts, he took the loss in each. He’s looked good for a few innings and then it all falls apart. Pitching with a herniated disk can’t be fun. I don’t know if they should skip a start or just keep pitching him and hope he figures it out. He did look very good for 3 innings of his last start. I think maybe he should be on a very short leash.

Joe Biagini: 6.00 ERA in 5 games. In 6 innings batters hit .261/.393/.696 with 3 home runs, 4 walks and 8 strikeouts in 28 PA.

He has 2 hold this month. He was great last night. I’m hoping his little slump is over. He has pitched in 54 games, so perhaps he’s tiring or perhaps he’s just hit a slump. I don’t know where we would be without him. Which ever scout or front office person talked them into picking him should get a raise.

Jason Grilli: 6.75 ERA in 6 games. In 5.1 innings batters hit .200/.320/.452 with 1 home run, 4 walks and 5 strikeouts.

He has a win, a blow save/loss, and 4 holds. Really he only had one bad outing, but it was really bad. 2 walks, 2 hits (1 a home run) and 4 earned. But he’s also had 3 clean innings and 5 outings without allowing a run in his 6 appearances. So really, kind of a marginal down arrow, on a small sample.

Bo Schultz: 18.00 ERA in 3 games. In 2.0 innings batters hit .500/.455/.500 with 2 strikeouts in 11 PA.

Too small a sample size, but he has given up 5 singles in 11 PA which isn’t good.

Scott Feldman: 18.00 ERA in 3 games. In 2 innings batters hit .333/.455/1.111 in 12 PA with 2 home runs, 2 walks and 1 strikeout.

Small sample again, but 2 home runs in 12 PA? He’s not earning himself more playing time.

Ryan Tepera: 5.79 ERA in 6 games. In 4.2 innings batters hit .300/.391/.500 in 23 PA with 1 home run, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts.

Had one bad appearance that makes his numbers look bad. Other than that one game against the Red Sox he’s been pretty good.

Aaron Loup: 0.00 ERA in 4 games. In 2.0 innings, batters hit .333/.429/.333 in 7 PA.

Too small a sample to worry about.

Matt Dermody: 12.00 ERA in 5 games. In 3 innings batters hit .400/.438/.667 in 16 PA, with 1 home run, 0 walks and 5 strikeouts.

Again a small sample. I like the 0 walks and 5 strikeouts. He’s had earned runs in 3 of his 5 appearances.

Neither Up Nor Down:

Marcus Stroman: 4.24 ERA in 3 starts. In 17 inning, batters hit.242/.315/.455 with 3 home runs, 7 walks and 15 strikeouts.

2 of Marcus’ 3 starts hit the minimum of the ‘Quality Start’ definition, going 6 innings, allowing 3 earned in both. The other he went 5 innings and allowed 2 earned. He gave up a home run in each of the starts. The team scored 5 runs total in his 3 starts, so he was 0-3. He hasn’t been bad, but not as terrific as he was in August.

Francisco Liriano: 4.32 ERA in 3 games, 1 start. In 8.1 inings batters hit .188/.212/.531 with 3 home runs, 1 walk and 9 strikeouts.

Without the 3 home runs, that’s an easy up arrow. Just one walk is a surprise. He had a very good start, 6.1 innings, 3 hits, 2 earned and 6 strikeouts. And a good relief appearance, 2 innings, 1 hit, 3 walks. And one terrible relief appearance, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) without getting an out. He starts today. He could make the decisions about who stays in the rotation a tough one with a good start.

Danny Barnes: 3.68 ERA in 5 games. In 7.1 innings, batters hit .259/.300/.333 in 30 PA, with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts.

He’s been pretty good. Given up an earned run in each of his last 3 appearances.