Redmond could be stretched out in next start

TORONTO -- Right-hander Todd Redmond will make his third start for the Blue Jays on Tuesday against the Dodgers.

Redmond has done a formidable job in his short time as the club's fifth starter, as Toronto is 2-0 in his starts. However, his work has been limited with manager John Gibbons turning to the strength of his squad, the bullpen, early in his starts.

But for his upcoming start, Gibbons may lean a little heavier on Redmond, who threw only 67 pitches in his last outing.

"His previous two starts we were pretty fresh in the bullpen, so we were able to do that," Gibbons said about limiting Redmond's work. "You'd love him to stay in there as long as you can. Kind of just let the game dictate. … He's done a pretty good job for us, he really has."

In his two starts, Redmond has a 5.00 ERA in only nine innings, with a 1.00 WHIP, an opponent's batting average against of .156 and 10 strikeouts.

Despite suggestions outside of the organization that Ricky Romero may be ready to return to a big league mound and replace Redmond, that simply isn't the case, according to Gibbons.

"Ricky is moving in the right direction, but we want to give him a little more time doing it," Gibbons said. "When he comes back you want him to be good and ready to stay."

In seven starts since June 14 for Triple-A Buffalo, Romero has a 2.91 ERA, with a 1.27 WHIP and 32 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings.