3 Blue Jays who should receive All-Star Game considerations, but may not make it

RP Jordan Romano

Many may not have realized, given the amount of stress and tense moments he usually brought when taking the mound in a tight game, but Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano has quietly been producing quite the solid season to date. He holds a record of 3-3, with a 2.94 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 140 ERA+, only 11 earned runs and nine walks, with 41 punchouts over 33.2 innings pitched.

In addition, he has converted 24 of 27 save opportunities, which feels like a lot of blown saves, but if one took a careful look at the current closer leaders in the American League, Romano is actually among the top three in save conversion % for those that have pitched at least 30 games with at least 15 save opportunities encountered. Even the top closers in the league in Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians and Felix Bautista of the Baltimore Orioles, who typically seemed invincible, has actually blown six and five saves respectively already this season.

However, Romano is still up against stiff competition in Carlos Estévez of the Los Angeles Angels, who has yet to blow a single save all season and has been key in keeping the Angels in the playoff hunt, as well as Will Smith of the Texas Rangers, who has also played a huge part in putting the Rangers atop the AL West, along with notable veterans in Kenley Jansen, Ryan Pressly, and Paul Sewald. But even if Romano doesn’t make it to the All-Star Game, at least it will be comforting for the Jays to know that they will have a well-rested star closer all geared up and ready for the stretch run.