Ricky Romero has been scratched from his scheduled start Thursday due to a strained left oblique.

The Blue Jays are saying it's only a mild strain, and they're hoping Romero will feel good enough in a few days to start Saturday. We'll see. Kyle Drabek will now get the ball on Thursday, with Jesse Litsch going on Friday.

Ricky Romero held the Yankees in check on Friday, allowing just five hits and two runs in six innings of work as the Blue Jays pulled out a 5-3 win on the road.

He struck out seven while walking three. Romero now owns a 3.00 ERA and 1.21 WHIP through his first six starts and 39 innings of work, and looks poised to show considerable improvement for the second straight season. He'll get the Rays his next time out.

Ricky Romero was excellent against the Rays on Sunday afternoon, allowing just two runs on seven hits over seven innings of work while striking out 10, but got out-dueled by Tampa's James Shields in a 2-0 Rays win.

He walked just one in turning an excellent bounce-back outing after getting tagged for eight hits and five runs in only 4 1/3 innings of work against the Red Sox his last time out. Despite being just 1-3, Romero has now gone at least seven innings in three of his first five starts while posting a solid 3.00 ERA and 1.18 WHIP.

Ricky Romero surrendered five runs in 4 1/3 innings Monday in a loss to Boston.

Romero dropped to 2-5 with a 7.69 ERA in 10 career starts against the Red Sox. He's 26-15 with a 3.44 ERA against everyone else. Hopefully his turn won't come up when the Blue Jays and Red Sox play a two-game series next month.

Ricky Romero turned in a quality start on Friday, allowing seven hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings in Toronto's 13-3 win over the Twins.

The kind of outing the Blue Jays will be looking for their new ace to provide every time he takes the mound this season. He'll get the A's his next time out on Thursday.

Ricky Romero pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed five runs Sunday versus the Orioles.

It was a fine outing until the sixth, when the Jays strong together enough hits to score four runs. Romero got seven outs on the ground, struck out six and walked none today. He ends the spring with a 7.91 ERA, but that's not much of a concern. He'll face the Twins and Carl Pavano on Friday.

Ricky Romero gave up four runs on six hits over four innings in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Phillies.

He struck out four and didn't walk any but was undone by a Raul Ibanez three-run homer. The good news is that the strained middle finger on his throwing had that caused him to miss his last start evidently didn't give him any problems. Romero will be the Jays' Opening Day starter.

Ricky Romero will miss his next start due to a slight strain in his left middle finger.

The Blue Jays are hoping that Romero will be fine with a week of rest. He has already made three starts this spring and still has another two to go. The lefty has been tabbed as Toronto's Opening Day starter.

Jays Opening Day starter Ricky Romero allowed four runs and walked five in 3 2/3 innings versus a Pirates split-squad on Saturday.

Andrew McCutchen homered off him. Romero has a 7.20 ERA after three starts this spring.

Rickey Romero will start on Opening Day for Toronto.

Blue Jays manager John Farrell made the announcement Friday in camp. Brandon Morrow would have been a decent choice, but Romero is also highly deserving. The 26-year-old finished 14-9 last season in the brutal AL East while registering a cool 3.73 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 32 starts. He also had a quality 7.46 K/9.

Ricky Romero surrendered four runs in 2 1/3 innings Tuesday in a loss to the Tigers.

Romero gave up one run through two innings before struggling in the third. He was removed with the bases loaded and one out, and Zach Stewart gave up a three-run double to Miguel Cabrera immediately after entering, leaving Romero with a nasty 15.43 ERA.

Ricky Romero yielded three runs over five innings in a no-decision against the Orioles on Saturday afternoon.

All three runs scored in the second inning. Romero threw 42 pitches in the frame and walked three straight batters, including two with the bases loaded. All told, he gave up five hits while striking out three and matching a season-high with five walks. The impressive young left-hander is currently at a career-high 202 innings after throwing 192 1/3 innings last season, so he's in uncharted territory right now. Barring an unexpected shutdown, he'll square off against the Twins for his final start of the season next week.

Ricky Romero was roughed up for six runs over four innings in a loss to the Rays on Saturday afternoon.

It was just his second loss since July 22. All six runs scored in the fourth inning, capped by a grand slam by Brad Hawpe. All told, Romero yielded seven hits while striking out seven, walking three and throwing a wild pitch. Romero's ERA now stands at season-high 3.72. Fantasy owners will probably think twice about starting Romero against Boston next week, since he has a 7.88 ERA in eight career starts against them, but this isn't the potent Red Sox lineup we've come to know.

Ricky Romero limited the Rangers to a run through seven innings Monday to improve to 12-8 on the season.

Both Romero and Tommy Hunter pitched seven innings and allowed seven hits and two walks. The difference was that Hunter gave up three homers on his way to allowing seven runs, while Romero surrendered six singles and a double. Romero has given up just 13 homers in 187 innings on the season. Of course, he never has to face Jose Bautista either.

Ricky Romero surrendered five runs -- four earned -- over 7 1/3 innings in Tuesday's victory versus the Rays.

It was an uneven start, to be sure, but Romero's offensive friends showed up and handed him the victory anyway. The southpaw allowed just three hits, but walked five while striking out five. Romero gave up six runs -- three earned -- over 5 2/3 innings in last Thursday's loss to the Tigers and, coupled with his struggles down the stretch last year, should be monitored closely. He gets another tough assignment with the Rangers coming to town next week.

Ricky Romero surrendered six runs (three earned) over 5 2/3 innings in Thursday's loss to the Tigers.

It was an ugly showing from the southpaw, as he gave up four hits and walked five batters. Romero has been even better in the second half after an impressive first half, but he was off tonight. He really struggled down the stretch last year, so hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come. The lefty and his 3.54 ERA will get the Rays next.

Ricky Romero, who signed a $30.1 million contract extension yesterday, tossed seven innings of one-run ball to beat the Angels on Sunday.

Romero walked three and gave up six hits while striking out four. The outing easily could have been worse, but Romero pitched out of a one out, bases loaded jam in the fourth by retiring Lyle Overbay and Edwin Encarnacion while allowing just one run. Romero is now 10-7 with a 3.43 ERA and 1.27 WHIP on the season, thus giving his owners a tidy profit on his low off-season ADP.

The Blue Jays have signed Rickey Romero to a five-year, $30.1 million extension, according to FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal.

The deal runs from 2011-15 and, as Rosenthal points out, is the largest guarantee ever for a pitcher with less than two years of service time. Romero went 13-9 with a 4.30 ERA in 29 starts as a rookie last year and is 9-7 with a 3.53 ERA in 23 starts thus far in 2010. It appears rather early to commit this much guaranteed money to the young lefty, but Toronto obviously wants to lock up its young core. The deal buys out the first year of Romero's potential free agency years and includes an option for 2016.

Ricky Romero yielded two runs on only two hits in a complete game win over the Yankees on Tuesday night.

This makes four consecutive stellar starts. Romero struck out four and walked one, dropping his ERA to 3.39. He gave up a two-run homer to Mark Teixeira in the first inning, but settled into a dominant rhythm immediately thereafter. Romero, a must-start in all formats, will take on the Red Sox next week.

Ricky Romero yielded two runs -- zero earned -- over seven innings in a win over the Orioles Friday night.

Romero struck out five, walked one and gave up five hits. After not getting out of the third inning in his two previous starts, this should be a good confidence booster. If Romero can maintain his control like he did tonight, he'll be a fantasy asset in the second half. Start him in Kansas City next week.