TORONTO (Reuters) - The Toronto Blue Jays recalled left-hander Brett Cecil from the minors on Tuesday and said the pitcher will return to the rotation this week.

Cecil went 8-2 with a 5.26 earned-run average in 12 starts since being optioned to triple-A Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League in April after a slow start to the Major League Baseball season.

He has 1-2 record and 6.86 earned-run average in four starts with the Blue Jays this season. In those starts, the 24-year-old pitcher allowed 24 hits in 21 innings with four home runs, 11 walks and 15 strikeouts.

Cecil will return to the rotation on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Blue Jays also said they optioned right-handed pitcher Zach Stewart to double-A New Hampshire of the Eastern League. Stewart, 24, posted a 0-1 record with a 4.86 earned-run average during his first stint with Toronto.

(Reporting by Frank Pingue, editing by Steve Keating)