The Toronto Blue Jays ‘ rotation is becoming more consistent and dominant, and Eric Lauer is a big reason for this. He’s been a pleasant surprise for the Blue Jays staff, and in his most recent outings he has been racking up the strikeouts and swing and misses. Lauer owns a 2.21 ERA this season with a 4-1 record and 41 strikeouts. In his last three games, he has recorded 17 strikeouts, and in his last two outings, the Blue Jays earned victories against the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Cleveland Guardians. Lauer has been an exciting player to watch this season, as he has been utilized as a spot starter but is now pitching like an ace and deserves to remain in the rotation despite Max Scherzer making his first start since March 29th on Wednesday against the Guardians.
Blue Jays Swingman Eric Lauer Finding Role in Rotation
Lauer is reminiscent of Bowden Francis, who came alive for the Blue Jays late in 2024. The latter’s underperformance this season has been unfortunate. If Lauer can continue to remain in his groove, he could be a player who has a bright future and an earned role in the rotation. In his last start against the Guardians, he extended the impressive start to his Blue Jays tenure. His swingman role has allowed him to fill a spot in the rotation because of Scherzer’s injury. But his solid performance has earned him a more permanent role. Lauer has transformed into a valuable asset to the team.
Eric Lauer has a 2.21 ERA THIS SEASON! pic.twitter.com/sn6REM4Cfm
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 25, 2025
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The Blue Jays called up in April, and he had never pitched as a starter or bulk reliever. He was used to fill a spot that became available because of Scherzer and now Francis, who is on the IL with a right shoulder impingement. His low ERA and solid strikeout-to-walk ratio have made him an impressive pitcher for the Blue Jays to lean on. He has a 25.5 % strikeout rate and an 8.77% walk rate across 40 2/3 innings this season. Lauer has solidified his status in the rotation, and this has permitted the Blue Jays to manage Scherzer’s workload more effectively. Scherzer will likely go five frames as he returns to the rotation. Lauer’s role and how he continues to perform will be significant as Toronto can easily option him if he undergoes any struggles.
The Last Word
Lauer’s solid season has earned him a start in the rotation and has shaped out to be an intriguing player for the Blue Jays this season. Who would have thought that a call-up would lead to a regular rotation spot for the 30-year-old veteran? Lauer has stood out with a fastball run value that ranks in the 99th percentile with six. He’s is showing solid command and control on the mound and has effectively located his pitches well. This has led to more strikeouts, where he has been able to do more damage and get ahead early.
It’s been interesting how the Blue Jays have been able to make things work while dealing with injuries. Even with Lauer stepping in, they lack depth in the rotation with Jake Bloss, who was supposed to make his debut, landing on the shelf with a UCL tear in his pitching elbow. Having Lauer has been a pleasant surprise and boost for a Blue Jays’ rotation that started the season off shaky but has tightened up their performance lately.
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