Eric Lauer Set to Make First Dodgers Start on Tuesday
After being acquired from Toronto, Eric Lauer will enter the Dodgers’ rotation and make his first start Tuesday as LA battles early pitching injuries.
SAN DIEGO, CA—Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Dodgers swung a trade to acquire left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer from the Toronto Blue Jays after the former 2025 standout and career Dodger killer was DFA’d after posting an ERA north of six.
Logically, the move made sense with the Dodgers' pitching staff getting their first major test this season after the losses of Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, along with a musical chair of roster moves in the bullpen.
Initially, after the trade, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts suggested that Lauer would be a journeyman out of the bullpen for Los Angeles, a role similarly filled by young lefty Justin Wrobleski.
However, that no longer appears to be the case as Lauer will join the Dodgers’ starting rotation and make his first official start in Dodger Blue on Tuesday when the team returns home.
Lauer’s role with the team is a touchy subject, as a major storyline that followed him this season in Toronto was what some in the media viewed as his unwillingness or lack of support for an opener and coming out of the bullpen.
Lauer, as expected, was asked about those previous comments as the Dodgers, along with many other teams across Major League Baseball, incorporate similar practices.
“It’s good to just have that clarity and that understanding of, ‘This is what we see out of you, this is where we’re going to use you, this is what we need, this is what we want,’” Lauer said. “And when it lines up with what I want and what I feel I can do the best to help the team, I think that’s a really good spot to be in.”
Lauer has been an average pitcher throughout his career, posting a 4.26 ERA across eight seasons, but had a career year with the Jays’ last season, posting a 3.18 ERA across 28 appearances.