▲ On May 11, against the LA Angels, Eric Lauer bowed his head after a poor outing: five innings, six runs allowed
[SPOTV News — Reporter Kim Tae-woo] Eric Lauer (31, Toronto), who American fans may remember from his 2024 season with KIA, took the loss on May 11 at Rogers Centre. He allowed three home runs across five innings and finished with five hits, two walks, four strikeouts and six earned runs.
Though Lauer worked five innings, he didn’t start the game. He came on in the fifth inning as Toronto’s third pitcher. Spencer Mails started and worked three innings, Tommy Nance followed in the fourth, and Lauer entered in the fifth and stayed through the end. In effect, the Blue Jays reversed the typical roles: Miles and Nance functioned like openers, and Lauer acted as the bulk arm.
Through May 10, Toronto had listed Lauer as the starter for the 11th, but the plan changed before first pitch. Manager John Schneider called it a “double opener”: using bullpen arms Spencer Mails and Tommy Nance to start, then turning to Lauer as the bulk guy. While the relievers did their job, Lauer unraveled and Toronto dropped the game.
Local outlets pointed to history. On April 18 in Arizona, Lauer publicly bristled when the team suddenly used an opener strategy. Originally scheduled to start, he instead entered as the second pitcher in the second inning. After that outing he told reporters, “Honestly, I really hate that—coming in after an opener as the bulk guy. I can’t stand it. It wrecks my pregame routine,” and voiced clear frustration.
▲ Lauer had publicly rejected the bulk-guy role, but after this poor outing he hung his head
At the time Lauer left a little wiggle room, saying, “That’s not my decision,” but Schneider countered, “Right. It’s not his call,” creating an awkward exchange. Lauer had made his displeasure known, and Schneider insisted those choices are managerial. The same scenario unfolded on the 11th, and reporters pressed Lauer after the game.
This time Lauer took a more conciliatory tone. Speaking to MLB.com and Sportsnet after the loss, he said, “In my last outing I gave up three runs in the first and blew my chance, and today I couldn’t justify myself either. It didn’t get any better.”
Lauer had argued he belonged in a traditional starting role, but recent results don’t back that up—and he conceded the point. “I’m not a locked-in member of the starting rotation,” he admitted, accepting his current standing. “Whether I start or come out of the bullpen, I’ll focus on pitching quality every time I go to the mound.”
▲ Lauer faces a precarious spot after a worse season than last year
MLB.com noted, “After Sunday’s game Lauer’s tone wasn’t as combative as before. He conceded he doesn’t have a guaranteed rotation spot and acknowledged he must show his best stuff immediately, not warm up over a few innings. His velocity hasn’t returned to 2025 levels; it’s sitting around 90–91 mph rather than 91–93 mph. Without precise command, he can be in danger at any time.”
Toronto’s rotation currently includes Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Patrick Corbin, Trey Yasevich and Lauer. Cody Ponce is out for the season with an injury, Max Scherzer is on the injured list, Shane Bieber hasn’t yet appeared in rehab starts, and José Berríos experienced an elbow issue during a rehab outing and will undergo further testing.
For now, injuries give Lauer opportunities, but his recent outings haven’t earned him those chances outright. His dejected body language after the loss reflected that reality. With Scherzer, Bieber and Berríos still working their way back, Toronto will likely continue to use Lauer flexibly—either as a starter or a bulk arm. As Lauer said, what matters is producing quality innings whenever he takes the mound.
▲ Eric Lauer must prove his value as either a starter or reliever in upcoming opportunities
