Toronto Blue Jays lefty Eric Lauer has been consistently effective so far filling in the Blue Jays rotation as a fifth starter.
Lauer has simply been a revelation for the Blue Jays in 2025 and continued to cement his standing in the rotation with another strong outing on Saturday.
Lauer allowed just two runs over six innings, keeping the Blue Jays in the game until the bottom of the order jumped on San Francisco Giants' ace Logan Webb in what was an exciting 6-3 win in front of a sell-out 42,015 crowd at Rogers Centre.
Lowest ERA in a pitcher's first 15 games with the @BlueJays franchise (minimum 40 IP): 1.90- Roger Clemens (1997) 2.28- Tom Candiotti (1991) 2.51- Hyun Jin Ryu (2020-21) 2.80- Eric Lauer (2025) 2.93- Kevin Gausman (2022) 2.97- Gustavo Chacin (2004-05) 3.21- Marcus Stroman (2014)
«I think I'm past the point saying he knows how to pitch. His stuff is pretty legit,» said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. «It's not surprising. He's been doing this for a while now.»
Lauer had been an effective major-league hurler in the past with the Padres and Brewers, however, he found himself pitching in the minors and in Korea in 2024 before signing with the Blue Jays as a free agent this past off-season.
The 30-year-old was called up to the big-league club at the end of April and whether in long relief or out of the starting rotation, Lauer has shoved.
🌟 @KentStBaseball are you watching your boy Eric Lauer? 6 brilliant innings yesterday, retired 13 straight! This Golden Flash went from MLB to Korea to leading Toronto's playoff charge at 5-2. MAC excellence fueling this AL East title run!
«My whole career I've been a starter,» Lauer told Sportsnet's David Singh. «Coming out of the bullpen in long relief was a little bit of a change for me but it was still kind of shaped in the way where I could keep my starter mentality with me. So, yeah, I'm just trying to make sure that I stick in the rotation, honestly. That's what I want to do and that's where I think I can help the team best.»
Eric Lauer last 7 starts :
6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 K 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 K 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 K 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 8 K 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 K 2.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 K 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 K
Ernie Clement was asked where Lauer ranked among the Blue Jays' unsung heroes this season.
«One probably,» responded Clement. «What he's been able to do and come in and just give us a chance to win every game, it's invaluable. Tip of the cap to him. He's been probably our unsung MVP so far.»