Toronto Blue Jays starter Eric Lauer will spend some time pitching in the bullpen following his successful season so far. This has nothing to do with his performance, as he is pitching well with an 8-2 record and a 2.76 ERA.
The reason for the move is to provide newly acquired ace Shane Bieber an extra day of rest following his return on Friday from Tommy John surgery.
Bowden Francis put the Jays in a very dangerous spot this year in terms of their rotation. Eric Lauer saved the staff as the number five guy. 8-2 record with a 2.76 ERA.
This guy is a major reason Toronto’s in first. Please put some respect on his name. pic.twitter.com/7IKfmd17b2
— Sid Seixeiro (@Sid_Seixeiro) August 21, 2025
Eric Lauer Returns to Bullpen Following Strong Performance in Rotation
Lauer is a team player, and it comes as no surprise with the move to the bullpen. He obviously will do whatever he can to help the team, and his ability to pitch long relief makes him a valuable asset on the pitching staff. Lauer can serve as a high-leverage reliever who would greatly benefit the Blue Jays in the postseason.
Lauer has spent lots of time in the bullpen and is better prepared for this role. While the decision was tough with moving Lauer, considering he’s been pitching so well as a starter, easing Bieber into the rotation takes precedence for now.
Lauer started off as a spot starter this season when Max Scherzer was on the injured list, but then found himself flourishing in the rotation. But with the addition of Bieber, the Blue Jays have Scherzer, Bieber, Gausman, Chris Bassitt, and José Berríos in the rotation. Moving Lauer to the bullpen shouldn’t be looked at negatively. Lauer evidently doesn’t perceive it in this way. At the end of the day, players just want to win, so utilizing their strengths is a luxury, especially at this point in the season.
Long Relief Role
The long reliever role that Lauer can step into will allow him to hold leads if the starters help set them up. Having Lauer come in the seventh inning in a game or in another high-leverage situation would be the glue that the Blue Jays need to continue their run atop the American League East. Lauer is a big reason why the Blue Jays have performed well, and his reliability has been a blessing. The Blue Jays’ bullpen has had some struggles recently, including in spots where having a long reliever would benefit them.
Lauer’s long relief role will also provide more rest to the bullpen. Let’s face it, when the Blue Jays need to turn to the bullpen and have relievers who are more rested, they play better. We have seen in the past where Trevor Richards pitched too frequently in the bullpen, and this backfired. Placing too much pressure on certain relievers who aren’t high-leverage can impact them negatively. But Eric Lauer appears well-suited for this role, putting the Blue Jays’ bullpen in good hands.
Main Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
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