Los Angeles Dodgers starter Eric Lauer had another strong showing Monday, and added on to his stellar record as a Dodger.
In his six appearances since arriving from the Toronto Blue Jays, the Dodgers have won every game in which Lauer has thrown a pitch. In his last six appearances, Lauer has thrown 34.1 innings and has a 2.88 ERA.
He made his second appearance of the season against the A’s on Monday—the first coming in the third game of the season against them with Toronto—and held them to three runs through six innings while the Dodgers’ offense exploded for nine runs. Both of his last two appearances earned him a winning decision.
“Making sure I’m putting the team in a position to win the game is pretty much my job,” Lauer said. “I think so far I’ve done a good job of that, and making sure that I’m able to stay in the game long enough to save the bullpen a couple of innings is always a positive.”
Four of Lauer’s six appearances have lasted six innings, with the best of the bunch coming against the Minnesota Twins following an opener. He threw six innings of no-hit baseball to lead the Dodgers to a 2-1 win in the Twin Cities.
“Every time he takes the ball it seems like he’s going six innings and giving us some length,” Roberts said. “For him to be shaky early, not getting the strikeouts but still take down 18 outs was big. That’s what he signed up for, and he’s been nothing but impressive for us.”
What Do Eric Lauer’s Strong Performances Mean for the Dodgers’ Rotation?
Lauer initially joined the Dodgers’ rotation as a stopgap while some of their bigger stars recovered from long-term injury, but his performances since joining the team certainly warrant a longer leash than he had.
The Dodgers presently don’t have anyone to come in and replace Lauer, and he likely wouldn’t be the first player replaced anyways. Blake Snell resumed throwing following a procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow and could be back within a reasonable timeframe, but Tyler Glasnow hasn’t progressed well at all from a back injury he suffered in May.
LA doesn’t have to rush either of the two back, as Lauer is doing more than a sufficient job in their place. He’ll look to continue impressing as he aims to secure a spot in a fully-healthy Dodgers rotation.
Will Eric Lauer remain a starter when everyone is 100%?
