The Blue Jays designated Lauer for assignment Monday.
The lefty will give up his spot on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster to right-hander Yariel Rodriguez, who was called up from Triple-A Buffalo ahead of Monday's game versus the Rays. The transaction comes after Lauer was lit up for six runs over five innings in a bulk-relief appearance during Sunday's loss to the Angels, bringing the veteran southpaw's ERA to 6.69 over 36.1 innings on the season. With Lauer out of the mix, the Blue Jays will have an opening in the rotation for a fifth starter until Max Scherzer (forearm), Jose Berrios (elbow) or Shane Bieber (elbow) is ready to return from the injured list. Toronto could turn to Spencer Miles to help fill the void, after Miles tossed three scoreless frames as an opener in front of Lauer in Sunday's loss.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Struggles in bulk-relief role
Rotowire
Lauer (1-5) took the loss against the Angels on Sunday. He allowed six runs on five htis and two walks while striking out four across five innings.
Spencer Miles served as Toronto's opener for Sunday's series finale, and he ended up tossing three scoreless innings before Tommy Nance came in to toss a clean, eight-pitch fourth. Lauer entered the game in the fifth with the Blue Jays up 1-0, but the 30-year-old southpaw struggled out of the gate and allowed four runs in the frame, including a two-run homer to the second batter he faced, Oswald Peraza. Lauer proceeded to yield solo long balls to Jo Adell in both the sixth and ninth, and the former now sits at a 6.69 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 26:16 K:BB across 36.1 innings this season. Lauer's next turn in the rotation is tentatively slated for next weekend on the road against the Tigers, though it's possible that Blue Jays manager John Schneider upgrades Miles to a starter role given the team's injuries in the rotation.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Working behind opener Sunday
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Lauer will serve in a bulk-relief role in Sunday's series finale against the Angels, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Spencer Miles will work as the Blue Jays' opening pitcher Sunday, likely covering an inning or two before Lauer takes over. Lauer has given up at least three earned runs in four of his last five starts, and over that span he has gone 0-3 with a 6.38 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 13:10 K:BB across 24 innings. He'll be facing an Angels team that has scored just one run over the first two games of the series against Toronto.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Punished early Monday
Rotowire
Lauer (1-4) took the loss Monday against the Rays, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two over 4.1 innings.
Lauer struggled out of the gate, giving up all three of his runs in the first inning before recording an out, via a three-run homer from Ryan Vilade. He settled in nicely after that, retiring 13 of the next 16 batters, but the early damage proved too much for Toronto to overcome. Lauer has yet to pitch deep into games this season, topping 90 pitches just once and still without a start of six innings or more. He now owns a 6.03 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and a 22:14 K:BB across 31.1 innings and is scheduled to face the Angels next.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Starting Monday
Rotowire
Lauer is scheduled to start Monday's game against the Rays, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Jose Berrios (elbow) will make a fourth minor-league rehab start Sunday and won't be a candidate to return from the 15-day injured list until later next week, so Lauer will receive at least one more turn through the rotation. Lauer surrendered seven runs to the Twins on April 11 but has otherwise been a more respectable fill-in starter with a 4.57 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB in his other five outings.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Solid vs. Red Sox
Rotowire
Lauer did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Red Sox, allowing a run on five hits and a walk across 4.1 innings. He struck out one.
While the veteran left-hander didn't qualify for the win, he was solid in his fifth start of the year, limiting Boston to a lone run on Willson Contreras' first-inning homer. Lauer, who sports a 6.00 ERA with a 1.52 WHIP across 27 innings this season, will likely return to the bullpen, as Jose Berrios (elbow) is expected to rejoin Toronto's rotation next week.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Re-entering rotation Wednesday
Rotowire
Lauer is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Red Sox in Toronto, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Lauer had been banished to the bullpen last week after logging a 6.75 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 22.2 innings over his first five appearances (four starts) on the season, but he'll get another look in the rotation after the Blue Jays lost Max Scherzer (forearm/ankle) to the injured list Monday. The southpaw's upcoming run in the rotation could be brief, as Jose Berrios (elbow) has already made three rehab starts and may be ready to return from the IL the next time Toronto requires a fifth starter.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Goes five innings in no-decision
Rotowire
Lauer did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Angels, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out three.
While Lauer avoided a fourth straight loss Wednesday, the left-hander has yet to make it through six frames in any of his five outings this season. Overall, Lauer is 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 19:12 K:BB across 22.2 innings. He's currently slated to face the Red Sox at home his next time out.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Not 100 percent Sunday
Rotowire
Lauer (flu) was far from full strength Sunday and gave up two runs on three hits and three walks in two innings against the White Sox, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports. Lauer took the loss.
Lauer's start was pushed back one day due to the illness, but it sounds like it still negatively affected his performance. Miguel Vargas plated two runs with a triple in the first inning, and Lauer was fortunate to strand two-thirds of his baserunners in this one. He will presumably be back to full strength for next weekend's matchup at home against the Twins.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Start pushed to Sunday
Rotowire
Lauer will start Sunday against the White Sox instead of Saturday as previously scheduled due to an illness, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
An ailment has apparently been working its way through the Blue Jays' clubhouse, and it will push Lauer back one day in the rotation. The left-hander made his season debut last Sunday versus the Athletics and had a strong showing, striking out nine while giving up two runs on three hits and a walk over 5.1 innings.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Still getting stretched out
Rotowire
Lauer allowed four runs on four hits and a walk over 3.1 innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. He struck out three.
The big blow off the southpaw was a three-run shot by Giancarlo Stanton in the third inning. Lauer built up to 60 pitches (39 strikes), and while he's still expected to begin the season as a long reliever, his path to a spot in the rotation is beginning to look a little clearer. Shane Bieber (forearm) will begin the year on the IL, and Jose Berrios is dealing with elbow inflammation. That could leave Max Scherzer and Lauer in line to be the No. 5 and, if needed, No. 6 starters for the first weeks of the season.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Loses arbitration battle
Rotowire
Lauer will earn $4.4 million in 2026 after losing his arbitration hearing with the Blue Jays on Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Lauer had filed for a $5.75 million salary, coming off a 2025 campaign in which he delivered a 3.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 102:26 K:BB in 104.2 innings. The veteran lefty brought some stability to the back end of the Toronto rotation for much of the summer before he transitioned into a relief role once the Blue Jays regained some health with the returns of Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer from injuries. Scherzer is now a free agent, but with Toronto retaining Bieber, trading for Dylan Cease and preparing breakout postseason star Trey Yesavage for a full-time rotation spot in 2026, Lauer could see a larger share of his appearances out of the bullpen during the upcoming season.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Hit hard vs. Twins
Rotowire
Lauer didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against Minnesota, allowing eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits across 4.2 innings. He struck out four.
It was a rough outing for the left-hander, who gave up a season-high four homers before departing with two outs in the fifth inning. Prior to Wednesday, Lauer had not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his first 14 starts this year. Overall, his ERA sits at 3.21 with a 1.13 WHIP and 91:25 K:BB across 92.2 innings this season. Per manager John Schneider, Lauer will likely move into the bullpen down the stretch with Shane Bieber returning to the rotation.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Slated to start Wednesday
Rotowire
Lauer is expected to start Wednesday's game against Minnesota in Toronto, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
With Shane Bieber returning from the 60-day injured list to make his Toronto debut Friday, manager John Schneider indicated Lauer would be moving to a relief role. While Schneider told Mae that Lauer will still be available for a brief appearance out of the bullpen in Saturday's game in Miami, the Blue Jays still plan to have the lefty start at least one more time Wednesday in order to give Bieber extra rest between outings. It's not yet clear if Lauer will handle a full workload in his start next week, nor is it known whether Toronto will opt for a six-man rotation for any additional amount of time as Bieber gets back into a groove as he settles back in following his April 2024 Tommy John surgery.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Shifting to relief for now
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Lauer will be available out of the bullpen for this weekend's series in Miami, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Shane Bieber (elbow) is poised to make his Blue Jays debut Friday, which means Lauer will be booted out of the rotation, despite logging a 2.76 ERA and 87:25 K:BB over 88 innings covering 20 appearances (14 starts). Schneider added that it's "not a [permanent] move to the bullpen" for Lauer, so the left-hander could still make some starts for Toronto down the stretch.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Chased early versus Dodgers
Rotowire
Lauer allowed three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out four over three innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Sunday.
Lauer didn't have much command, throwing just 42 of 71 pitches for strikes. He served up solo home runs to Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in the first inning and walked in a run in the third before his exit. Prior to Sunday, Lauer had pitched pretty well, posting a 2.57 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 34:4 K:BB over his previous six outings. His struggles in this start can be chalked up to a tough opponent -- he's earned the benefit of the doubt. On the year, Lauer has a 2.82 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 83:22 K:BB through 83 innings over 19 appearances (13 starts). The left-hander is projected to make his next start at home versus the Rangers.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Cruises behind generous run support
Rotowire
Lauer (7-2) earned the win over Colorado on Monday, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out four batters over six innings.
Toronto's offense put up nine runs through three innings, taking the stress off Lauer as he cruised through six one-run frames. The left-hander threw 64 of 97 pitches for strikes and notched 13 whiffs while finishing with his fourth quality start over his past six outings. Lauer hasn't given up more than two runs in any start and has posted a 2.57 ERA with a superb 34:4 K:BB across 35 frames over that six-game span. He's next lined up for a road start against the Dodgers this weekend.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Twirls gem in win
Rotowire
Lauer (6-2) picked up the win after throwing eight innings, allowing one run on five hits and no walks while striking out six, during Thursday's 11-4 win over the Tigers.
Facing one of the league's top offenses, Lauer delivered his best start of the season. His longest start prior to Thursday was six innings, but he bested that by two frames and allowed just one run in the process. Since the 30-year-old has been stretched back out to being a starter, he's been one of the Blue Jays more reliable options, not allowing more than three runs in an appearance all season. His ERA sits at 2.61 with 71 strikeouts over 69 innings, with his next appearance scheduled to be on the road at Baltimore.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Falls to White Sox
Rotowire
Lauer (4-2) took the loss Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out seven.
Lauer was solid Wednesday, holding Chicago scoreless through his first three innings while allowing just one hit. However, the left-hander would surrender a pair of runs on three hits in the fourth, which proved to be enough to stick him with the loss in a 2-1 defeat. It's been an impressive year overall for Lauer, who joined Toronto's rotation in June when Bowden Francis (shoulder) landed on the IL -- he's yet to allow more than three runs in an outing. Lauer sports a 2.78 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP and 58:16 K:BB across 55 innings this season.
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Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Coughs up three runs
Rotowire
Lauer did not factor in the decision during Sunday's win over Boston. He allowed three runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings while striking out four.
Lauer coughed up a pair of runs in the second inning before Boston plated one more in the fifth. He had given up four runs over his previous 24.1 innings (1.48 ERA) entering Sunday's outing. Lauer went 3-0 during that span but hasn't completed six innings in any appearance this season. Still, he owns a 2.60 ERA with a 45:14 K:BB through 45 frames this season. Lauer's next outing is expected to be at home against the Angels.
