TORONTO — Any conversation about the Toronto Blue Jays’ rotation must begin with the trio of Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and Chris Bassitt. That’s obviously been the case for the three seasons that the veteran right-handers have been together in Toronto.
However, at least in the context of this season, the question needs to be asked: When can we look at Eric Lauer as another pillar of the pitching staff?
The left-hander 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 before the offence jumped on San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb in what was an exciting 6-3 win in front of a sellout 42,015 crowd at Rogers Centre.
Lauer, 30, had been an effective major-league pitcher in the past with the Padres and Brewers. However, he found himself pitching in the minor leagues and in Korea in 2024 before signing with the Blue Jays as a free agent this past off-season. He joined the big-league club at the end of April and whether in relief or out of the starting rotation, Lauer has shoved.
He allowed a solo home run to Willy Adames and a sacrifice fly to Heliot Ramos on Saturday, but that was the extent of the damage the Giants could muster against the left-hander. Lauer allowed just two hits over his six innings, walking none and striking out seven while lowering his ERA to 2.80 on the season.
Lauer’s up to 61 innings on the season and it’s fair to say by now that he’s an important part of what’s happening with these Blue Jays. He’s someone Blue Jays manager John Schneider can rely on and that’s key given that the trade deadline is quickly approaching. The Blue Jays will likely try to add pitching help, but at the moment, the club can do so knowing that it has Lauer comfortably in place.
