Blue Jays Starter Eric Lauer Pulled Early Against Chicago White Sox

Lauer's struggles marked by lack of command in short outing

Apr. 5, 2026 at 7:41pm

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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Eric Lauer struggled in his appearance against the Chicago White Sox on April 5, 2026, resulting in an early exit from the game. Lauer was pulled after pitching just two innings, allowing one run on three hits and issuing three walks.

Why it matters

The outing came after Lauer's scheduled start was pushed back by one day due to an illness that had been circulating through the Blue Jays clubhouse. Lauer's early exit put additional strain on the team's pitching rotation, which has already been challenged by injuries to other key starters.

The details

Lauer's performance was marked by a lack of command, as he allowed one run on three hits and issued three walks by the time he exited in the third inning. To address the immediate need for relief following Lauer's early exit, the Blue Jays utilized Austin Voth, who had been called up from triple-A earlier that same day.

  • Lauer's scheduled start was originally set for April 4, but was pushed back by one day due to his illness.
  • Lauer exited the game against the White Sox in the third inning on April 5, 2026.

The players

Eric Lauer

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher who struggled in his outing against the Chicago White Sox on April 5, 2026.

Austin Voth

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher who was called up from triple-A and brought in to pitch after Lauer's early exit.

John Schneider

Toronto Blue Jays manager who announced that Lauer was battling an illness and would not start the April 4 game as originally scheduled.

Shane Bieber

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher who was injured, creating an opening in the rotation that Lauer filled.

Jose Berrios

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher who was injured, creating an opening in the rotation that Lauer filled.

Trey Yesavage

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher who remained unavailable for the series against the Chicago White Sox as he worked his way back from the injured list.

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What’s next

Trey Yesavage was scheduled for a rehab outing with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays on April 4, where he was expected to pitch approximately three innings as part of his return from the injured list.

The takeaway

Lauer's early exit highlights the ongoing pitching challenges facing the Toronto Blue Jays, as the team continues to manage injuries to key members of their starting rotation. The decision to delay Lauer's start due to illness further exacerbated the team's need for reliable pitching options.