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Kent Today
By the People, for the People
Eric Lauer emerges as Blue Jays' unheralded ace
The lefty starter has quietly become a key part of Toronto's rotation after a career resurgence.
Mar. 30, 2026 at 5:07pm
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Eric Lauer's unorthodox pitching style has become a key asset for the Blue Jays as they navigate a rash of injuries to their starting rotation.Kent TodayEric Lauer, a former first-round pick of the San Diego Padres, has quietly emerged as a valuable starting pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. After struggling early in his career, Lauer has found his groove over the past two seasons, posting a 3.18 ERA in 2025 and following that up with an impressive 3-0 start to the 2026 campaign, including a 9-strikeout performance in his season debut.
Why it matters
The Blue Jays have dealt with several key pitching injuries to start the season, making Lauer's strong start all the more important. His continued development could be crucial to Toronto's playoff hopes, especially if the team's other starters remain sidelined for an extended period.
The details
Lauer, a native of northeast Ohio, was a first-round pick by the Padres in 2016 after starring at Kent State University. He struggled to find consistency in his first few MLB seasons, but has seen a resurgence the past two years, including a 3.19 ERA in 2021 and a 3.69 ERA in 2022 with the Milwaukee Brewers. Lauer joined the Blue Jays in 2025 and posted the best single-season ERA of his career at 3.18, and he's carried that momentum into 2026 with a 3-0 start and a dominant 9-strikeout performance in his season debut.
- Lauer was a first-round pick by the Padres in the 2016 MLB Draft.
- He made 23 starts for the Padres in 2018 with a 4.34 ERA.
- Lauer had 30 outings for the Padres in 2019 with a 4.45 ERA.
- Lauer struggled in the COVID-impacted 2020 season with the Brewers.
- Lauer joined the Blue Jays in 2025 and posted a 3.18 ERA, the best of his career.
The players
Eric Lauer
A left-handed pitcher who was a first-round pick of the San Diego Padres in 2016 after starring at Kent State University. After early career struggles, Lauer has found his groove the past two seasons and is now a key part of the Toronto Blue Jays' starting rotation.
Shane Bieber
A starting pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays who is currently dealing with an injury.
Trey Yesavage
A starting pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays who is currently dealing with an injury.
Jose Berrios
A starting pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays who is currently dealing with an injury.
What’s next
The Blue Jays will need to monitor the health of their other injured starters, as Lauer's role in the rotation could change depending on their timelines for return.
The takeaway
Eric Lauer's resurgence has been a pleasant surprise for the Blue Jays, providing a much-needed boost to their starting rotation amid several key injuries. His continued development and consistency could be crucial to Toronto's playoff aspirations this season.
