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Report: Eric Lauer is available for the Blue Jays out of the bullpen this weekend

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation
By Tyson Shushkewich | Last updated Aug 20, 2025 12:04 PM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays are making some temporary changes to the rotation. With the impending arrival of Shane Bieber, who is making his slated to make his first start for the Toronto Blue Jays this Friday in Miami, the Jays are making Eric Lauer available out of the bullpen for their upcoming weekend series

Manager John Schneider commented on the move,” This is not a [permanent] move to the bullpen.” This likely means that once Bieber makes his start, the Jays’ coaching staff will likely look at the schedule and determine their best course of action given their starters and who they are facing, making it a very fluid situation.

Although the southpaw has been one of the most effective starters for the club, the Blue Jays have decided to make Lauer available as a reliever compared to other veteran arms, such as Jose Berrios and Chris Bassitt. This also means that for the current time being, the Jays are sticking with a five-man rotation instead of a six-man rotation.

News: Eric Lauer will be available out of the #BlueJays’ bullpen this weekend.

“This is not a [permanent] move to the bullpen,” John Schneider reiterated.

This sounds like a flexible situation that could change week to week, but Lauer gets the first bump.

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) August 20, 2025

On the surface, the move makes little sense, as Lauer owns a 2.76 ERA and a 3.54 FIP through 88 innings and 20 outings, 14 of which have been starts, as Max Scherzer and Bowden Francis both missed time on the IL. Lauer has amassed a 1.080 WHIP and an 8.9 K/9 in the process while keeping opponents off base to the tune of a 2.6 BB/9.

Since becoming a permanent starter back on June 11th, the Blue Jays have won 10 of his 12 starts, and he’s allowed just 21 earned runs through 62 innings of work. He has not allowed more than three earned runs in a single outing and has limited opponents to one run or fewer through five of those starts.

Lauer is fitting in as a Ross Stripling 2.0 in this current Blue Jays pitching staff, finding success wherever he is needed on the active roster. Depending on how this weekend pans out with Bieber and his first start back from rehab will likely determine the discourse for the rest of the season. The Blue Jays do gain an additional reliever when the rosters expand on September 1st, so the six-man rotation is not out of the question down the line.

This article first appeared on Bluejaysnation and was syndicated with permission.

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