The Los Angeles Dodgers have continued finding value in unexpected places this season, complementing their star-studded roster with some overlooked veterans who have become meaningful contributors toward another postseason chase.
One of the team’s biggest surprises has been left-hander Eric Lauer, whose unconventional path from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Dodgers has turned into one of the more remarkable success stories of the year.
After playing a key role for the Blue Jays last year, then voicing some criticism over how he was being used by manager John Schneider and finding himself cut from the roster, Lauer is now helping the Dodgers win every game he has appeared in.
Los Angeles Dodgers Starter Criticized Toronto Blue Jays Strategy Shortly Before Exit
Lauer was removed from the Blue Jays roster as he struggled this season, but he was clear that he did not agree with the team’s strategy to deploy him after an opener had already preceded him
Things seem to come to a head in April, when Lauer publicly criticized the strategy and told reporters that he “can’t stand” following an opener.
“Lauer, who pitched successfully for Toronto as a starter and reliever last year, said he much prefers traditional starting throughout spring training,” Mitch Bannon noted for The Athletic. “He echoed that again (shortly before his Blue Jays exit), pointing to pitchers being creatures of habit. Ahead of the contest, manager John Schneider said the opener decision was to help Lauer avoid the top of the (Arizona) Diamondbacks’ order. It allowed Lauer to pitch five innings while only matching up against Arizona lead-off man Ketel Marte twice.
After the Dodgers picked Lauer up, they seem to have helped him return to form by allowing him to start games without an opener.
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Shortly after joining the Dodgers, Lauer expressed his preferences to manager Dave Roberts.
“He’s told me that when he starts, we win,” Roberts said, according to The Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett.
Lauer has appeared in eight games with the defending World Series champion so far and the team has won all eight of those games. He followed an opener in just one of those games, and it seems the team views him as a traditional starter now.
While Toronto’s insistence on using an opener was rooted in matchup optimization, Lauer’s success in Los Angeles suggests his own comfort level as a traditional starter may have deserved greater consideration. With the Dodgers undefeated in his appearances, the veteran left-hander has become one of baseball’s more unexpected contributors while providing evidence that sometimes the simplest approach can produce the best results.