Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Eric Lauer faces an uphill battle as returning aces and a surplus of talented left-handers threaten to squeeze him out of October.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are finally getting healthier as the final month of the regular season begins, creating difficult postseason roster decisions.
The starting rotation has received a major boost with Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow returning from lengthy injury recoveries.
Combined with the addition of ace Tarik Skubal, Los Angeles suddenly has one of the deepest rotations in MLB.
That depth could leave Eric Lauer without a postseason role.
Lauer’s immediate future
Katie Woo from The Athletic reported that Lauer may be the odd man out despite being one of the Dodgers’ most dependable pitchers this season.
Woo pointed to the number of left-handers already positioned for postseason spots, including Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Jack Dreyer and likely Justin Wrobleski. Kris Bubic could also enter the competition.
“On the pitching side, it’s hard to see Eric Lauer cracking the list, despite Lauer being one of the most dependable arms this season,” Woo wrote.
“That Lauer looks to be outside the bubble has more to do with the left-handers that have more or less stamped their ticket on the roster: Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Jack Dreyer and most likely Justin Wrobleski, with Kris Bubic potentially in the mix.”
Lauer has given Los Angeles valuable stability while other starters were unavailable.
However, postseason rosters do not require five or six starting pitchers, meaning his role becomes less certain if the rotation remains healthy.
Since joining the Dodgers, Lauer has appeared in 13 games (11 starts), posting a 3.78 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 69 innings.
The veteran held a rotation spot for months and remains there with Roki Sasaki on the Injured List.
Shohei Ohtani is also expected to return to the mound at some point, potentially creating another obstacle for Lauer.
Wrobleski is recovering from injury and is expected to become a bullpen option once available.
Los Angeles also may not want to carry an excessive number of left-handers in the bullpen, which could further hurt Lauer’s chances.
His postseason experience could work in his favor.
Lauer pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays last October and recorded a 3.12 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 8.2 innings across five postseason appearances.
He was also involved in numerous trade rumors around the deadline, but the Dodgers ultimately kept him.
That decision has paid off while injuries continued affecting the pitching staff, even though his October role remains uncertain.
Lauer’s upside
Lauer’s greatest strength has been his ability to provide stability without requiring a defined role.
He has experience starting games, handling different workloads and adjusting when circumstances around a pitching staff change.
That versatility matters for a contender.
Lauer also brings composure and preparation developed over several seasons in MLB.
He understands how to navigate lineups without relying entirely on overpowering stuff and can change his approach depending on the matchup.
His willingness to absorb innings has been especially valuable for a Dodgers team that spent much of the season managing injuries.
There is also something to be said for reliability.
Lauer continued taking the ball when Los Angeles needed healthy starters, helping prevent the rotation from becoming even more unstable.
That contribution will make any postseason omission difficult.
The Dodgers may ultimately decide other pitchers fit their October roster construction better.
But Lauer has already shown why keeping him at the deadline mattered, and he remains capable of helping if another opportunity opens.
