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Blue Jays: Why moving to the bullpen could bring out the best version of Eric Lauer
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Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Apr 27, 2026, 07:21 EDTUpdated: Apr 27, 2026, 07:30 EDT
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With the return of Trey Yesavage set for Tuesday, when the Toronto Blue Jays host their division rival, the Boston Red Sox, come to town.
During the announcement of Yesavage’s return, the Blue Jays also stated that left-hander Eric Lauer would move to the bullpen to make room for the rookie phenom. 
Lauer has struggled to begin 2026, posting a record of 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.54 WHIP, while also creating headlines with his blunt answer on how he feels about games beginning with an opener. While things haven’t exactly been smooth sailing over the season’s opening month, including battling the flu right from the get-go, the move to the bullpen could help turn the 30-year-old’s 2026 campaign around. 
The southpaw is likely to shift into a long relief role, a spot that he excelled in over the course of last season. Last year, Lauer went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across his 28 games. Of those 28 appearances, 13 of them came with Lauer entering from the bullpen, with the left-hander finishing out the year in the bullpen. 
In the regular season’s final month, Lauer made seven appearances out of the bullpen, pitching 12 innings, going 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. Lauer was able to hold opposing batters to a .217 average against while recording a 10:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Five of the lefties’ seven appearances spanned over one inning, which is so vital in saving a bullpen from overworking arms on a day a starter can’t give the club length. 
Entering the playoffs, it was clear that Lauer wasn’t going to be a part of the Blue Jays’ rotation, but that didn’t stop Lauer from making a major impact. Lauer was on the Blue Jays’ roster for all three series, and saw action against all three opponents, the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, and Los Angeles Dodgers that the Blue Jays faced. 
While Lauer’s postseason got off to a rough start, giving up three runs in just 1/3 of an inning in Game 2 of the ALDS, the eight-year MLB veteran turned it around from there on out. Lauer wound up pitching in four more games, covering 8 1/3 scoreless innings. 
Lauer capped his postseason by shining in the World Series against the powerhouse Dodgers. During Game 3’s 18-inning marathon that eventually saw the Dodgers win 6-5 on a Freddie Freeman walk-off home run, Lauer entered in the bottom of the 12th inning and posted a 4 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB (3 IBB), 2 K line. Lauer threw 68 pitches and continued to give the Blue Jays’ lineup a chance before Freeman’s blast. 
Nine of Lauer’s 13 appearances out of the bullpen resulted in scoreless outings, showing comfort in that much-needed role. As Yesavage works to build up to a higher pitch count, the option to piggyback Lauer off the 22-year-old remains a possibility, as the Blue Jays will most likely be cautious with Yesavage working his way back from a right shoulder impingement. 
Currently, in the Blue Jays’ bullpen, the left-handers are Mason Fluharty, who owns a 5.40 ERA, and Joe Mantiply, who has recorded an ERA of 3.72. Fluharty’s role continues to grow, while Mantiply was brought to the organization on a minor-league deal and is a likely candidate to be optioned to Triple-A Buffalo as a corresponding move. If Lauer can find his form from last year, he could become not only the preferred long relief option but also the go-to lefty for manager John Schneider. 
While it’s not the spot that Lauer was hoping to be in this early in the year, he still has the opportunity to be a major contributor in a role that he was so successful in a season ago. 

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