Eric Lauer is now one step closer to getting his wish — returning to the Toronto Blue Jays’ rotation.

With José Berríos (stress fracture) set to begin this season on the injured list, the Blue Jays are down to five healthy major league-calibre starters, of course, before including Lauer. Previously, the 30-year-old lefty was on the outside looking in, seemingly destined to return to the bullpen in a multi-inning role — similar to the one he served in for much of last season.

But as with any spring training, these things can change in the blink of an eye.

Every step of the way, Toronto’s brass has remained consistent with Lauer’s build-up this spring, keeping him stretched out as a starter in case a need suddenly arises. Even before Berríos’ elbow injury flared up, manager John Schneider continuously reiterated the importance of providing the veteran southpaw with a “normal starter’s workload” throughout camp, adding that he “remained right in the middle” of the organization’s rotation depth heading into 2026.

As fate would have it, Lauer, whose preference is starting rather than relieving, is one break away from becoming a starter again for this team. If another arm goes down or, perhaps, if Trey Yesavage is better off continuing his build-up in minor-league games at the player development complex before rejoining the major-league staff, it’ll open up a spot for Lauer to round out this rotation.

As most remember, Lauer was the rotation’s saviour last season, stepping in when the Blue Jays needed him the most amid Max Scherzer’s IL stint and Bowden Francis’ struggles before missing the remainder of the year with right shoulder impingement — an absence that’ll bleed into 2027 after he underwent season-ending UCL surgery last month.

Following a trio of relief appearances, the former longtime Milwaukee Brewer — who spent half a season in the KBO almost two years ago — was excellent as a starter in 2025, pitching to a 3.33 ERA and 4.17 FIP with a 17.3 per cent strikeout-minus-walk rate across 15 starts. And he was just as reliable after returning to the ‘pen down the stretch, surrendering just two earned runs while issuing nine strikeouts to just one walk over his final six relief appearances in the regular season.

He also added a handful of quality outings during the post-season, compiling a 3.12 ERA and 3.37 FIP across five appearances, striking out eight across 8.2 innings.

Admittedly, the results haven’t been anywhere near as impressive for Lauer this spring. But those don’t matter this time of year anyway. The Blue Jays have been far more focused on getting him enough reps, which will include a four-inning start against minor-league hitters at the PDC on Wednesday after topping out at 60 pitches in his previous outing versus the New York Yankees.

Lauer also hasn’t paid much, if any, attention to his 8.64 ERA in four exhibition starts thus far. Why would he when he’s been trying to iron out a few new wrinkles on the mound, such as further incorporating a kick-change that was used just eight per cent of the time last season and continuing to develop a change-of-pace curveball that has primarily been a 0-0 weapon in the past.

This is the perfect time to throw things at the wall and see what sticks. He doesn’t need to prove how good he is to the Blue Jays. They know exactly how valuable he is to them.

Now that their starting pitching has been tested once again, Lauer’s importance — and his versatility — continues to grow in the little over a week that remains until Opening Day.