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Instant Reaction: Eric Lauer surrenders three home runs in Blue Jays’ 6-1 loss to Angels
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Photo credit: © David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
May 10, 2026, 16:15 EDTUpdated: May 10, 2026, 16:59 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays just can’t seem to find a way to go on a winning streak.
After being swept by the Tampa Bay Rays earlier this week, the Jays returned home for a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. They took the first two with a chance to sweep their first series since the season opener, but ultimately fell 6-1 to move to 18-22. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one.
Things started off great for the Blue Jays. In the bottom of the first, Daulton Varsho hit a single off José Soriano, then was moved to second thanks to a ground out. With two outs, Kazuma Okamoto hit a double to cash in a run.
Spencer Miles, the team’s opener, threw three scoreless innings, striking out two and allowing two hits. Tommy Nance followed him, pitching a scoreless inning to drop his season ERA to 3.93. It was in the fifth inning where everything fell apart.
Left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer entered the game, walking the first batter he faced. The next batter, Oswald Peraza, took Lauer deep for a 2-1 lead. After retiring two, Zach Neto doubled and Mike Trout walked to put two on, setting up Vaughn Grissom to hit a two-RBI double for the Angels to take a 4-1 lead.
In the sixth, Jo Adell hit a solo home run to make it 5-1. It was the first of his two home runs in this game, as he also hit a solo shot in the top of the ninth in the 6-1 win. However, the Jays had a chance to add some runs just a half inning before.
Soriano was still on the mound in the bottom of the eighth, generating a ground out from Andrés Giménez. Myles Straw legged out an infield single, but Tyler Heineman flew out for the second out, flipping the lineup. Ernie Clement singled and Daulton Varsho hit the Blue Jays’ second infield single of the inning.
That set up Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with the bases loaded and two outs, a grand slam would have tied the game. Unfortunately, the Angels turned to Sam Bachman and Guerrero Jr. grounded out to end the threat. The Jays didn’t get another base runner.

Takeaways…

What do you do with Eric Lauer at this point? He was one of the team’s MVP last season, but with six earned runs in this game, he now has a 6.69 ERA and 6.96 FIP in 36.1 innings of work in 2026. He had a good outing against the Boston Red Sox on April 29th, but has now given up three or more runs in five of his last six games.
With José Berríos getting a second opinion, Max Scherzer taking longer than expected to heal, and Shane Bieber’s timeline still unclear, the Jays basically need to have Lauer as their fifth starter. Well, unless they look internally. Perhaps they could call up either CJ Van Eyk or Chad Dallas. I’m not sure.
The good news is that the other two pitchers the Jays used, Spencer Miles and Tommy Nance, looked great. Miles threw 38 pitches over three innings of work, allowing just two hits and striking out two. Perhaps he’s another option for the fifth spot in the rotation. Nance threw a scoreless inning and now has a 3.93 ERA. He’s been solid this season, especially in low-leverage.
It’s hard to fault pitching when a team only scores one run, but this was a case of both ultimately costing the Jays. Kazuma Okamoto’s double was the lone extra-base hit the Jays had in this game, and one of just five hits. Daulton Varsho had two hits, while Ernie Clement and Myles Straw each had one.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has to start doing some damage. We’ve seen how good he can be when he’s at his best, but softly grounded out with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth isn’t great. He’s hit for a good average, .308, and has a .395 on-base percentage, but has a .397 slugging percentage. The Blue Jays first baseman has hit just two home runs and seven doubles. Not great.
Next up, the Blue Jays host the Tampa Bay Rays for a three-game series beginning on Monday. Earlier this month, the Blue Jays suffered a sweep at the hands of their American League East foe, and will need to take two of three in this game. Kevin Gausman is expected to start Monday’s game, which has a start time of 7:07 PM ET.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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