Lauer struck out two batters and gave up no hits and one walk in a one-inning start Friday for the Brewers' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate.
The one-inning outing was Lauer's first at any level since June 11, when he made his last start at Triple-A Nashville before being placed on the temporary inactive list due to an undisclosed health issue. Lauer may have used the time off to workshop his mechanics, after he had struggled to keep the ball in the yard over his nine outings with Milwaukee (13 home runs in 42.2 innings) prior to landing on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement. Lauer continued to struggle in his two rehab starts with Nashville before he was activated from the IL and optioned to the minors. The veteran southpaw may make a few more appearances in Arizona before eventually reporting back to Nashville.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Placed on Triple-A inactive list
Rotowire
Lauer was placed on the inactive list for Triple-A Nashville as he works through an undisclosed health issue, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
He last pitched for Nashville on June 11 but gave up seven earned runs on 12 hits and four walks over 4.2 innings in his last two appearances, so Lauer may have been at less than 100 percent at that time. He should be considered out indefinitely.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Optioned after coming off IL
Rotowire
Milwaukee reinstated Lauer (shoulder) off the 10-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. "We want to get him right, to be healthy and be a contributor," Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said.
Lauer was placed on the 15-day injured list May 22 with an impingement in his non-throwing shoulder, and the southpaw struggled in his rehab start Sunday with Nashville, allowing seven runs (five earned) in two innings. Lauer was an effective part of the Milwaukee rotation in 2022, but he'll remain in the PCL until the Brewers deem him worthy of a roster spot again this summer.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Lit up in second rehab start
Rotowire
Lauer (shoulder) was charged with seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out one batter in a two-inning rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Nashville.
Lauer needed 69 pitches just to record his six outs and has now been battered for 11 runs (seven earned) on 12 hits and four walks over 4.2 innings in his first two rehab starts with Nashville. Though Lauer hasn't suffered from any reported setbacks while out on the farm, the poor results he's shown thus far could lead the Brewers to move him to the bullpen whenever he's deemed ready to return from the 15-day injured list.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Beginning rehab assignment Tuesday
Rotowire
Lauer (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Lauer expects to make a couple of outings with Nashville before he'll be ready to return from the 15-day injured list, according to McCalvy . The left-hander was placed on the IL on May 22 due to an impingement of his non-throwing shoulder and logged a 5.48 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over 42.2 innings across nine appearances (eight starts) prior to being deactivated.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Lands on IL with shoulder injury
Rotowire
Milwaukee placed Lauer on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement.
If there's good news here, it's that the injury is to Lauer's non-throwing shoulder. Still, it's unclear at this point how long he might be sidelined, and the Brewers' rotation depth had already been hit hard by injuries. Lauer had been slated to start Thursday against the Giants, but Milwaukee will have to find someone else to take the ball that day.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Struggles in return to rotation
Rotowire
Lauer (4-5) took the loss Saturday, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks over three innings against Tampa Bay. He struck out two.
Lauer had troubles with the long ball Saturday, giving up homers to Harold Ramirez in the first, Yandy Diaz in the second and Christian Bethancourt in the fourth to tie his season high in runs allowed. Saturday's outing also marked Lauer's third straight appearance giving up multiple home runs while being the first time all season he struck out less than four batters. Though Lauer struggled with one of the top offenses in baseball, he should have a much easier time in his next projected start when he takes on the Giants, who strike out 9.6 times per game.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Re-enters rotation
Rotowire
Lauer will start Saturday's game against the Rays in Tampa Bay, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
After working 5.1 innings in relief in his most recent appearance against Kansas City on May 14, Lauer will take back his spot in the rotation from Colin Rea, who was optioned to Triple-A Nashville after starting that day's game. With Rea having since been recalled after Wade Miley (lat/rib) was placed on the 15-day injured list, however, the Brewers look as though they'll have room for both Lauer and Rea in the rotation moving forward. Lauer enters Saturday's contest sporting a 4.54 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 39:18 K:BB across 39.2 innings for the season.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Works 5.1 innings of relief
Rotowire
Lauer (4-4) earned the win Sunday, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks over 5.1 innings against the Royals. He struck out six.
Lauer took over for Colin Rea with two outs in the fourth and was able to pitch the rest of the way. He only gave up two hits, both of which went for solo home runs, and tied his season high with six strikeouts. Overall, Lauer had a nice bounce back performance after having given up 12 runs (seven earned) over his last 11.1 innings heading into Sunday. The team could opt to move him back into the starting rotation after he had a better showing than Rea or potentially operate the two as a tandem moving forward, although nothing yet has indicated a change will be made. Lauer now sits at a 4.54 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 39:18 K:BB over 39.2 innings thus far.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Will pitch out of bullpen
Rotowire
Lauer will pitch out of the bullpen for now and is available for Saturday's game against the Royals, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.
Lauer has struggled over his last three starts, with the left-hander not getting out of the fifth inning and allowing at least four runs in each of those outings. It appears Colin Rea will take Lauer's place in the rotation, with Rea now scheduled to start Saturday against Kansas City. Lauer could return to the rotation at some point, but for now he won't provide much fantasy relevance in a multi-inning relief role.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Roughed up in third straight loss
Rotowire
Lauer (3-4) took the loss Tuesday, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks over 3.2 innings against the Dodgers. He struck out four.
Lauer gave up a solo shot on the second pitch of the game to Mookie Betts. After his first time through the order, the Brewers trailed 3-0. Lauer picked wins in three of his first four starts, but he has not gotten through five innings in his last three outings. He's allowed 12 runs in his last three starts, though just seven of them are earned. Lauer's ERA sits at 4.72 with 33 strikeouts in 34.1 innings after seven starts.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Takes third loss of season
Rotowire
Lauer (3-3) took the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs (none earned) on four hits and four walks over 4.2 innings against Colorado. He struck out six.
Lauer was victimized by shoddy defense, as Milwaukee third baseman Mike Brosseau made a costly error that led to Colorado's four-run fourth inning. Despite the loss, this was actually the southpaw's first time not allowing any earned runs in a start this year. The 27-year-old is tentatively slated to face the Dodgers at home in his next start.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Cleared to start Wednesday
Rotowire
Lauer (finger) is listed as the Brewers' probable starting pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Rockies at Coors Field.
Lauer tore the nail on his left middle finger during his most recent start last Tuesday against the Tigers, but the issue won't prevent him from missing a turn through the rotation. Instead, the Brewers are just opting to give him an additional day off between starts, as Freddy Peralta has leapfrogged Lauer in the pitching schedule and will take the hill for the series opener in Colorado on Tuesday. Through five starts this season, Lauer has gone 3-2 with a 5.19 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB across 26 innings.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Tears nail during start
Rotowire
Lauer tore the nail on his left middle finger in a loss to the Pirates on Tuesday, but he doesn't expect to miss a start,Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Lauer struggled over three innings by allowing four runs on eight hits, and he was visited by a team trainer during the long second inning. The southpaw didn't blame the tear for his command issues, but it clearly didn't help. For now, it seems very likely that Lauer will make his next scheduled start, but if there are any side effects it's possible he'll be pushed back a day or two.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Labors through three frames
Rotowire
Lauer (3-2) took the loss Tuesday versus the Tigers, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks in three innings. He struck out four.
The left-hander needed 85 pitches to record just nine outs, with Detroit scoring all four of its runs during a 40-pitch second inning. It's been boom or bust through five starts for Lauer this year, as he's given up 10 earned runs in his two losses but has a 2.37 ERA across 19 frames in his three victories.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Nabs third victory
Rotowire
Lauer (3-1) earned the win over Seattle on Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk over 7.2 innings. He struck out four batters.
Lauer surrendered a two-run homer to Julio Rodriguez in the third inning, but that was the only time the Mariners managed to score off him. The veteran maneuvered through a season-high 7.2 frames on 93 pitches to notch his second straight quality start. While Lauer's season ERA sits at an uninspiring 4.30, that's largely skewed by a four-inning, six-run outing against St. Louis on April 8. In his other three starts (all victories), Lauer has yielded just five earned runs across 19 frames.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Cruises to victory
Rotowire
Lauer (2-1) allowed one run on five hits and two walks over six innings Friday, striking out five and earning a win over the Padres.
Milwaukee blew San Diego out with an 11-2 win and Lauer had a 4-0 lead before throwing his first pitch. He kept the Padres quiet until serving up a solo shot to Luis Campusano in the fifth frame. Lauer bounced back nicely after he was tagged for six runs in a loss to St. Louis in his last appearance. The 27-year-old is now sporting a 5.28 ERA and a 15:7 K:BB through 15.1 frames. He's lined up to take the mound in Seattle next week.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Hit hard in Saturday's loss
Rotowire
Lauer (1-1) took the loss Saturday, surrendering six runs on seven hits and three walks over four innings as the Brewers were downed 6-0 by the Cardinals. He struck out four.
Three of the hits off Lauer went for extra bases, including a pair of two-run homers in the third inning by Nolan Arenado and Jordan Walker. The southpaw has served up three homers through his first 9.1 innings this season after getting taken deep 27 times in 158.2 innings last year, and his inability to keep the ball in the park has led to an early 7.71 ERA. Lauer could have trouble turning things around in his next start, which is likely to come on the road against the Padres -- a team tied for sixth in homers on the year heading into Sunday's play.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Earns win Sunday
Rotowire
Lauer (1-0) earned the win Sunday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over 5.1 innings against the Cubs. He struck out six.
Lauer posted a 3.69 ERA with a 23.8 percent strikeout rate over 29 starts for Milwaukee last year en route to a career-high 11 wins, and he picked up where he left off during his 2023 debut Sunday. He fell just short of the quality start since he was at 89 pitches after 5.1 innings, but it was an encouraging outing to begin the regular season. The left-hander projects to make his next start at home against the Cardinals on Saturday.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Endures slow spring
Rotowire
Lauer posted a 11.57 ERA, 2.49 WHIP and 9:7 K:BB in 11.2 innings over four appearances this spring.
Lauer had a rough go of it this spring, but he was hit hard in the exhibition season in both 2021 and 2022 and righted the ship when the regular season got underway, so there may not be as much cause for concern as it appears.
