dpLos Angeles Dodgers pitcher Eric Lauer has done everything the team has asked of him, but he still might not make the playoff roster.
Lauer, who was traded from the Toronto Blue Jays in May after they designated him for assignment, has experienced a resurgence in Los Angeles.
How has Eric Lauer played for the Dodgers in 2026?
His ERA, which was up to 6.69 in Toronto this season, has fallen to 3.78 with the Boys in Blue.
His ERA+ also vastly improved from 67 to 107, his WHIP fell from 1.486 to 1.145, and his FIP — fielding independent pitching — improved from 6.91 to 5.21.
Perhaps the most important thing, though, is that when Lauer pitches, the Dodgers win.
It wasn’t until Aug. 5 that the Dodgers finally lost a game in which Lauer pitched in a 7-6 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Cubs.
The Dodgers lost another one-run game 6-5 to the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 26, but the Boys in Blue are still 11-2 with Lauer on the mound, and his personal record is 6-1.
Despite that success, Katie Woo of The Athletic noted recently that Lauer is on the bubble for the postseason roster — and his odds aren’t looking good.
‘Hard to See’ Lauer Pitching in October
For Lauer, who’s been willing to move between the starting rotation and the bullpen this season, it seems neither spot has room for him, Woo explained.
While he’s certainly succeeded as a starter in the regular season, Lauer isn’t likely to be in the postseason rotation ahead of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell.
And Justin Wrobleski, who was an All-Star this season, is being moved to the postseason bullpen, making him the most likely player to be elevated to the rotation if a spot opens up.
“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.”
Granted, there’s still time for that to change, but that time is running out, and Lauer, despite a strong season, could end up being on the outside looking in.
