LOS ANGELES — Every time Eric Lauer takes the mound for the Dodgers, good issues appear to observe.
On Wednesday night time at Dodger Stadium, Lauer delivered six scoreless frames to steer Los Angeles to a 4-2 victory over the Mariners. With the win, the Dodgers improved to an unblemished 9-0 in video games Lauer has began since becoming a member of the membership — persevering with one of the outstanding private team-winning streaks of the season.
Lauer stored Seattle’s bats utterly off steadiness all night, permitting simply three baserunners whereas putting out 4. The left-hander wanted minimal heavy lifting from his bullpen, handing off a cushty four-run cushion after throwing 87 pitches.
Early on, nevertheless, Lauer struggled to seek out his launch level. In a 24-pitch opening body, he issued a stroll, hit a batter and noticed Randy Arozarena steal second base to place two runners in scoring place. However Lauer escaped the jam by blowing a cutter previous Cal Raleigh for an inning-ending strikeout — after which settled in utterly after a fast mound go to from catcher Dalton Speeding.
Quite than relying solely on his four-seamer and cutter, Lauer established his secondary choices to maintain the Mariners guessing.
“I believe the slider and the changeup have been large ones for me,” Lauer stated postgame. “The changeup for me has at all times type of been just like the holy grail of what I must spherical out my repertoire and get one thing going armside. So having the ability to simply be assured utilizing that now and mixing that in much more has been large to maintain guys off steadiness.”
Supervisor Dave Roberts recommended Lauer’s capacity to regulate in opposition to a Seattle lineup that got here into the sport aggressively looking excessive fastballs.
“Eric did a pleasant job of blending speeds, mixing areas, too,” Roberts stated. “He’s been nice … the make-up, the preparedness and what he’s performed for us so far as giving us size. It looks like each time he pitches, we win.”
Lauer’s steady success comes at a novel second for Los Angeles. With Monday’s Commerce Deadline lower than per week away, Lauer’s title has surfaced in commerce chatter throughout the league as a possible rotation chip — a actuality the veteran left-hander approaches with a grounded mindset.
“It’s one thing that I used to be conscious of coming over right here — that it is likely to be like a rental factor. See a necessity, fill a necessity type of factor,” Lauer stated of the rumors. “However I imply, I adore it right here. I believe I am thriving right here, so far as I can inform, and I might like to be a part of this staff.”
As for whether or not he tries to maintain tabs on the entrance workplace’s plans heading into the week, Lauer prefers to maintain his focus strictly on the mound.
“I do not suppose that that is actually one thing {that a} participant would essentially even wish to know, as a result of while you begin taking part in GM in your head you then begin getting away from what your job is,” Lauer stated. “I strive to verify I are available, do the most effective I can to arrange each day, do the most effective I can once I get out on that mound, and no matter occurs.”
