Eric Lauer

Eric Lauer

29-Year-Old PitcherSP
 Free Agent  Foreign
Free Agent
2024 Fantasy Outlook
After a few promising seasons between San Diego and Milwaukee, Lauer took a massive step backward in 2023, leading to his departure from the Brewers organization. The left-hander's stuff was down several ticks across the board and he missed time due to a shoulder injury. He was optioned upon activation from the injured list in June and spent time on the Triple-A inactive list due to an undisclosed health issue. Lauer returned to make just one final start on the final weekend of the regular season before being outrighted and opting for free agency in October. While it seemed likely that he was overperforming with sub-3.70 ERAs in 2021 and 2022, the swiftness of his decline was rather surprising. The 28-year-old signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates in March and will likely compete for a rotation spot over what remains of big-league camp. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Rest of Season
From Preseason
#365
ADP
$Signed a one-year, minor-league contract with the Astros in May of 2024. Released by the Astros in August of 2024.
Headed to KBO
PFree Agent  F
August 1, 2024
Lauer agreed to a contract Thursday with the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization, Daniel Kim of MBC Sports+ reports.
ANALYSIS
Lauer was released by the Astros on Thursday, but he quickly found a new opportunity. He'll head to Korea for the remainder of the 2024 season before becoming a free agent, leaving the door open for him to return to affiliated ball in 2025.
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Pitching Stats
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2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2023 MLB Game Log
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2022 MLB Game Log
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2021 MLB Game Log
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2020 MLB Game Log
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2019 MLB Game Log
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2018 MLB Game Log
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Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2022
 
 
-24%
BAA vs LHP
2024
No Stats
2023
 
 
-63%
BAA vs LHP
2022
 
 
-6%
BAA vs LHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2022vs Left .192 146 31 16 25 5 0 4
Since 2022vs Right .253 726 169 67 164 28 3 39
2024vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023vs Left .121 38 8 5 4 3 0 1
2023vs Right .329 173 35 19 50 9 0 15
2022vs Left .216 108 23 11 21 2 0 3
2022vs Right .230 553 134 48 114 19 3 24
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Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2022
 
 
-8%
ERA at Home
2024
No Stats
2023
 
 
-64%
ERA on Road
2022
 
 
-46%
ERA at Home
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2022Home 4.16 1.29 97.1 7 6 0 9.2 3.5 1.8
Since 2022Away 4.50 1.35 108.0 8 7 0 8.3 3.8 1.9
2024Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023Home 10.35 2.15 20.0 1 4 0 9.0 5.9 4.5
2023Away 3.71 1.31 26.2 3 2 0 7.8 3.7 2.0
2022Home 2.56 1.07 77.1 6 2 0 9.3 2.9 1.2
2022Away 4.76 1.36 81.1 5 5 0 8.5 3.8 1.9
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Prospect Rankings History
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Eric Lauer See More
Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Is the Window Closing?
143 days ago
Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers fronts this edition of Todd Zola's Weekly Pitcher Rankings.
Farm Futures: Rookie Pitcher Rankings 2.0
244 days ago
James Anderson updates his Rookie Pitcher Rankings for 2024 value only, in which Giants southpaw Kyle Harrison remains in a tier by himself.
Farm Futures: Rookie Pitcher Rankings 1.0
321 days ago
James Anderson shares version 1.0 of his rookie pitcher rankings for redraft leagues, in which Giants southpaw Kyle Harrison is in a tier of his own.
MLB Barometer: 2023 All-Risers Team
September 21, 2023
Erik Halterman's All-Risers Team highlights a group of players who have far outpaced preseason expectations, featuring Braves first baseman Matt Olson.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
May 21, 2023
Dan Marcus profiles a couple NLers who could soon be back in the bigs.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2017
Lauer tied his high with 29 starts, over which he logged 158.2 innings, the most of his career. His 3.69 ERA may look good, but estimators pegged it about half a run to a full run higher. Homers were again Lauer's crutch as his HR% was the fifth highest among all hurlers throwing at least 150 stanzas. Lauer's 14.8 % K-BB% is below average, so he needed a fortunate .260 BABIP and 79.0% LOB mark to keep his ratios in check. Lauer reduced usage of an ineffective change up, but he continued to deploy an equally unproductive 78-mph curveball at a 16% rate. The catch is all his other pitches are within a 7-mph delta, so the slower curveball helps set up his four-seamer, cutter and slider. Still just 27-years-old, Lauer can make some adjustments, but unless he solves his home run issue, Lauer is best considered in the back-end/streamer range of a fantasy staff.
It would have been easy to miss if he wasn't on any of your fantasy teams, but Lauer was quite valuable over his final 15 appearances. He logged a 2.23 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 76 strikeouts in 80.2 innings -- a far cry from the 5.21 ERA and 1.42 WHIP he posted over his first nine appearances. Part of his success over the final three months can be attributed to easy matchups, including facing the Pirates a whopping four times over that stretch. Lauer threw five pitches (four-seamer, cutter, curveball, slider, changeup) over 10% of the time last season, but his improved results correlate with him significantly increasing his slider and curveball usage (his two best pitches by xwOBA) while dialing back his four-seamer and cutter. This is the pitcher the Brewers hoped they were getting along with Luis Urias in the deal that sent Trent Grisham and Zach Davies to San Diego. While Lauer doesn't have a sky-high ceiling, he is a good late-round target in mixed leagues.
After spending four years in the Padres' organization, Lauer was traded to the Brewers in November of 2019. Lauer started 52 games for the Padres over the two prior years, and Milwaukee was expecting him to bolster the back end of their rotation. That plan did not immediately come to fruition, as Lauer wound up appearing in only four games and was hit hard in both his starts. Lauer's fastball, while sitting in the low-90s, carried him in 2019, but was ineffective a year ago. He does bring four other pitches to the table, and the Brewers will be hoping to find the right mix moving forward. Despite last year's struggles, Lauer will have a chance to secure a spot in the Brewers' rotation. His 8.3 K/9 for his career isn't too shabby, but his ratios aren't too appealing to fantasy players.
Lauer saw an increased workload in 2019, logging 149.2 innings over 30 appearances (29 starts). He had a 4.45 ERA on the season and was much better at home (3.08) than on the road (5.99). The lefty will not have the luxury of pitching half his games at Petco Park in 2020 and will instead pitch in a much more hitter-friendly environment in Milwaukee following a trade to the Brewers. Regardless of home venue, Lauer's ceiling was always that of a back-end starter. He has a middling 91.9 mph average fastball, and while his slider has received good grades in the past, it has not translated to high swing-and-miss rates. The 24-year-old improved his walk rate last season, but it still sat at a mediocre 7.8% after a rough 9.1 BB% the year before. Lauer currently projects for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, but this skill set is fringe at best for a mixed league.
Lauer opened the eyes of the Padres brass in the spring but was still sent to Triple-A El Paso to open the 2018 campaign. A 3.00 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 18 innings prompted a callup after just three starts. Lauer was immediately inserted into the Padres' rotation where he toiled until late July when he was shelved with a forearm strain. Lauer returned a month later and finished the season strong, posting a 1.07 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 25 punchouts in 25.1 stanzas down the stretch. Lauer hopes to carry that momentum over to the spring where he'll be in a battle for a spot as a back-end starter for San Diego. To secure it, he'll need to improve his 8.6% swinging-strike rate, especially if he continues to walk batters at an above-average pace. The Padres' system is loaded with starting pitching prospects, ticketing Lauer for a long-term role as a swingman.
The Padres signed the Kent State lefty to a slightly under slot $2 million contract after selecting him with the No. 25 overall pick. He was dominant after entering pro ball, albeit in just 31 innings, primarily in the Northwest League. However, Lauer does not have a plus pitch, and his excellent numbers may oversell his long-term upside. He features a low-90s fastball, an above-average slider, and a changeup and curveball that could top out as average offerings. Additionally, he does not have the type of elite command needed to allow that arsenal to play up. Any organization would be happy to have a high-probability 6-foot-3 southpaw who should be able to pitch near the back of a big league rotation, but for fantasy dynasty leagues, that profile is a lot less exciting, especially when it comes with a lead time of two or three years.
More Fantasy News
Hits free agency
PFree Agent  F
August 1, 2024
Lauer was released by the Astros on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
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Lands with Houston
PHouston Astros  F
May 20, 2024
Lauer signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Released by Pittsburgh
PFree Agent  F
May 16, 2024
The Pirates released Lauer on Thursday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
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Joins Bucs
PPittsburgh Pirates  F
March 7, 2024
Lauer agreed to a minor-league deal with the Pirates on Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
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Opts for free agency
PFree Agent  F
October 23, 2023
Lauer elected free agency Monday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Chance to start?
PHouston Astros  F
June 18, 2024
Justin Verlander was placed on the injured list due to neck discomfort Tuesday, and Lauer could be an option to start in the meantime for the Astros.
ANALYSIS
Lauer joined Houston on a minor-league contract in May and has a 6.30 ERA and 1.75 WHIP five outings with Triple-A Sugar Land. The veteran left-hander's contract has an opt-out for July 1 and August 1, so the organization could opt to give him a look in the majors sooner than later despite the poor results.
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