Lauer is eager to prove himself, compete for spot

FORT MYERS, Fla. — One of the latest entries into the Pirates’ starting rotation derby might be the most intriguing. Eric Lauer is running on a familiar ticket, too. It’s the Tyler Anderson and Jose Quintana hope that has likely fueled other moves.

Added on a minor league deal earlier this month, Lauer could provide some intrigue as the Pirates look to fill out their rotation.

“Honestly, I think it’s the best opportunity, the best fit for where I’m at and what I want to prove,” Lauer, 28, said. “It’s a solid team and a good place to be.”

There are a couple reasons Lauer feels that way, starting with proximity. He’s from the Cleveland area, and his mom grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. The left-hander played his college ball at Kent State.

Lauer also has a decent track record. A first-round pick of the Padres in 2016, Lauer has gone 36-37 in 120 MLB games (112 starts), with a 4.30 ERA, close to a strikeout per inning (567 in 592 2/3 innings) and a 1.366 WHIP.

Given what else we’ve seen, if Lauer can rediscover his form, it’s no worse than the other options.

In addition to the Padres, Lauer also pitched for the Brewers, who outrighted him off their roster this past October.

“He’s been an effective major league starter,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “He’s been in our division. Right now, we’re trying to build starter depth as much as possible. I realize he’s behind the eight-ball with timing. We’re gonna try and get him built up to be a starter and go from there.”

Lauer smiled when the Anderson/Quintana idea was suggested. Lauer also really likes pitching at PNC Park. In five career games (four starts), Lauer has a 2.88 ERA along the North Shore, with 21 strikeouts in 25 innings and a .220 batting average against.

What has happened with Lauer health-wise is a little funky.

It involves what sounds like some hard feelings with Milwaukee.

Last year, Lauer dealt with an impingement in his right/non-throwing shoulder.

The sides disagreed on how it should be treated.

Regardless, Lauer did not pitch well.

In 10 starts in MLB, Lauer had a 6.56 ERA, walking 24 and striking out 43 in 46 2/3 innings. His fastball averaged a career-low 90.8 mph.

“The communication broke down,” Lauer said. “Once I was able to get to see the people I needed to see, we knocked it out pretty quick. It has not been an issue for a while.”

Lauer described the issue as bursitis in both of his shoulders and wasn’t thrilled with how the Brewers handled him.

“It didn’t really seem like they cared to help a whole lot,” Lauer said. “I think we tried to treat it the wrong way. We tried to treat it like it needed to be strengthened, when it was more inflammation.

“As soon as we were able to get the inflammation out of there, no problems the rest of the way.”

This offseason, Lauer said he’s been trying to stay busy by throwing 60-pitch bullpen sessions broken into 15-pitch “innings.”

He believes he can work at least two frames.

That would put him at about 50% of where current Pirates starters are at.

“We have to take all the information we’re given and go from there,” Shelton said. “Right now, we’re going to try and build him up as quickly health-wise as possible to make the best decision possible.”

The key for Lauer might be his four-seam fastball. He’s been deceptive with it throughout his career, like in 2022 when it carried a career-high run value of 9, per Baseball Savant.

For context, that would’ve qualified as the second-best pitch on the Pirates’ entire staff last season.

That season, Lauer went 11-7 with a 3.69 ERA in 29 starts that year, walking 59 and striking out 157 in 158 2/ 3 innings.

Lauer also throws a slider that had a .173 batting average and .301 slugging percentage against in 2022, plus a cutter that has been a lot better than it was last season (.309 average, .568 slugging percentage against).

The changeup has been Lauer’s “unicorn pitch,” the one he can’t seem to solve, but he’s excited about a oneseam option he was tinkering with over the winter. Lauer also has the reputation of being an aggressive pitcher, something the Pirates like.

“He goes right after guys,” said David Bednar, who became friends with Lauer when they were drafted by San Diego together. “He’s not scared. That’s a big thing and identity with this whole staff.”